Soft surface seating both indoors and outside on a patio is a trend that customers now expect when they come to a restaurant. Soft seating is inviting for guests and comes with plenty of customization options and a variety of colors that make people feel just like they’re at home. That’s why these seats are generally the first filled in a restaurant, bar, cafe or hotel lounge. Learn how soft seating generates increased traffic for hospitality businesses, improves revenues and leads to a dramatic improvement in comfort.
Transforming Hard Surfaces
Owners and interior designers can turn a hard and uncomfortable restaurant experience into one that delivers a cozier feel through soft surface hospitality seating. By simply adding cushions and fabric designs, it’s possible to not only create a more comfortable atmosphere, but also to transform the look of your restaurant in a very cost-effective manner.
Soft seating allows hospitality owners and designers to change their color scheme quickly or add some accents to existing decor. Adding a sofa or two can also serve as a focal point where guests can wait to be seated or enjoy a meal.
Delivering Soft Seating Outside
Many restaurants, cafes and bars are increasingly including soft seating outdoors. After all, waterproof and durable restaurant patio seating offers a great way for guests to enjoy a beautiful view or soak up some sun on a nice day. It’s the type of highlight that can become a main selling point for your establishment, and there’s little doubt you’ll see foot traffic increase to your restaurant when you provide comfortable outdoor seating.
How Soft Seating Has Spread
Soft seating used to be considered non-traditional, but many companies have helped popularize this concept. Starbucks may have been one of the first establishments to include soft seating, but it has quickly spread across the hospitality industry. Even gas stations sometimes now include an area devoted to providing comfort for their guests with a leather armchair or fabric sofa along with more typical restaurant chairs. Operators of restaurants, cafes and bars are realizing that comfortable touches can increase customer satisfaction and provide a better dining experience, which means this trend is around to stay.
Ultimately, owners, designers and architects in the hospitality business that add at least some elements of soft seating to their layout will reap the benefits. Stay ahead of the competition by adding soft surfaces to your design, and you’ll notice the difference in foot traffic and customer satisfaction.
