Why Interior Design Matters

It’s a familiar sight to see restaurants competing with each other using location, prices, menu items, and promotions. However, not many would take interior design into account. The atmosphere you offer to your customers impacts their willingness to order more or less and the duration of their stay.

Why is interior design important in restaurants?

Besides being an essential (but lesser-known) part of your restaurant’s marketing strategy, interior design is pivotal to your branding. Your customers’ first impression of your brand will rely on the first thing they notice as they walk in, impacting how they would consider if the place is good enough to eat at. It can also influence your customers to order more, eat fast, drink more, linger longer, et cetera.

Another point is Instagramability. Yep, that’s a real word! Everybody wants to post whatever is pleasing to the eye on their social media feed, so making your restaurant look good can also entice their entire follower list. 

Understanding the elements of good interior design

1. Floor plan

Your restaurant layout determines how spacious your restaurant will feel and how crowded and claustrophobic it can get during rush hours. Your layout should allow people to walk around without bumping into each other or crashing with the furniture.

An ideal floor plan should provide some individual space for every person seated. For example, 20 square feet area per seat is ideal for fine dining restaurants, while 10 square feet is sufficient for QSRs.

Make sure the layout also enables your staff to see your customers and vice versa. Having enough isle gaps between tables also ensures smooth operations and service. 

2. Lighting

There are three types of lighting that affect your customer’s behavior–ambient, task, and accent.

Ambient lighting determines the overall look and feel of your restaurant. Dim ambient lighting, typically in fine dining restaurants, creates a relaxing mood and aura–pushing customers to linger and order more items. Bright, well-lit rooms are suitable for QSRs to encourage them to come, eat quickly, and go. 

Task lighting is used for running tasks. This lighting enables servers to work and customers to read the menu and order. To avoid overpowering ambient lighting, task lights should be placed strategically–highlighting pathways or illuminating minibars.

Accent lights are usually used as decorations and can be experimented with to reinforce the color and theme of your brand. Make sure to not overdo it, as they can overpower the space.

3. Seating

The type of seats you provide to your customers can impact their experience as well. Most upscale restaurants have cushioned, comfortable seats which prompt customers to stay longer and order more. QSRs, on the other hand, have seats that are only comfortable for a short time. They tend to feel light and cause customers to eat and leave quickly.

4. Colors

Different groups of colors trigger different emotions and moods and can either stimulate or repress appetite. Warm colors like red and orange are commonly used in restaurants as they are considered potent stimulants. Yellow is equally effective for the cause, too, as its brightness gives a lively feeling. However, try not to go overboard with such intense colors.

Restaurant marketing goes beyond deals and promotions. Understanding your customers’ psychology and behaviors allows you to take full advantage of them, so make sure to employ these strategies when designing your restaurant.