One of the first things to consider for a new restaurant is the color scheme. Other than for the walls, we need to also think about the floor, ceiling and accent pieces as well. Not only do colors create a certain ambiance for your customers, more importantly, it is a branding tool for your business. Different colors also have various psychological effects on people. So choosing the right color for your business is essential.
You might have seen lots of restaurants with natural tones in recent years. Designs using more wood in brown and beige shades relaxes diners and puts them at ease. They might stay longer for coffee or dessert. It’s also popular to add green accents with earthy colors as green conveys freshness and a healthy menu. Together, they create a comforting and natural environment.
Many fast food outlets feature bright reds and yellows. These colors open up our appetites and encourage impulse eating. We’ve all been guilty of suddenly ordering large fries at the last minute. Red also increases heart rate and creates excitement which makes us eat faster so we can free up the table for the next diner. On the other hand, muted tones of red, yellow and orange create a warm, comfortable ambiance often found in upscale establishments.
Restaurants often use white as their main color to convey cleanliness and uniformity. White can also make smaller spaces appear roomier which would be useful for venues with less square footage. Fast casual restaurants would sometimes have white as a primary color, matched with another accent color as part of their branding.
One color we don’t often see in restaurants is blue. For one thing, there aren’t many naturally blue colored food and meals bathed in blue light would not look very appetizing. In addition, blue and purple are often associated with children’s snacks such as cotton candy and lollipops.
At the end of the day, there really is no one color fits all. Many factors come into play when deciding on the color scheme of a restaurant. The colors you choose should be a reflection of your restaurant’s concept and style. If you would like to know more about choosing the right colors and themes for your business, contact us at Restaurant Design Concepts.