Furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars: what is needed, requirements, features

Content:

1. Types of furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars
2. Furniture for a bar, restaurant or cafe: main requirements
3. Criteria for choosing furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars
   1. Dimensions
   2. Material
   3. Color
4. A few more tips for choosing

Eating out has long become not a luxury, but a familiar element of people’s lives. Even in difficult economic times, new catering outlets are constantly opening in the country and, despite serious competition, many of them are quickly becoming popular. The key to the establishment’s prosperity is delicious cuisine, but a cozy interior and beautiful, comfortable furniture play an important role. To attract a client, retain him and get a decent average check, it is important to choose furniture for a restaurant, cafe or bar wisely. There are special requirements for the furnishing of catering establishments, so it is worth familiarizing yourself with the specifics of choosing tables, chairs and other household items.

Types of furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars

The basic set of furniture for restaurants, bars and cafes, which creates the desired atmosphere in the room, includes:

• Tables and chairs. Tables, in turn, are also divided into several types: bar, coffee, kitchen, serving, banquet, buffet tables. But special attention should be paid to the choice of dining tables, because visitors should feel comfortable. The countertops for them are mainly made of wood, MDF or chipboard, and metal is used as a frame, which increases the strength and wear resistance of the structure. The top of dining furniture for restaurants and cafes is covered with a polymer film that protects the product from damage and reduces noise levels.
• Upholstered furniture for restaurants and cafes (chairs, sofas). Depending on the size and layout of the room, you can give preference to corner or straight sofas, 2-sided models or island-type structures installed in the center of the room. But it is better to install sofas along the walls: this arrangement gives comfort and motivates visitors to sit for long periods of time. If the room is not too spacious, you can replace the sofas with comfortable armchairs or leather poufs. They should not be too soft and high enough, otherwise the visitor will not be able to sit comfortably. An exception is made only for furniture placed in lounge areas with coffee tables. In the latter case, it would be appropriate to place soft and low chairs or small sofas.
• Bar counters. The central element of bars and other establishments specializing in the sale of alcohol and light snacks is the bar counter. Since it simultaneously serves as both a customer seating area and a bartender’s work area, such furniture should combine comfort and functionality. Its main tasks are space zoning, sales stimulation (the bar brings the establishment up to 50% of profit) and ergonomics. Under the countertop you can conveniently place a refrigerator, coffee machine and other equipment. The manufacturing material is solid wood, chipboard, plastic, veneer, natural stone or its imitation. Since the counter has a considerable height, high chairs are chosen for such furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars.
• Wardrobes and hangers. Not only the theater, but also catering establishments begin with a hanger. Owners of bistros and other inexpensive establishments can limit themselves to ordinary compact hangers; the main thing is to place them in a place convenient for customers. In reputable restaurants it is recommended to install stationary wardrobes. Wardrobe furniture for restaurants and cafes can be equipped with rods for hangers, stands for storing hats, umbrellas and shoes, and a stand for receiving and issuing things.

Furniture for a bar, restaurant or cafe: main requirements

Since furniture for restaurants, bars and cafes is intensively used, it is designed and manufactured taking into account increased loads. Each piece of such furniture is made using special technologies from high-strength metals. All models, from economy options to exclusive developments, must meet the following characteristics:

1. The ability to fit into the general style. Many nuances are taken into account here: the purpose of the establishment (for example, a beer bar), the lighting features in the room, the general appearance of the furniture and even fittings.
2. Sustainability. Wobbly tables and chairs that cause discomfort can ruin all the restaurateur’s efforts. Unstable furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars is not just inconvenient - it can lead to adverse consequences, from ruined clothes to burns. Therefore, it is better to choose furniture with reliable legs and enhanced protection (for example, with a cross at the bottom or with two T-shaped supports).
3. Maximum convenience. Furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars should allow you to freely lean on the back of a chair, lean towards a table, and be conducive to a pleasant pastime. Items of furniture should be placed at a sufficient distance - this will allow clients of any height and weight to feel like dear guests.
4. Possibility of surgical restoration. Even the most expensive furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars breaks down over time. Therefore, the design of the furniture should allow it to be repaired in the shortest possible time.
5. Furniture hygiene. Very strict requirements are imposed on compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards at catering points. To make it easier for employees to clean up, it is recommended to buy furniture for restaurants and cafes from materials that can withstand treatment with disinfectants, can withstand frequent washing and dry cleaning, and have good moisture-repellent properties.

