Key takeaways

• Restaurant interior design should reflect the main concept, which helps to elevate the dining experience.
• While aesthetic appeal is necessary to reinforce brand identity, functional design is equally important to ensure smooth operations.
• Spacious, well-ventilated, and well-lit kitchen areas are crucial for staff comfort and improved back-of-house productivity.
• Working with interior design experts can help you avoid common mistakes like mismatched furniture and poorly designed floor plans that disrupt functionality.

Maybe you have a passion for cooking, and your close friends and family have encouraged you to open a restaurant. While cooking comes naturally to you, launching a restaurant involves much more.

Aside from finding the right location, securing permits, and raising working capital, you also need to plan your restaurant interior design. The design you come up with will be the main identity of your restaurant, giving it a unique touch to stand out in a crowded market.

However, designing your interior isn’t as simple as it seems. From layout and lighting to furniture and flow, there’s a lot to consider to make sure your space is both aesthetically appealing and functional.

Here, we’ve put together these restaurant interior design guidelines to help you better understand what it takes to build a space that truly reflects your brand and draws more customers in. Keep on reading!

Why is restaurant interior design important?

Previously serving as a means for convenience and socialisation, dining out is now seen as an experience. The trend is particularly popular among Gen Z, or individuals born between 1995 – 2012, where they expect a holistic experience from a restaurant, consisting of aesthetic appeal, personalisation, and authenticity, to name a few.

Given this shift in consumer expectations, it’s no surprise that a vast number of restaurants strive to meet these experiential demands in order to stand out in a highly competitive market.

Restaurant interior design guidelines

There are a lot of factors to consider when it comes to designing your restaurant’s interior. If you wonder where to start, take a look at these restaurant interior design tips to help you create a space that meets modern expectations and leaves a lasting impression.

1. Define your concept

Your restaurant’s concept serves as its foundation. With a well-defined concept, you’ll have a better sense of direction to design a space that aligns with your business goals and delivers a meaningful experience for your customers.

Here are key questions to ask to help you define your concept:

• What type of restaurant are you opening? – Fine dining, fast casual, and cafés each come with their own set of designs to match customer expectations.
• What kind of theme do you want to highlight? – Culinary is a form of art, and your restaurant’s theme helps express that artistry through atmosphere and overall ambience.
• What is your brand identity? – A brand identity, consisting of elements like colour scheme, typography, and logo, helps reinforce your restaurant’s personality and ensure a cohesive look throughout the space.
• Who is your target audience? – Appealing to a younger vs older crowd, or casual diners vs business professionals, will influence everything from your layout and ambience to lighting and décor choices.

2. Determine your budget

Designing your restaurant requires a significant amount of investment. Setting a clear budget early on helps to avoid overspending and ensures you can allocate funds wisely across other key areas like kitchen equipment, staffing, and working capital.

Here’s how to determine your interior design budget:

• Decide the portion of your total budget you’re willing to allocate to interior design, after accounting for other major expenses.
• Identify your priorities. For example, if you’re opening a fine dining restaurant, investing in premium materials and a high-end ambience should be a top priority.
• Set aside a contingency fund. Reserve around 10-15% of your design budget for unexpected costs, such as material price increases, damaged item replacements, or last-minute changes.

3. Follow the requirements and standards

There are some essential, though often unwritten, requirements for restaurant design, such as the division between the back-of-house (BOH) and front-of-house (FOH) areas. Typically, around 40% of the space must be allocated for the BOH, including the kitchen, storage, and dishwashing areas, while the remaining 60% is reserved for the dining and entry areas.

To further elevate the design, there are also restaurant architecture standards to follow, which ensure functionality and safety. These include:

• Fire safety: Ensure your space has clearly marked emergency exits in case of a fire.
• Accessibility: Ensure accessibility for all guests, including those with disabilities, by providing ramps and wide doorways that allow easy access for wheelchairs.
• Room occupancy: Make sure that your space complies with local occupancy regulations, ensuring comfort and preventing overcrowding.

Additionally, as a restaurant owner in Singapore, you must also make the necessary submissions to relevant authorities, such as:

• Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF): Apply for a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) to confirm compliance with fire safety standards.
• National Environment Agency (NEA): Obtain a food shop license to meet hygiene and sanitation requirements.
• Public Utilities Board (PUB): Secure approvals for water and drainage systems.
• Singapore Power (SP): Get approvals for electrical supply and metering.
• Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA): Apply for planning permissions related to change of use or renovation works.

