Choosing an aesthetic for your business can be overwhelming – there are a lot of restaurant design and decor ideas out there! As you open your new restaurant you have a lot of decisions to make: from choosing your restaurant POS to choosing the napkins, so help you narrow down your options, we’ve compiled a list of design ideas for restaurants along with tips to help you decide on which look is right for your menu, location, and target customers.
Check Out These Restaurant Design and Decor Ideas
1. Support Local Artists
If you have a lot of open wall space that you want to design on a budget, reach out to local talent for help. By featuring a new artist or group of artists either monthly or quarterly, you get a rotating collection of unique decor and local artists get their work seen and potentially sold.
2. Go Green
Indoor plants are having a moment right now, so decorate your space with lots of greenery. Not only are plants beautiful and relaxing, but many help purify the air. They also make a visual connection for guests about the freshness of your ingredients.
3. Open Up the Space
Make the kitchen itself part of the decor, especially if you have a unique focal point, like a wood-burning oven for pizza. If opening up the kitchen isn’t a possibility, consider an exposed wine “cellar,” whiskey tunnel, or something else to give guests a glimpse of the BOH. Inviting people to get close to your products gets them talking and the more they learn, the more they tend to spend.
4. Murals and Wall Art
If you want to showcase a local artist but aren’t into the gallery-inspired idea above, hire an artist whose work you admire to create a mural. Guests won’t be able to resist a selfie with this Instagram-worthy piece of art, giving you added publicity in the form of user-generated content. No room inside for mural-sized art? Put a mural on your building’s exterior instead!
5. Typography
When done right, typography as decor is always a hit. Bold graphics, marquee letters, diagrams, and charts are all fun (and informative) ways to add type to your design scheme.
6. Pick a Theme
Themed restaurants have a reputation for being a bit overboard, but they don’t have to be. Try to pick a theme that isn’t too trendy – it will look dated in just a few years. Instead, pick something that reflects your menu or brand and incorporate your theme in a modern way, like Ladybird’s 1970s-style summer camp theme.
7. Embrace the Classics
Certain looks are classics for a reason, as long as it works with your restaurant design. French bistros, ‘50s-style diners, or a classic pizzeria look with the checker tablecloths can all lend a sense of nostalgia while still having a modern twist.
“Start out with a really strong concept board. Sometimes things shift and get sidetracked during the process because some fabrics are no longer available or the budget constraints require finding alternatives. It is always good to check back to the original intent.”
