7 Ways Your Restaurant Décor Could Fail to Live Up to a Good Atmosphere

How important is restaurant décor to your establishment? There has been a definite trend for fast casual restaurants to upgrade their dining rooms. McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and many other places have also been quick to jump on the casual restaurant décor upgrade. Restaurants like Chick-Fil-A are even in a trial period for tableside service.

Restaurant Atmosphere

You’ve probably heard the restaurant myth before. The restaurant could have the best food in the world but without good atmosphere, it will never make it. Is it true that people go out to eat for the atmosphere just as much as the food? You’ve probably seen the subpar restaurant pack in the customers because of ambiance before. On the other hand, the mom ‘n’ pop diners and greasy spoons haven’t gone out of business due to bad atmosphere.

If you feel like your restaurant décor could use some sprucing up, you may want to take a look at these seven common mistakes in restaurant design.

1. 1.      Cheap and tacky furniture

You might think that the culprit here is the booth or bar, but think again. Those single pole tables with four little chairs in the middle of the floor are some of the most uninviting furniture in your restaurant.

1. 2.      Bad lighting

Make sure your lighting is bright enough to read by.

1. 3.      Restaurant hodgepodge

Have you ever been in one of those restaurants that look like the graveyard of several restaurants before it? It comes in the form of things like the buffet from IHOP in the Chinese restaurant or a French restaurant inside a former Pizza Hut.

1. 4.      Carpeting that is painful to look at

Pick something that is subtle and muted if you have to go with carpet.

1. 5.      Muzak

Unless you are in a bar or a themed restaurant where the music is a part of the atmosphere, keep the music as background noise.

1. 6.      Temperature control too hot or too cold

Just because the staff is running around and hot, don’t freeze out the customers.

1. 7.      Lack of Room dividers

These also act as noise dividers and offer a certain amount of privacy that really adds to the atmosphere.

 

 

 

Tags: restaurant décor, restaurant design