Beyond securing licenses from local authorities, you may also need to obtain specific permits, including:

• Singapore Food Agency (SFA) License: Mandatory for all food establishments.
• Liquor License: Required if you plan to sell alcoholic beverages.
• MUIS Halal Certification License: Optional, but recommended if you wish to cater to Muslim customers.

Submitting applications early and securing timely approvals will help prevent delays in your restaurant’s setup and operations. If you’re unsure about the process, it’s advisable to work with consultants or designers experienced with local regulations to streamline compliance and avoid setbacks.

4. Blend in aesthetics with functionality

Aesthetics attract customers in, but functionality is what truly keeps them coming back. Comfort, convenience, and a seamless dining experience are what customers nowadays seek beyond just good food. To ensure your space is functional, start with these steps:

• Provide sufficient spacing between tables: This ensures that everyone can move around easily, while also providing a sense of privacy for the guests.
• Ensure connectivity between the BOH and FOH: Staff should be able to deliver orders and clear tables without any obstruction that can cause delays.
• Design with clear zoning: Ensure that your restaurant design layout clearly outlines areas for entry, dining, and payment to avoid crowding and confusion.

5. Plan your kitchen layout

The kitchen plays a crucial role in your restaurant’s success. For one obvious reason: it’s where meals are prepared before being served to customers. It’s essential to plan the layout carefully, prioritising ease of movement, hygiene, and a smooth workflow.

There are recommended kitchen dimensions to follow, which may vary depending on your restaurant’s capacity:

• Small restaurant (around 30 seats): A kitchen area of 15 sq metres is recommended to support efficient meal preparation and workflow.
• Larger restaurant (more than 30 seats): Allocate at least 0.5 sq metres of kitchen space per seat. For example, a restaurant with 100 seats should ideally have a 50 sq metres kitchen space.

Beyond dimensions, there are other factors that are as important. To name a few, these include ventilation, ceiling height, and equipment placement, all of which contribute to a safer, more comfortable working environment for your staff.

6. Choose the furniture mindfully

The furniture you select influences how guests feel in your space. Comfortable seating encourages them to relax and enjoy their meals, while the style, materials, and colours you choose help express your restaurant’s aesthetic and brand identity.

Try not to get swayed by low prices or trending pieces that look good now but might not last. While they may seem tempting, whether to cut costs or attract a younger crowd, they often wear out quickly or fall out of style.

After all, thoughtful choices don’t just enhance your interior design. They also boost functionality and deliver long-term value. 

7. Elevate the experience with well-designed restrooms

Restaurant restrooms matter more than we realise. Just ask yourself how often you judge one by its restroom. While cleanliness and spaciousness are the bare minimum for hygiene and accessibility, you can elevate the experience by incorporating decorative accents, ambient lighting, and even background music.

One key thing to remember is that a restroom should feel like an extension of the dining area. Choose design elements, colour scheme, and materials that align with your restaurant’s overall concept and atmosphere.

Another practical tip you can implement is to install a stylish mirror setup. It could easily become one of your most photographed features, giving your place free exposure every time a guest uploads a shot.

8. Design with lighting and acoustics in mind

Lighting doesn’t just enhance your space’s aesthetic appeal. It can also shape its atmosphere, from warm and cosy to bright and energising, influencing how visitors feel in your space.

To keep a balance, it’s important to align your lighting design with your restaurant’s overall concept. For example, if you’re aiming for a romantic vibe, dim lighting is ideal. On the other hand, if you want to attract casual diners, brighter lighting will likely be a better fit.

Acoustics, on the other hand, refers to how sounds behave within a space. Controlling these sounds can minimise noise levels and create a comfortable environment, especially if your restaurant is located in a busy street or is often full of customers.

Certain materials like acoustic panels, hanging baffles, and curtains are commonly installed to reduce noise. These materials can help absorb sounds and prevent echo, resulting in an improved acoustic experience in your space.

9. Accentuate with decoration

Accentuating your space with decorations can elevate its aesthetic value. It adds a creative layer beyond the main design, resulting in a cohesive touch that aligns with your brand identity and the atmosphere you want to build.