Criteria for choosing furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars

One of the main factors in choosing furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars is the purpose of the catering outlet. There are different requirements for outdoor and indoor products, but any furniture must be functional and comfortable to use. Here are some nuances that are always taken into account in the process of purchasing or individually ordering restaurant furniture.

Dimensions

One of the common mistakes of restaurateurs is excessive cluttering of the halls of cafes, bars and other establishments. There should be enough free space in the room, so it is important not to make a mistake with the quantity and dimensions of furniture. When determining sizes, the following rules are taken into account:

• So that the client does not experience inconvenience, the distance between the seat and the top of the tabletop should be in the range from 29 to 32 cm.
• The best options for tables purchased for restaurants and large cafes are rectangular tables with dimensions of 80 x 90 or 85 x 120 cm, square dining furniture with dimensions of 90 x 90 cm, or round tables with a diameter of 90-110 cm.< /li>
• The height of standard tables varies from 68 to 75 cm. Banquet tables, which require more complex table settings, are larger in size. The height of such furniture reaches 76-78 cm, the width - 120-150 cm. If the owner of the establishment plans to use furniture for catering, folding furniture will be a good choice. Folding tables for outdoor restaurants and cafes are mobile, easy to use, and easy to transport. Many models have a height adjustment option.
• Traditional parameters of a bar counter are from 70 to 80 cm in width and 115-150 cm in height. The thickness of the tabletop should be at least 5 cm. As for the type of counters, straight models are most often used in restaurants and sports bars, and corner furniture is used in small cafes and bistros.

In furniture for restaurants, sofas with a high back are often found. Such furniture takes up a lot of space, but it allows you to create private areas. But there should be enough space between the sofas for guests and staff to move around.   

Material

When choosing furniture material for a restaurant or cafe, you must take into account the overall concept of the object. Thus, in food service outlets with Mediterranean cuisine, visually light furniture made of MDF or high-quality plastic looks appropriate. Leather sofas and tables made of natural wood will look noble in the tavern. People come to a coffee shop to rest and relax, so soft chairs or armchairs covered in velor and tables with imitation stone countertops are indispensable in such establishments.

Color

Color design in the restaurant business is especially important. The color of furniture helps create a comfortable atmosphere and affects a person’s mood, so maximum attention should be paid to this criterion. For example, furniture for a family-type cafe designed for visitors with children is usually decorated in bright colors. As an alternative, you can choose furniture in neutral shades and dilute it with bright details.

Beige and pink shades will be a good choice for many catering outlets: they evoke a feeling of security, evoke pleasant memories of youth, and awaken the appetite. But blue is not considered the best furniture color for restaurants and cafes. According to experts, this is due to the fact that blue color is very rarely found in natural foods.

A few more tips for choosing

Some more tips will help make your establishment unique and attract customers:

• You shouldn’t save too much on furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars. It depends on her whether the guests will feel comfortable. A person will definitely return to an establishment with delicious dishes and a comfortable atmosphere and bring friends.
• It is worth drawing up and approving a budget in advance. If you run out of money during the renovation process, this will cause damage to the image of the establishment and a blow to your wallet, since you may have to purchase the remaining furniture for the restaurant or cafe at new prices.
• There are no trifles in the restaurant business. Therefore, it is important to pay attention not only to the choice of furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars, but also to the selection of decor: curtains, table textiles, cute trinkets that improve people’s mood.
• It is advisable to entrust the development of a cafe or restaurant concept to professionals. Specialists will pay attention to every detail, taking into account the characteristics of a particular object. The joint work of restaurateurs and designers will help turn an establishment into a work of art.

At Garda Decor you can order comfortable, stylish furniture for restaurants, bars and cafes. Garda Decor carries out the entire cycle of work, from the development of an individual design project to complete packaging. Specialists will make tables, chairs, bar counters and other furnishings, select lighting fixtures, mirrors and textiles that will fit perfectly into the interior of the establishment. All products fully meet the safety and sanitation requirements for furniture for restaurants, cafes and bars. Cooperation with a company that performs work strictly within the agreed time frame allows the customer to significantly reduce time and financial costs.