Restaurants fall victim to trends just like everyone else. When new, your design could have been cutting edge, it could have felt fresh and new and brought in curious diners who then become long-time fans. A decade goes by, and that fresh new look you once sported is now going to look dated. This is both because the design trends have long since passed and due to general wear and tear.
That is why a restaurant redesign is so essential to keep your customers engaged and to entice new diners in. You don’t need to go over the top and completely change your restaurant’s vibe and floorplan, but with this guide you can give it that much-needed update it has been craving:
Audit What You Have
Now is the time to take a big stock of what you currently have. Make a note of any dents, scrapes, rips, and any other signs of wear and tear. Fabric seats often wear through and will need to be reupholstered, tables can get scratched up over time, and so on.
You will either need to replace the problem or have it fixed. If you can fix it you have the opportunity to redesign an element of your restaurant on a budget.
Use What You Have
If you want an easy way of updating your restaurant, simply reupholster the seats. It will give your restaurant a fresh new look and the fabric, color, and pattern you use can make a big splash on your overall design.
The same applies to your tables, bar, and so on. By giving it a new coat of paint or by sanding it down and staining it you can give it a new look and make it look brand new without the costly reinstallation.
Try a New Layout
You may not have a lot of options, but it never hurts to simply just try a new layout. This will be more useful for restaurants and cafes that have tables only, rather than booths and tables, as you will have more freedom with shuffling around sets.
Add Decorative Elements
New décor can go a long way. To start, however, you are going to want to replace the most important elements, like your restaurant signs. From menu letter boards to restroom signs, to opening hours. All of these should be uniform and look great. A modern facelift on these areas of interest (as our eyes are naturally drawn to words and signs) can help your restaurant feel fresh.
The second level of décor is purely decorative. You can find cheap, but beautiful décor items second hand or as a job lot offer. Think new paintings or photos, new lighting fixtures, and even new cutlery.
These simple updates do wonders to make your restaurant feel like an entirely different space and can help you appear trendy in an instant.
Offer Experience, Not Just Food
Today’s customer wants an experience. A great meal is already well on its way, but if you really want to wow them consider adding live music days, quizzes, new year’s parties, and so on. What works for you will depend on your venue.
Find ways to make your restaurant the place to be, and you will really have redesigned your restaurant successfully.