Restaurant decor ideas

27th September 2023

When it comes to restaurants, it’s not just the food that contributes to success. Restaurant interior design is vitally important in getting diners in the door and turning them into returning customers.

With so much good food available across the UK, and most establishments now offering takeaway, getting customers into your physical restaurant is more difficult than ever. Restaurant owners need to consider how their restaurant looks on social media and marketing materials in order to increase footfall.

Whether you’re looking to spruce up your eatery with a few extra touches or are considering a complete redesign, carry on reading for our selection of restaurant decor ideas.

Modern restaurant design

In today’s fast-paced world, many diners want sleek and contemporary restaurant designs. Modern restaurant decor focuses on clean lines, minimalist furnishings and a simple colour palette.

If you’re considering this restaurant design style, you should keep most of your furnishings simple and include a statement piece of art or furniture to stand out among the rest. Because modern restaurant design favours simplicity and functionality, it can be more user-friendly for staff and a ‘less is more’ approach can improve cleanliness, too.

If you’re considering modern restaurant furniture, our Naso Side Chairs or Activ Cafe Chairs may be just what you’re looking for. Read our full guide on how to modernise a restaurant in order to transform your space into somewhere your customers and staff will love.

Simple furnishings and colour scheme
Less is more approach
Functional furniture
Top tip: include a statement piece of furniture or art to help your restaurant stand out

Rustic restaurant decor

For those businesses who want to convey a cosy and relaxed environment, rustic restaurant decor is the way to go. Natural materials help to bring through an element of nature, making spaces feel tranquil and relaxed. Consider exposed wood beams, stone features and natural lighting where possible. Earthy tones help to combine everything together.

Brooklyn Outdoor Armchairs are a great choice for any restaurants looking to invest in rustic furniture.

Natural materials such as wood and stone
Light and earthy colour palette
Utilise wood beams and natural lighting where possible
Top tip: big clocks and light shades help convey a ‘farmhouse’ look that can complete your space

Luxury restaurant design

If you’re looking to present more high-end food in your establishment, luxury restaurant design is the way to impress your clientele. Featuring rich materials, plush furnishings and extravagant details, luxury decor will help your restaurant feel memorable and elegant.

To pull off luxury restaurant decor you should incorporate marble table tops with upholstered dining chairs like the Elisa HB Restaurant Chair to exude class. Luxury doesn’t have to be expensive, you can add bountiful flower arrangements across your restaurant to bring a sense of opulence, or paint detailing in silver or gold to add a sense of grandeur.

Utilise rich materials and plush furnishings
Feature marble table tops
Avoid too many clashing colours and patterns
Top tip: subtle detailing can make a big difference and ensure your space is both classy and luxurious

Industrial restaurant decor

Industrial restaurant decor takes inspiration from urban factories and renovated warehouses and is characterised by exposed brick walls, metal accents and a raw aesthetic. This look can be particularly effective for breweries or restaurants in converted industrial spaces.

You can get the industrial look by investing in furniture with distressed materials and utilising benches. You can also consider larger seating areas as opposed to individual tables. Other elements you can incorporate are low hanging lights to alter the room’s mood and exposed fittings, just make sure everything meets health and safety requirements.

Fraser Vintage Bar Stools are a great option for those wanting to bring industrial chic to their restaurant. Busy restaurants can utilise these to seat patrons while they wait for a table and increase revenue at the bar.

Showcase exposed brick and fittings
Invest in furniture with metal accents and distressed materials
Experiment with low hanging light fittings to play with the rooms ambience
Top tip: try using larger tables to encourage bigger groups – this works well in this type of space

Maximalist restaurant design

Maximalist design is one way to turn your eatery into more than just a restaurant and transform it into an experience in itself. Incorporate bright colours, extravagant decorations and wild textures to really show off this design style. Maximalist design doesn’t just mean anything goes, though. Make sure to not go overboard and ensure the space remains user-friendly.

Maximalist decor can really help spaces which aren’t blessed with preferable features such as natural lighting etc and can help transform a restaurant that has otherwise awkward nooks and crannies.

Mezzola Piccola Dining Chairs are perfect for a maximalist aesthetic. With two colours on each chair and bespoke materials available on request, they guarantee to stand out while fitting into your restaurant’s style.

Use bright colours and a variety of textures
Add unique decorations where possible to help your space stand out
Ensure you don’t go overboard and add items for the sake of it
Top tip: think outside the box – you could incorporate different spaces within your restaurant and decorate with their own theme