To design a restaurant is to design culinary spaces that will always uplift the time spent inside for the customers. A restaurant is a place that connects with the moods of its visitors. Hence, while one has to design a restaurant, they have to start planning out the layout, which will further support the design and theme of the interiors of the restaurant. To design a restaurant plan, one must consider the smooth circulation of items from the pantry and storage to the kitchen. Good planning will always lead to uninterrupted movement in the space. While keeping an eye out for the layout, one can look at the following 20 tips to design a restaurant that will uplift the customers’ culinary experience.

1. Make a Bold entrance

The entrance of any space speaks for itself. The ambiance of the place for a visitor is the first impression. To design a restaurant, one needs to design an entrance that defines the place in its own way. There must be intrinsic colours, lights, plants, seats, and hoardings all in one saying about the place.

2. Design according to the brand’s personality

To design a restaurant is to design a statement for one’s brand and outlet. Hence, when one designs a restaurant, they must have the brand identity in mind, and the interiors must follow it. The brand identity will give direction to the designs that will present the atmosphere of the restaurant. For example, if your brand personality is formal in nature, that will reflect in the colours used and the tables designed according to the requirements.

3. Balance the ambiance and the seating capacity

To design a restaurant, one has to identify the number of customers they will serve at a time. Taking the number into consideration, they can arrange the formal dining area in such a manner that it does not interrupt the movement or the serving. To make this happen, one must examine the spacing between the tables, floor decorations, the positions of wait stations, and other factors. The layout of the tables will define the experience of the customers.

4. Minimize Bad Tables

There are places in the restaurant that turn out to be bad table areas. For example, the tables near the kitchen, restrooms, manager cabins, etc. are the ones that can be bad table areas. To design a restaurant, one must take care to avoid such arrangements as much as possible. One way to avoid this is to see that from each table you can see the entry and exit and also have a view of the dining room.

5. Keeping in mind HVAC

To design a restaurant is to design a fine dining experience for people in a place with all the comfort. HVAC stands for heat, ventilation, and air conditioning and is one of the important factors to be addressed while designing. Proper ventilation will ensure the comfort of the restaurant, while disruptions will affect the design. On a really hot day with maximum seating capacity, proper arrangement of the HVAC system will ensure that the atmosphere inside is maintained.

6. Add Good Table Wares in the Design Scheme

Designing a restaurant also includes the correct choices of the cutlery that are set on the table. One will always notice the comfort or efficiency of the accessories put in front of them. Also, the sets that are placed on the table are a delight for any conversations that happen. Even after having the best designs and serving the best food, the use of cheap silverware can affect the atmosphere of the restaurant. It is a very small point to be considered in the whole interior of the restaurant, but very effective.

7. Give proper operational restaurant spaces

All the space in a restaurant must be operated well enough to smooth the experience. The entry and exits must be such that they do not collude with the service areas. The delivery and takeout areas must not interrupt the waiting areas. The kitchens must have gas lines and proper chimneys for heat reduction and a hazard-free atmosphere. There must be backrooms for storage and other management requirements. To design a restaurant, one must always plan all of the areas functionally and arrange them in that manner.

8. Plan the Delivery and Take out areas

Every area in the restaurant is equally important for it to properly function. To design a restaurant, one must take care of the atmosphere that is created by the designs. Multiple activities are happening at one place of order in the restaurant. Designing separate delivery and take-out areas is necessary when the restaurant needs to be hassle-free and smooth-flowing.

9. Appropriate waiting areas

After we have seen a bold entrance outside the restaurant, one always expects the insides to be blissful. Taking into consideration the customer flow of the restaurant, one will always look forward to the possibility of rush hours in any restaurant. These rush hours will demand a properly seated waiting area that will allow one to adjust to the comfort of waiting till their table arrives. For example, these areas must not be very clumsy and randomly arranged. They must follow all the factors of comfort for the customers.

