When looking at a catalog or online for just the right chair for your restaurant, pictures of potential chairs are great. However, there is much more to know than can be determined just by looking at a picture.
3 D’s of Restaurant Chairs
Below are the three D’s regarding restaurant chairs to consider for business owners before purchasing chairs for their restaurant.
1. Design
The first of the 3d’s is design, which is how the chair looks to the customer. There are many available chair styles, from country to contemporary. The design of the chair will be a very prominent feature since so many of the same model chairs are used in a restaurant. Planning is important to get the right feel. For example, many bars and restaurants will use wood from the floors to the ceiling. In this case, a molded chair manufactured or accented with resin or fabric may not be appropriate.
A wood chair might be a better fit. Many bars and restaurants that use a lot of wood in their décor tend to not as contemporary. A solid wood chair with back slats would be very appropriate for these establishments. Some restaurants that have a more formal design will use a low back upholstered chair to match the colors of the restaurant. The design tip here is doing not pick a chair just because it looks great by itself; instead consider the whole design of the restaurant.
2. Dimensions
Dimensions are critical to know about restaurant chairs for several reasons. Seat height is important because if a chair’s seat is not high enough, customers may feel that their chin is resting on the table top, or that the restaurant table top is uncomfortably short. Restaurant chairs need to be about 18” in height from the floor to the top of the seat. If the seat height is even an inch taller or shorter than 18”, it will affect the comfort of the customer. The seat may look all right in a picture, but if it doesn’t fit the target customer, the chair is not right for the application.
In general, younger people tend to accept smaller chairs without a problem, while older people seem to like wider seating. Seat width should be about 15” to 18”, with 18” being the front width of the seat. The last important dimension is the overall height because when looking at one chair the height may seem appropriate. However, when looking at 75 chairs in a dining area, the look can look overwhelming or too crowded if the chair is too tall and too many chair backs are showing. An overall chair height of 32” – 34” is usually appropriate to be comfortable for the customers, and to fit into the overall design of the tables, restaurant chairs and dining area.
3. Durability
Durability is very important when purchasing restaurant chairs. Proper construction of chairs is important as it determines the chairs’ durability, so that they may last for many years. Seeing a chair in a picture that looks sturdy may be a false impression. On wood chairs a compressed mortise and tenon joint is superior construction, followed by tight fitting leg joints that use a nail or screw to secure stretchers into the leg.
An example of a weak wood chairs are those that are finished first as pieces, and then assembled, causing the glue to not stick to the stretchers. After a year or so, these chairs tend to fall apart. When considering metal chairs, look for welded joints, as opposed to metal chairs that are assembled with a nut and bolt. Vibration from moving a metal chair around can loosen the nut and bolt causing the chair to fail. It is best to stick with welded joints for metal chairs.
Conclusion
Two chairs may look similar from two different vendors, but they may not have the same design, dimensions and durability. Using these 3 Ds, and knowing asking the right basic questions to ask, you can find the perfect chair that will last for years.
