For many restaurants, the only way to survive is to adapt. With limits on indoor dining still in place nationwide, adding outdoor furniture can help a restaurant get through these tough times. Designing an incredible outdoor dining space is easier than you think. Let’s go through the basics to get you started.
Speak to your style
How you decorate will depend on the style you’re going for. Style is special to each restaurant, and it includes the type of food, restaurant location and view, customer expectations, and the space available. After all, a dockside seafood bar is going to have a different vibe than an urban European bistro. The right feel is enhanced by picking furniture and décor that add to that style. For example, modern furniture would look out of place at a rustic-themed barbecue restaurant.
Climate control
Once you have an idea of what style you’re going for, you’ll have to consider the never-wavering weather. If your restaurant is in an area where there’s very little rain, you may not need to cover the dining area. You can design the space with sunlight and openness as key inspirations.
On the other hand, in rainy areas, you may have no choice but to offer some sort of enclosure. Even if your outdoor furniture materials are waterproof, your customers won’t enjoy rain soaking their entrees.
Intense sun can also be a problem, but one that you can solve with table-mounted umbrellas. (Think of all the colors, patterns and textures you can explore here!) Similarly, cold weather may require heaters to keep customers comfortable while high temperatures can make fans and misters a welcome addition.
Fabulous furnishings
Picking the right furniture is a crucial final step – not just for show and décor but also for quality and comfort. Keep the following in mind when deciding on your outdoor furniture:
- Durability. Materials have to deal with both regular use and weather. If your restaurant has high traffic, the furniture will wear faster too. Although the right furniture will stand up to normal wear and tear for years, it’s a good idea to cover tables and chairs when not in use.
- Weather. Rain can soak into materials that aren’t waterproof. If left untreated, it can even cause mildew. Oxford Garden features Sunbrella fabrics, which are waterproof and weather resistant.
- Seating and ambiance. These should reflect the style you’re creating. A casual, social restaurant may have closer seating and table settings for large groups (and therefore require more compact furniture). On the other hand, a luxurious establishment might have a greater distance between tables for more privacy. Décor like candles and plate settings add flair to your dining area to help set it apart.
Comfortability. Uncomfortable furniture can hurt your business. If customers end up with a sore bottom from sitting on hard chairs, they may not come back no matter how good the food is. Make sure your outdoor furniture is cozy for at least the amount of time it would take to eat an average meal.
Look no further
With so many choices for outdoor restaurant furniture, your imagination is the limit. Oxford Garden offers dozens of patterns, colors and styles for cushions, frames and fabrics. For customers who have a unique vision in mind, we can also create custom fabrics that’ll give your restaurant a look that nobody else will have. Whatever kind of restaurant you manage, regardless of the location, we have the outdoor furniture to make it a stylish, enjoyable experience.
LEARN MORE – https://staging.oxfordgarden.com/commercial-use/restaurant-furniture/