There are various decoration options that you can choose. From common choices like wall art and plants, to more integrated elements such as exposed brick walls, vintage signage, or statement lighting fixtures.

Experiment with different decorative styles before settling on a final look. This can help to ensure that each piece contributes to the overall concept. Whether you’re going for a rustic, industrial, or minimalist vibe, the right choices can bring visual harmony that leaves a lasting impression on your guests.

10. Anticipate changing needs

Your needs may evolve over time. On most days, you might need to accommodate a large number of guests, with occasional requests for more intimate, small events. A well-planned interior design should be flexible enough to support both scenarios.

To anticipate changing needs, there are several strategies you can consider:

• Use modular furniture, as these can be rearranged or combined to suit different group sizes and layouts.
• Choose a neutral base, such as the colour and material of walls, flooring, and furniture pieces. This will allow you to refresh the look of your space with minimal changes.
• Opt for flexible decorations like freestanding plants, adjustable floor lamps, or lightweight hanging decor for easy repositioning or swaps. 

Common restaurant interior design mistakes to avoid

Interior design should be able to support the aesthetics and functionality of a restaurant. Unfortunately, mistakes can get in the way, despite the best intentions. Avoid falling into the same traps by understanding these most common restaurant interior design mistakes:

1. Neglecting functionality

Functionality is as important as aesthetic appeal for restaurants. Yet, some restaurants place greater emphasis on looks over practical layouts that support a comfortable dining experience and a smooth operational flow.

To ensure that your space functions well, there are key factors to consider. These can include choosing right-sized furniture, arranging seating to prevent blocking walkways, and designing a thoughtful floor plan that allows servers to move efficiently between the kitchen and dining areas.

2. Over-decorating the space

Decorative elements can elevate your restaurant’s ambience. But overdoing them can make the space feel cramped, cluttered, and visually overwhelming, distracting guests from having an enjoyable dining experience.

Aim for a balance by choosing a few standout pieces that reflect your concept and enhance the atmosphere without overcrowding the space. It should feel inviting, stylish, and thoughtfully curated.

3. Poor lighting design

Lighting can make or break the atmosphere. Poor choices, such as overly bright or dim, or uneven lighting, can make the space feel uninviting. Instead of enjoying the warm, welcoming ambience you’re aiming for, guests might feel uncomfortable or even rushed to leave.

To prevent this issue, ensure your lighting complements your overall concept. Choose the right fixture and keep up with regular maintenance, especially when some bulbs start to flicker.

4. Neglecting staff comfort

Interior design should not only cater to guests. It should also support the comfort and efficiency of your staff. This means ensuring a spacious, well-ventilated and well-lit kitchen, as well as a proper layout that allows for smooth, unhindered workflow.

After all, great service begins behind the scenes. When staff comfort is compromised, it can lead to low morale, reduced productivity, and ultimately a negative dining experience for your guests. 

5. Not engaging with the experts early

Interior design for restaurants requires careful planning and is often not an easy task. Yet, some restaurant owners fail to engage with experts early on.

For instance, they may purchase furniture or renovate structural elements before consulting an interior designer, potentially leading to mismatches between the layout and furnishings that result in costly revisions later on.

Final Thoughts

Restaurant interior design isn’t an easy task. There are many layers to consider carefully to create a space that is both impactful and enduring, something that greatly influences guests’ dining experience.

But you don’t have to go through it alone. Equipped with solid experience from our restaurant and café interior designers, we’re here to bring your unique vision to life through craftsmanship that leaves a lasting impression and aligns with your brand.

Start your journey with us. Contact us today for more details.

FAQs

Which type of layout is best for a restaurant?

The best layout will depend on your establishment’s type. If it’s a fine dining restaurant, it should be spacious with intimate seating. Whereas if it’s a counter service café, it should feature a queue line and clear signage that guides customers from ordering to pickup.

What are the golden guidelines for interior design?

A common golden guideline in restaurant interior design is to allocate around 40% of the space to back-of-house functions, such as the kitchen, storage, and dishwashing areas, while dedicating the remaining 60% to the dining area.

What makes a good restaurant floor plan layout?

A good restaurant floor plan should be able to accommodate for smooth flow for both the customers and staff. This means ensuring clear paths between tables and creating an intuitive layout that guides customers from entry to seating to exit.