In your restaurant, its furniture is a crucial design element. More than that, it sets the tone for the dining experience. Before a customer can order and taste the dishes, the restaurant chairs and tables make the first impression about what they should expect. Therefore, it is necessary to get your restaurant chairs right, after all, it affects your customer’s satisfaction and, therefore, your restaurant’s sales.
Traditionally, restaurant chairs matched with the tables resulting in a boring, predictable, and expensive set-up. However, with modern concepts and bold designs, restaurant owners are in for creating fresh looks.
Types of Restaurant Chairs:
when it comes to restaurant chairs, design options are endless these days, which can be a bit confusing. From chair materials to your budget, from your restaurant type to your target customer base, read on to know about all the aspects while selecting the restaurant chairs.
1. Plastic Chairs
Plastic is a common, versatile, and affordable material for restaurant chairs. Plastic chairs are usually made from Polypropylene and Polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is a durable, hard material, whereas Polypropylene is lightweight and cheap. Mass-production and availability in various shapes, designs, and colors make plastic chairs the go-to material for any restaurant theme. Moreover, they are easy to clean, require minimum maintenance, and are stackable. However, they are prone to scratching or chipping. Also, if you are using them outdoors, make sure to bolt them safely to avoid being blown during windy season.
2. Metal Chairs
Metal has been one of the oldest restaurant chair materials. Metal chairs, due to their high tensile strength, are available in various designs and shapes. Welded joints give them strength and durability despite being lightweight. Treated and painted steel metal chairs offer resistance to chipping or scratching. However, steel metal chairs are prone to moisture, so be cautious while using them outdoors. On the other hand, aluminum has the perfect mix of steel’s strength and plastic’s lightweight. All-weather outdoor restaurant chair made from aluminum are cost-effective, affordable, and stackable.
3. Wood Chairs:
The old-world, classic, vintage look of wooden chairs is unbeatable. Pine, Teak, Ash, Oak, Beech Wood, etc., are some of the popular materials used for making commercial restaurant furniture. Contrary to the earlier days, modern, automated manufacturing technology produces wooden chairs in various stains, colors, and surface finishes matching your restaurant’s ambiance. From dark-colored wood to lighter or shaded hues, wooden restaurant chairs create a rustic and visually appealing look for everyone. A protective finish sealer helps in protecting the wooden chairs from scratches. Despite being bulky, moisture-absorbent, and expensive, the natural and warm look of wooden chairs alleviates the elegance of your restaurant and makes it welcoming.
4. Upholstered Chairs
Nothing says comfort and elegance like upholstered chairs. However, if you ask any restaurant owner, he will have his reservations while recommending upholstered chairs. Since upholstered chairs are prone to stains and spillages, cleaning and maintaining them can be a nightmare unless you select the right material. Here are some of the most commonly used materials for upholstered chairs:
- Leather: Albeit expensive, the durability and natural shine of leather add elegance and exclusiveness to your restaurant. Although you can clean most of the spills using a damp cloth, it is prone to scratches.
- Velvet: The fibers of cotton, nylon, and silk give richness and soft- texture to velvet. This luxurious material is strong and durable but can be quite difficult to maintain and clean.
- Natural Fibers: Mostly made from cotton and linen, these materials are eco-friendly, sturdy, and affordable. However, they are prone to staining and hard to clean.
- Synthetic Fibers: Synthetic fibers like viscose and polyester are more durable and last longer than natural fibers. Although they are resistant to fading and staining, they absorb oil stains that are difficult to remove.
5. Stacking and Folding Chairs:
In a restaurant, space is always premium. That’s why stacking and folding restaurant chairs are a smart choice. They are space-efficient, cost-effective, durable, long-lasting, and easy to maintain. You can use them for buffet parties, conferences, and other events to increase the seating capacity. Also, when they are not in use, you can stack or fold and store them away. From plastic to metal, from wooden to upholstered, stacking chairs are available in various designs, colors, and style options that compliment your restaurant’s décor. Similarly, elegant, versatile stackable barstools and backless chairs add style quotient in the dining area.
Things to consider while buying Restaurant Dining Chairs:
There are various aspects that affect the layout of restaurants and major aspects of restaurant furniture. Check out some important things to consider restaurant dining chairs.
1. Restaurant’s Type:
If yours is a fine dining restaurant or you host lavish banquets, consider high-back wood chairs as they set the tone for formal events. On the other hand, if you have a family restaurant for sit-down dining, opt for low-back chairs or compact plastic booths that create a casual ambiance. Similarly, if yours is a fast-food joint, go for minimalistic plastic or metal restaurant chairs as they are affordable and easy to clean.
2. Restaurant’s Targeted Customer Base:
Just like your menu or the dishes you serve, your target customers can narrow down restaurant chair choices as well. For example, since family and casual diners encounter kids and spills, consider plastic and metal restaurant chairs. Similarly, if your restaurant is nearby a workplace or a factory, select metallic chairs with a warm and bold accent. For high-end clientele, opt for vintage wooden upholstered chairs.
3. Size of Restaurant:
As a restaurant owner, you would want to maximize the seating capacity to increase sales. However, while deciding the number of tables and chairs, make sure that you don’t end up compromising your guest’s comfort. As a general rule, an armless restaurant chair must be around 20-22 inches wide for optimum comfort. Chair arms take additional 6-8 inches. If you are low on space, you can replace restaurant chairs and tables with compact booths.
4. Restaurant’s Budget:
All things said and done, it all boils down to your budget. Whether you are opening your new restaurant or face-lifting an existing one, one wrong decision and your budget can shoot off significantly. During an ongoing project, material cost, labor cost, etc., tend to add up quickly. Therefore, if you have your eyes fixed for a particular restaurant chair, ask yourself, will a cheaper version suffice? Similarly, you might get tempted to opt for residential or used restaurant chairs for sale to cut costs. Do not fall into that trap. Always buy heavy-duty, commercial-grade restaurant chairs from trusted manufacturers. Moreover, if you opt to buy used chairs, consider initial expenses and maintenance costs in the future.
Summing it up
When it comes to your restaurant business, chairs can be the deciding factor. Proper seating complements your restaurant’s ambiance and provides a comfortable dining experience to your customers. Finding the perfect chairs for your restaurant requires you to consider the type of your restaurant, your target client base, your budget, and the atmosphere you wish to create. This handy guide highlights some of the crucial things to consider while buying the restaurant chairs.
At Missouri Table & Chair, we remain committed to finding the perfect restaurant chairs, whatever be your requirements. With over 40 years of professional expertise, our quality manufacturing and personalized products ensure that you get the best restaurant chairs at competitive prices. Explore from our wide range of products or get in touch with us for your custom requirements.
