The café and restaurant industry is a cutthroat business, with many of them trying to differentiate themselves towards their target consumers by their differing menus.
Another way to set themselves apart from their competitors is through the use of interior design. This is an important factor, especially for new customers who visit an outlet for the first time. How a restaurant appears on the inside sets the atmosphere for their dining experience; it could affect their opinion on the food that they will consume.
A good F&B interior design should be distinctive enough for customers to visit again. Read on to learn about five key components that go into designing the ideal eatery.
Layout
The layout is a significant part of any F&B interior design – it determines the efficiency of your staff and the amount of comfortable walking space for customers to move around. Especially in the case of cafés in small spaces, it is crucial to design a layout that maximizes every corner.
Concept
Coming up with a concept for an eatery normally depends on two influences: target customers and the food that will be served. The key is to find a balance between the two, while also being able to come up with a design that is altogether unique and original. If there are competing neighboring outlets with similar menus the concept could be the differentiating factor.
Lighting
Lighting helps to set the tone in any location. Depending on how the F&B outlet is designed, you can make use or either natural light or artificial lights to enhance the overall tone. Natural light is more suited for eateries wanting to imitate a bright and airy atmosphere, while artificial lights like wall light fixtures and neon lights can give off a more sophisticated vibe.
Target customers
Every F&B business should always keep in mind their target customers when designing the interior. From colours and lighting to the tables and chairs chosen, everything needs to be suited to what appeals to the target demographic. For example, if the target customers are youths then the interior design can be more bold and experimental.
Colour
The colour of an eatery should be in accordance with the theme or concept chosen. A good colour scheme should be one that is comforting yet dynamic. As colour is what will be seen throughout the majority of the interior, careful planning should be considered so that the colour coordinates well with the lighting and furniture.
Designing the perfect interior for an eatery is not a small feat, even if the outlet is in a small space. Owners of these businesses should always hire professionals who specialize in interior design services to help make their F&B dream a reality.
The Importance of Interior Design of Your Restaurant
When a consumer decides on the restaurant to eat at, one might think that the food is all that one considers. However, various research has shown that it is increasing common that a customer will consider a restaurant’s aesthetic, ambience and other less tangible values that it brings for the customer before deciding to step into a restaurant to dine in. Thus, a satisfactory dining experience really is more than just providing good food or service to a customer. One should note that there is great importance in the restaurant’s interior design that influences first time visits and encourage revisits.
We hope to highlight the importance of having a good interior design for your restaurant.
1. Seating Space
No customer would want to feel crammed while eating. Thus, there needs to be a balance between comfort and capacity. Tables should not be too close so customers and staff are able to navigate throughout your restaurant without bumping into tables. The style and size of the furniture you select is also crucial to ensure that your space is maximized. It is important that you and your designer plan and work out the space and its layout.
2. Colours
Specific colours you select can portray the theme of your restaurant and food. Choose similar colours to your logo and branding, it will help you stand out from your competitors. Colour perception is connected to emotions, therefore, colours play a big role to ensure that the right emotions are invoked whenever a customer steps into your restaurant. Avoid using colours that would make your restaurant look dull. Consult your interior design to work out a colour palette best suited for your brand image.
3. Lighting
Depending on the theme of your restaurant and the atmosphere you want to create for your customers, lighting can certainly make a big impact. The right lighting can enhance your restaurant’s décor; it is also able to help brighten up your space which helps the customer’s overall dining experience. Natural light brings a more open feel to your area. If you are unable to or prefer artificial lighting, then you should always choose the colour of your lighting wisely. Yellow or golden lighting can create a warm feeling, the same feeling of a candle lit dinner, while bright colours can help to create a vibrant look to your restaurant’s interior.
In summary, these are some factors for you to consider when it comes to designing your F&B restaurant layout. It is advisable to hire a professional restaurant design consultant or trained and experienced interior designer. It plays a significant role in your interior’s outcome which you may not be able to achieve if you were to plan it out yourself. Remember, it is always important for your customers to leave your premises feeling satisfied by your food and happy with your overall dining experience.
Some Common Retail Interior Design Mistakes to Avoid
Shopping has become an integral part of our lives. We shop out of necessity (e.g. grocery shopping), while other times we visit stores just to browse through their products. Retail interior design plays an important part for both of these reasons. However, some retailers fail to properly utilise good interior design, which could ultimately affect their sales.
Here we look at four mistakes that are common in retail interior design, and provide ways on how to avoid them:
1. Display
Store displays are to show the retailer’s products. However, there is more to it than just plainly displaying everything without some sort of order. Customers may find retail stores lackluster if its display lacks creativity or even if it is too disorganized.
To fix this, it is good to implement themes or categories so that customers are able to easily browse through the store. Retailers should also visualize how they would want their products to be displayed to avoid having to constantly move and restock their products to different locations.
Retailers should also surprise customers with their store display by making it unique and unpredictable.
2. Lighting
Retailers sometimes overlook lighting in retail interior design. They might fail to use the correct type of lighting for their key products, or use too much or too little lighting. Retail stores should not be lit the same through the entire store; accent lights should be used together with the general lighting. What a store is selling also affects what type of lighting retailers should purchase. Using old or inefficient lights, while may be aesthetically pleasing, could take up costs to maintain or replace. There are many lighting elements in retail interior design, from colour and temperature to placement and lighting codes. Above all, retailers should remember that lighting in a store is to create a mood for the customers so that they have a satisfying shopping experience.
3. Layout
A store’s layout is also another common interior designing mistake that retailers make. Some layouts with poor space planning make it frustrating for customers to walk through the store, while others placed their products in a layout that obstructs the customer’s way.
Shops need to have a clear layout for products to be strategically placed for customers to find. It should also be designed to facilitate customer traffic flow, properly stock inventory, and be a place of rest for employees.
Checkout Area / Payment Counter
Many retailers also neglect their checkout counters when thinking about their store’s interior design, thinking that the main priority would be the product displays. However, since checkout is the last destination of a customer’s shopping experience, why should it not be treated with as much attention as the rest of the store?
Checkout counters should not be too small nor be too cluttered, space should be allocated for a smooth payment. A checkout counter is also a good idea to place products for impulse purchases.
Let Desace Help You with Your F&B Interior Design
Besides these reasons, there are many other interior design mistakes that retailers tend to make such as storage or store location. It is therefore important to hire a professional interior design consultant if you are designing your store so that you can avoid these errors.
If you’re interested to engage us, do drop by our showroom or contact us. Should you be looking for more related services, we also offer sofa upholstery services, custom-made furniture, custom carpentry services, residential interior design, bespoke commercial renovation, office interior design, reinstatement work and custom-made sofa in Singapore.