The Science Behind Restaurant & Hotel Designs
Some restaurants do extremely well and some don’t, but it’s not always the food that is to blame. Restaurant decor has a large psychological impact on visitors, altering perceptions and opinions.
You stand to please more people with the effort you put into designing your restaurant or hotel than the food and beverages.
So what is in vogue today, you ask? Today’s designers and clients are both experimenting with shapes, sizes, colours and trends. While some are reviving retro styles and patterns the others are creating new trends. The common crux of their research is a deeper question aimed towards the human psyche and understanding of the hormonal functioning. But to get things started and a tad bit easier, let’s start by saying that to please a customer completely you need to please all five of their senses.
We will be taking you through two of the most relevant senses to the interior design industry.
Nobody can deny that the first impression of any restaurant or hotel begins with the way it looks. Hospitality is a game of sensory pleasure and the most important aspect is in the visual. Many hipster cafes today, are buzzing with the millennial crowd only because the designers have hit the nail in its head. A millennial is all about the uber cool elements, the extra decor pieces and the nostalgic experience. Many cafes are now employing rustic interiors, industrial lighting and vintage tableware to bring a sense of home to a cafe while still being chic and modern.
Similarly, hotels today are beginning to ditch the boring beige walls and wooden panels. They are playing around with more colours, the bolder and darker variety that triggers a sense of luxury. Deep violets, mauves and marsala reign supreme in the choice of colours in the industry. Furniture is also taking a very plush turn. Nobody wants to pay for discomfort and the hospitality industry understands that best. Tall back armchairs in lush velvets, stunning chesterfields, plump cushions and throws are all a part of the experience now. Lighting also plays a massive role in making a customer feel comfortable. If it’s too bright or too dark, you have a rather distasteful experience. Many restaurants and hotels are now using soft, warm lights to create a comforting environment as against the hard UV tube lights from back in the day.
The most undervalued sensory pleasure is that of touch. From time immemorial, soft and plush fabrics have been a thing of luxury and owned only by the elite. Hand-painted soft cotton, linens, silks and buttery chiffons are all fabrics associated with luxury. When you incorporate such fabrics into your hospitality upholstery you create an impression that your guest is akin to the royalty and are the most important people in the premises. This is the simplest way to make a customer happy in the hospitality sector. Along with thoughtful placement, good design goes a long way.
You will notice that luxury hotels and restaurants always include soft rugs, aesthetic table cloth, runners and napkins. Gorgeous curtains with just the right amount of daylight penetrating through it and bedding fit for the king — are just a few of the elementary must-haves to ensure a returning customer.
The science behind nailing the restaurant look maybe a rather daunting one, but with a detailed understanding of human psyche, many designers now are able to ace this requirement really well. Are you looking to source for a hospitality project? Send us your requirement here and we will help you source the best!
