Author Archives: Gayla

Buying Sets or Mix and Match Outdoor Furniture

The nuances of setting up a commercial business for success are numerous, from the initial design of the building to the table cloth thread count. There are a lot of decisions to be made that can drastically affect the overall look and atmosphere of your business. An essential part of any restaurant with an outdoor seating area is the furniture. Outdoor furniture can help create an inviting environment guests will love. While setting this ideal outdoor dining oasis, you can choose a uniformed set of matching furniture, or you can choose to mix up the norm with a combination approach. When choosing to buy a set or mix and match your outdoor furniture, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure you achieve the look of your desires.

Sets or Mix and Match Outdoor Furniture

One of the most important aspects when choosing to buy a set or mix and match your outdooroutdoor granite restaurant tables furniture is deciding what style and design best suits your overall restaurant. While indoor and outdoor furniture do not need to be an exact match, it is recommended to stay within your overall décor. For example, if your interior has a metropolitan vibe, but the outdoors has a rustic vibe, it will look displaced. When choosing outdoor furniture, a matching set offers unity and allows you to keep the furniture more basic so you can play up other design features or elements, such as funky wall art or vibrant oversized vases. However, the option of mix and match has its appeal, as well.

When mixing and matching furniture from different collections, you can create a unique look without looking sloppy, as many people are concerned. Mix and match style can be eclectic and funky, but it can still be a classy way to add different shapes or designs to a layout. For example, a round wooden table with square bar stools could add visual depth to any space.

When choosing to buy a set or mix and match your outdoor furniture, it is really a matter of preference and staying true to your unique sense of style for your outdoor oasis to come to life!

Weather-Resistant Patio Furniture for Restaurants

Outdoor Metal Restaurant FurnitureRestaurants with patios enjoy a distinct advantage – not only does a patio give customers a fresh and open place to sit and enjoy the outdoors while enjoying a great meal, but a good looking patio is like an advertisement for the restaurant.

Patio furniture is an underrated but critical aspect of your outdoor dining area, and choosing the right furniture is important to a successful restaurant. Commercial patio furniture needs to sustain a lot more use than residential furniture, hold up well and look good while doing so. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best options for weather-resistant patio furniture.

Teak

Teak is a popular choice, and a strong wood that’s ideal for patios because it resists water and decay, and doesn’t shrink or swell up in different weather conditions. Teak is durable and sturdy in the weather.  Some teak products can last over 70 years, even outdoors, but it does take maintenance if you want it to keep looking good.  There are also faux teak options, which feature the great appearance of real teak, but require much less maintenance.

Aluminum

Aluminum patio furniture is also a good choice for restaurants. While lighter, aluminum is similar to stainless steel. Of particular interest to restaurant owners is the fact that aluminum does not rust, and only slowly corrodes, meaning that aluminum furniture will last a lot longer than other materials.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is also strong and water-resistant, as well as attractive and versatile in design.  All stainless steel is not rust-proof, so if you are in a moist and especially salty area, ask if the stainless steel you are looking at will stand up to the elements.

Plastic

Plastics are not only versatile and completely waterproof, but they can be ordered in a wide range of shapes, sizes and colors. Plastics lack the strength of the metal and wood options, and in some circumstances they can warp from heat.  What you need to know with plastics is to purchase them from an experienced vendor that knows about what is quality plastic furniture so they will not warp or break.  For example, there are many different types of plastics and some manufacturers use too much calcium carbonate in the plastic to reduce cost or to make the furniture heavier.   Recycled plastic is also used and costs less, but it is not as durable.  Expect to pay a little more for the better value plastic furniture; it is a very good choice.

Table bases

Table in stainless steel or aluminum are more expensive than painted steel which are used mainly indoors.  If you are willing to do the work, you can use the lower cost steel bases that will rust and make them less prone to rusting and save quite a bit of money.  You can order steel bases, and spray paint them with rust inhibiting paint easily purchased at most hardware stores.  If you are in a climate that is very dry like Arizona, you could use the indoor steel bases outside, and only paint them if rust does appear.

There a number of additional factors to consider when choosing your restaurant’s patio furniture. Some of the key factors include the local climate, the ‘look and feel’ of your restaurant and patio, and the furniture’s cost. Taking the time to research, shop around and compare options can make a significant difference to your patio and restaurant.

 

 

 

Restaurant Furniture Can Help Quiet Noisy Restaurants

Do you ever go out with a large group of friends or family to dine at a neighborhood restaurant to celebrate a special occasion?  Maybe you and your significant other make reservations at your favorite dining establishment for a quiet, intimate dinner for two.  What could be better than relaxing and chatting while dining at one of your favorite restaurants?  The fact is you may not be doing much talking at all.  Many restaurants today are so loud that relaxing conversation is impossible.  In fact, in some areas it has been suggested that restaurant noise is customers’ second largest complaint, with bad service being the biggest complaint. Restaurant owners may want to consider how loud their restaurant is, and whether that is the type of atmosphere that will attract the desired type of customers and keep them coming back, or tend to irritate them and cause them to not return.

restaurant diners

Why Are Restaurants So Loud?

Restaurants in general usually are very loud places.  Most restaurants are made up of a few large dining spaces, instead of many smaller areas, such as a home would have.  Larger spaces contribute to higher noise levels.  Smaller rooms in restaurants would be problematic because it would be tough to arrange restaurant furniture for different size dining groups, and would create a terrible traffic pattern for customers and staff.  Many restaurants now feature harder surface materials, such as metal or concrete for flooring, ceilings and furniture, which can create a cleaner line or more sleek look in restaurants.  The use of softer materials, such as upholstered chairs and fabric tablecloths, is seen less often in today’s restaurant furniture and other materials.  Many restaurants now feature open kitchens so diners can watch their food being prepared, which adds even more noise from the din of pans, plates and cooks in the open kitchen.