10. Design the movement of the dining Room

The movement inside the restaurant is the most crucial part of its design. This takes the person entering the restaurant to the table, which will also include the service movement of the restaurant. Hence, to design the movement inside the restaurant, one must always give proper spacing between the tables. Also, the tables must be facing in such a manner that the customer is able to sit properly.

11. Add Bar counters and service counters

A restaurant is a place where one comes to refresh themselves in the company of people, food, and ambiance. This will always demand a place for refreshments. Giving different seats and making the layout interesting is one thing, while adding bar counters to the place is another. Having a bar counter where one can sit for a short while and enjoy the drinks at a table that is well lit is another kind of experience. Placements of these bar counters can be in the parallel rows of the tables or perpendicular to two rows of the seats.

12. Design a proper kitchen layout

The most important place of any restaurant is the kitchen area. This area must be very well organized for any restaurant. As it is also the area where most of the hazards can take place it should be well equipped as well as properly functional. One has to give ample space for food preparations, cooking and server pick-up space.

13. Details of the Furniture

One of the most important aspects of designing a restaurant is designing appropriate furniture. The tables and chairs must have the correct height and width in order to assure the highest level of comfort while dining. This also includes the fabrics used on the furniture. For example, the seats must be tufted with a material that does not affect the skin of the customers while also not getting affected by the atmosphere easily. As it is a restaurant, one must take care of the stains and scratches on the furniture. Also, brittle furniture, which can break easily, should not be used.

14. Design staff areas and back counters

Designing a restaurant also has the factor of service as a point to consider for making it well equipped. As good as the service will be, the restaurant will not be considered that good. Hence, making places for a good service area is a must. The service areas must be placed near the kitchen areas, where one can easily take the provisions to the customers without disturbing them. And giving back counter areas will create spaces for keeping the table supplies in a designated place.

15. Design the restrooms well

A restaurant is a place of hospitality, which requires every hygienic area that is needed for the user. Restrooms are a part of the discussion while designing any restaurant. Giving proper restrooms means giving a clean area where one can go to refresh themselves. Having a well-accessorised restroom will give the restaurant a different impression.

16. Have enough storage

There are a lot of things that are needed for a backup in the restaurant. These supplies are necessary for keeping the functions of the restaurants going. These supplies in any restaurant need a proper place for storage. Having well-planned back storage is always good for the design.

17. Add Wall Graphics

Talking about the visuals, we can refer to the walls of any restaurant. One can add different textures to the overall ambiance of the space by giving a variety of wall décor ideas. One of them is having good graphics over the wall in terms of paintings, fonts with good quotes, or even good murals. This will help create liveliness in the restaurant.

18. Decorating with Plants

Giving a refreshing feeling is always in style for the atmosphere of any restaurant. There can be a variety of ways in which one can decorate a restaurant with the help of decorative pots and plants. Also, one must take care that they do not overdo the environment by using the extra amount of plants. Adding greens to the colour and furniture will always create the best environment.

19. Flush the natural light with open spaces

One can always create different atmospheres for different seat areas in on restaurant. One can have a design where there is a flush of natural light and air near the table that is added with an element of water. This will create a very different atmosphere for dining and a different impression of the restaurant as well.

20. Give Ambient Lighting

The ambiance of the restaurant is made by using different types of lights. This affects the overall look of the restaurants as well. Having a small lantern on the table while dining creates the experience for the customers. A hanging chandelier in the entrance will make the entrance feel grand and luxurious.

Defining a culinary experience is must in a restaurant. From the above tips we can see how one can flawlessly design a restaurant. Restaurants must be aesthetically sound with proper seating arrangements, lights, colors and feel of the place. One comes to refresh themselves in the atmospheres of the restaurants, hence to design a restaurant is to combine good food, service and spaces in a place. Using the few tips on how to design a restaurant can further meet the needs of the designers to place the layout correctly.

Content Writing And Research By: Ar. Rajeshwari Pandya Modi