There are a lot of things to take into consideration when designing the interior of a restaurant. The psychology behind the design for restaurants will ensure that the establishment is constructed in a manner that entices customers visually and physically. Dining in a restaurant is an experience that is more than only the food. Your dining experience with your guests begins the moment they enter the restaurant (and often before they step into). Things like the ambiance, furniture, lighting, acoustics, and other elements of the sensory space work together to provide an enjoyable experience for each patron.
What is Restaurant Interior Design Psychology?
Restaurant interior design goes beyond buying gorgeous furniture and having a stylish theme. The interior designers will go extreme efforts to create the ideal space for a restaurant, employing the psychology of restaurants as a reference.
Interior design psychology for restaurants is setting up the conditions to create a controlled and desirable ambiance. It’s about providing the perfect mix of various aspects of a restaurant’s design that gives guests the most enjoyable dining experience. The psychology of interior design in restaurants demands an exact and well-informed equilibrium of various factors, which we’ll discuss in the following.
The Most Important Elements of Restaurant Interior Design Psychology
Five key elements that are essential to the psychology of interior design. We’ll examine these elements and discuss how restaurants utilize psychological aspects of design in their interiors to benefit themselves.
1 Color
In the design of interiors for restaurants, color psychology is an essential element. Three colors are considered the top for restaurants due to their ability to stimulate appetite. These are orange, red, and yellow. They are the most popular choice for restaurants and with good reason. Red is among the most effective colors for stimulating appetite. Red is a bright color that sends a strong signal for appetite in the brain of humans. This is why most fast-food and food packaging use vibrant red as their main color. Think Coca-cola, McDonald, KFC, Kellogg’s, Kit Kat, etc. Both yellow and orange are stimulants of appetite, which is why the brain connects these colors with warmth and happiness. However, you can paint your entire restaurant yellow or purchase all furniture in red. There’s a science behind it and a technique that lets you blend all the various elements to make a design that aligns with your restaurant’s design and goals for the business. Keep studying.
2. Lighting
The lighting in restaurants sets the overall mood and is a vital aspect of the psychological aspects of a restaurant. There are three major kinds of lighting for restaurants. These three lighting styles must work in harmony to create the desired atmosphere.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting can be described as the principal illumination of a location. The ambient lighting determines your restaurant’s lighting and the space’s overall mood. The ambient lighting depends on the kind of restaurant you are in, but these general guidelines are in place. Bright lighting sets a vibrant atmosphere and is better for casual, fast-paced eateries where people can move around quickly. Think fast-food eateries and casual eateries such as cafes. The lighting in low levels is ideal for fine and upscale restaurants. It creates a cozy and relaxing atmosphere that encourages customers to relax confident, and engage in conversation. If you’re a restaurant
Task Lighting
Have you visited a restaurant so dark that you required turning off your phone’s light to see the menu? The restaurant you were in needs better task lighting. Lighting for tasks helps patrons and staff members complete basic tasks such as reading the menu, locating their table, getting to the bathroom, etc.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting is an element of interior design that can change the look of a space and make it a memorable experience. Accent lighting can draw attention to certain areas in the restaurant, like artwork on the walls, distinctive sculptures, etc.
3. Scent
What scent do you wish to greet visitors as they enter your restaurant? The scent of food that is cooking in the restaurant’s kitchen or perhaps a scent that is curated or something seasonal, like mint or spices for autumn or even nothing? Research has proven that a pleasant, memorable scent in a restaurant will likely bring guests back. The smell is one of five scenes closely tied to memory, influencing how people recall their dining experience in the restaurant. It also alters the overall perception of a location. The scent is a major method restaurants can employ psychology to benefit. Consider Bakeries, for instance. They rely heavily on the psychological power of smell and utilize the power of smell to their advantage. The scent of freshly baked bread and cakes can entice almost everyone and cause an instant desire.
The aroma of a restaurant must be pleasant but not distracting. It should remain in the background and enhance your dining experience. The Chicago-based Michelin five-star restaurant Alinea carefully recognizes scent’s significance in the dining experience. They serve dishes accompanied by an aromatic vapor pillowcase punctured once an item is served.
4. Acoustics and Music
Acoustics are a crucial aspect of the psychological aspects of eating out. The restaurant’s type will determine what kind of sound they will provide. However, it would help if you were careful not to create a noisy or quiet restaurant. If a restaurant is too noisy, it could distract customers from eating and interrupt the conversation. For instance, playing music that is too loud could cause people to shout louder, thereby making the noise more loud. It is important to remember that people eat out to socialize, so they need to be able to hear one another. If the restaurant is quiet and crowded, it can make it appear unpopular or cause customers to feel isolated and self-conscious. This can make customers feel like they’re not in privacy since people across the table can listen to them as they speak.
5. Furniture and Layout
The most important rule when creating the layout and selecting restaurant furniture is that every table must be a top table. Whatever the location a customer is seated at, they must feel they have a great seat and a pleasant dining experience. Many guests like to choose their table or prefer sitting in particular sections of the restaurant, particularly for regular customers. However, the right layout and furniture design for a restaurant’s interior will ensure that each table is a top table. When we say a table that is good, the furniture and layout are well-thought-out to ensure that the customer doesn’t feel cheated.