Do Your Customers Like a Loud Restaurant?

Most customers don’t like a silent restaurant and would prefer a low level of music or background.  Many people as they age have impaired hearing, which can make it difficult to ascertain background noise and conversations with too much interference. On the other hand, some customers prefer louder, more frenetic music and the stimulation of a busy restaurant scene.  In fact, it’s been suggested that people in general seem to eat and drink faster when a restaurant is loud, which could assist busy restaurants in turning tables.  It’s also likely that faster tempos and louder sounds encourage people to drink and eat more which can bring restaurant higher profits.  Consider though, there is a huge difference between silent and extremely loud. In some trendy coastal restaurants, decibel meters have recorded readings as high as 90 decibels – that’s as loud as a lawnmower!  Whether your customers like to dine in a quieter or louder atmosphere, it is unlikely many customers enjoy that level of noise.  Do some research on your specific restaurant and customer type to determine the appropriate noise level for your business.

What Restaurants Can Do to Minimize Noise

There is a lot restaurants can do to minimize noise and make it more comfortable for patrons.  Soft surfaces and fabrics create a much less noisy environment than hard surfaces do.  Consider using a softer flooring surface such as carpeting rather than concrete or extremely hard wood floors.  If you can place a softer style dropped ceiling in your space, it will be much less noisy than using  a wide open, warehouse type ceiling.  You can purchase sound absorbing panels, which are upholstered or designed to look like art, and place them on the walls which will do a great job in muffling the sounds in noisy restaurants.  Restaurant furniture can do a great job in assisting with reducing restaurant noise.  Consider wood or metal chairs with highly upholstered backs and seats which will lessen noise.  Restaurant booths are thickly padded with soft surface seating and backs and will make any restaurant much quieter.  Restaurant tables can be covered with tablecloths and linens to muffle noise.  Purchasing a soft surface table, such as a padded commercial table can work well for some styles of restaurants.  Consider the appropriate level of noise for each individual restaurant, and these tips should do a lot to achieve the appropriate noise level for each restaurant dining space and keep customers happy and coming back.

 

Choosing the Right Outdoor Furniture

With all of the many decisions you make as a restaurant owner, it can start to seem overwhelming at times. From the smallest of details to the huge essentials, it all rests on your shoulders
to make sure your restaurant is equipped with the best options. When choosing the right outdoor furniture for your restaurant, we have some pointers to help make the decision process a little easier.

Choosing Outdoor Furniture

The first step in any planning process is deciding what you want the desired outcome to look like.restaurant tables and chairs
Imagine the perfect outdoor oasis for your guests and work towards that image, returning to it constantly. Once you have an idea in mind as a blueprint, consider your theme and décor. Nothing is more off-setting to the eyes of guests than having one décor theme inside and an
opposite theme outside. When choosing the right outdoor furniture for your restaurant, it is also important to consider other factors such as traffic and time of use for your outdoor seating. For example, if the outdoor dining space is going to be used only during the night at your restaurant instead of all day, it would be a lower traffic area and may have an impact on how much durability you require. If it is a higher traffic expectation, then a good suggestion is a table with a focus on weather-resistant sturdiness and ease of care, such as the popular metal grate designs with holes for easy cleaning.

Another factor to keep in mind with outdoor furniture for your restaurant is the type of material you choose. While wood is highly durable as an indoor option, as an outdoor option it would need to be moved indoors or covered from intense sunlight or heavy rain. When opting for an aluminum or stainless steel frame, it is suggested to make sure it has been specifically designed for outdoor use and has a protective coating to ensure a long life.

The matter of choosing the right outdoor furniture for your restaurant is a simple navigation of knowing the best options for your individual restaurant and no one knows your business better than you!

Choosing Hospitality Furniture

First impressions matter. No matter what industry you are in, making a great first impression could be the key to not only a satisfied guest but a guest that returns again. One of the first aspects of your business a guest might see are the waiting chairs or benches in the front lobby. These highly visible accents need to be in pristine condition and match the overall décor of the establishment in a way that is pleasing to the eye. It can be a daunting endeavor when choosing hospitality furniture. There are a lot of options available, and it is best to have a firm idea of what you want before shopping.

Choosing Hospitality Furniture

When choosing hospitality furniture, there are a few considerations to bear in mind. First of all, it isHospitality Furniture essential to know not only your décor and color scheme but also what your guests have come to expect from your establishment regarding style. Few things are more jarring for guests who frequent a business and then come into a completely different atmosphere the next visit. If you’re guests like excitement and cutting edge changes, this will be less of an issue when choosing hospitality furniture, which is why you should know your guests. Make sure you find the materials and colors that will best accentuate your business without requiring a major remodel of existing features.

Another factor for selecting the right hospitality furniture for your business is knowing what the maximum seating capacity is for your individual building. If the ADA requirements only allow 120, and you buy furniture to seat 140, not only are you violating ADA laws, you are also wasting money on furniture you don’t need and probably cramping the space available in your building to an uncomfortable level for your guests. Always know exactly how much seating or furniture you need to maintain a safe and comfortable environment.

When choosing hospitality furniture for your business, it is important to know before you go! Always do your research and have an idea in mind before you start perusing for commercial furniture. With a little planning and time, you can find the perfect furniture for your business!