What We Can Learn From Restaurant Interiors

At the end of the day, there are a lot of similarities between commercial fit outs and domestic interiors - after all, both are concerned with reconciling budget and environmental efficiency with style. If you’re ever left exhausted after a long day of sifting through paint samples for a minor renovation, spare a thought to how the same infuriating decision-making process racks the brains of small business owners across the country. From debating the way colour affects mood to the relative comfort level of furniture, and all the while trying to marry each and every choice to an underlying brand image or marketing strategy, the creative minds behind restaurant interiors are never short of a day’s work. Here are just a few pieces of inspiration we can take from these creatives for our own homes.

1. All lighting is mood lighting

Household light isn’t just to enable movement after nightfall, it’s an essential part of maintaining the comfortable ambiance of a home. Even if you’re not sporting lava lamps and fairy lights, your lighting choices have a big impact on how large living spaces seem, how your guests feel entering your home, how clean your carpets appear and many other things. So don’t just bulk buy the bulbs for every room in the house, take time to consider how each area of a home requires a different level of illumination. As a general rule, the brightest lights are reserved for the kitchen and the bathroom; the dining area should have flattering, warm light; and the bedroom and living room are excellent candidates for having decentralised sources, such as table lamps and decorative displays, as well as more specific features, such as controllable dimming.

2. Less is more

Simplicity is timeless and elegant; a minimalist style will help you avoid a case of decorative cold feet later down the track! Even the most high-class restaurants are restrained in their selection of decor. This is to prioritise functionality and avoid a feeling of claustrophobia for the customer. Just like home interiors, with all of the life coming and going within the space, aesthetic sterility is rarely a valid concern - so don’t be afraid to downsize on accessories.

3. Know when to skimp and when to splurge

Many restaurants prioritise certain expenses to ensure their own marketing appeal or longevity. For some, investing in durable, attractive hardwood flooring while collecting reclaimed crockery from the secondhand shop is no contradiction. Likewise, your home doesn’t have to conform to one particular standard of all products and features; it’s absolutely fine to put a lot of money into a luxury kitchen while sleeping on the same bedsheets for fifteen years! Navigating a budget is always an individual matter.