4 Most Common Restaurant Design Mistakes to Avoid

  The average time for a profitable operation of a restaurant is approximately three years. After this period, ideas usually run out, there is a shortage of customers, and to generate profit owner should carry out a restaurant renovation. A creative interior design project undoubtedly decreases the further costs of renovation or restaurant remodeling. The more thought-out and timeless project is the fewer renovation costs. It is crucial in the era of social media when trends are changing dynamically. Therefore, when designing a restaurant space, it is worth discovering its potential and using it to the maximum, allowing for a variety of decor and various forms of fashionable accents. Below are some tips to avoid the most common mistakes, which may lead to expenses not anticipated by the budget.

1. No Design and Cost Estimate for Restaurant Renovation

  Starting refurbishment without the final interior vision is one of the most common mistakes. The lack of a project contributes to the difficulties in creating a plan and cost estimate for the renovation. Construction contractors working without a draft, even a sketch, act blindly. Non-functional solutions such as too small tables, narrow passages, uncomfortable chairs, too high or too low table tops, no places to hang coats and slippery floors do not encourage spending time in a restaurant. Think about your employees. Too small a kitchen, narrow bar, hard-to-reach break room or toilet reduce the comfort of work, effectively discouraging it. It can lead to a nasty surprise at the end. How to create a project? Ask an interior designer or architect for help or sketch yourself in free design apps and programs.

  Restaurant owners recognize the lack of a cost estimate as the biggest mistake. Failure to establish a renovation budget is usually associated with more significant than assumed expenses. Acting on the spur of the moment and without checking the account balance, you spend more. To avoid that, create a detailed cost estimate in advance. On a piece of paper or a spreadsheet, list all the planned work, necessary materials and restaurant equipment. Provide their current and undervalued prices. Add approximately 10% of the contingency reserve to your calculation.

2. The Use of Low-strength Materials

  When planning a budget for a restaurant fit-out, the owner should consider that restaurant furniture and interior elements are much more susceptible to damage than apartments. Table tops, floors and upholstery materials are exposed to maximum intensive use. It is worth investing in solid materials, such as vinyl panels often used in many popular restaurants. Regardless of the traffic, they retain a perfect appearance, without scratches, dents, cracks or discolouration. In addition, they are more adhesive than a traditional laminate, as evidenced by anti-slip tests following health and safety requirements.

  Shiny, smooth floors or light upholstery of chairs with visible dirt and discolouration look good only for a moment. No, even the most expensive piece of furniture or material will fulfil its task if it is not clean and tidy. A clever solution is a vinyl floor, which can deceptively imitate stone or wood, does not require special care and is easy to clean. Restaurant owners should focus on accessories, colour, shape and texture to build the desired atmosphere, so rearranging the restaurant will not incur high costs.

3. Careless Selection of Lighting and Sound System

  The type of lighting should match the character of the interior. The lighting is different for casual restaurants and different for luxury ones. Creating the right atmosphere for guests is a challenge, which is why both the intensity of the light and its colour are crucial. Inadequate lighting can make the space unfriendly and the served dishes unappetizing. It is worth using different types of lighting so that the interior looks good both during the day and at night.

  Another problem is the sound system that is not well suited to the nature of the place, which should be well thought out at the design stage. Sometimes it is worth taking care of such details as, for example, hiring an acoustician to help you properly distribute the sound sources around the premises.

4. Wrong Selection of the Renovation Company

  If you do not decide to carry out the renovation yourself, you need to spend a lot of energy finding the right contractor. Choose only officially operating companies recommended by other investors. They sign a contract, issue an invoice for their work and take responsibility for all actions. The wrong selection of a renovation company can lead to many problems such as too high costs or loss of money, delayed renovation and unsightly or incompatible projects.