Color plays a more influential role in people’s lives than they realize. It can evoke emotions, influence behavior and even affect decision-making. This is especially true in restaurant settings where the right color choices can subtly steer customers towards specific food choices or invite them to stay a while.
For this reason, decorative paint in Dubai is a valuable tool for restaurant owners to create an atmosphere that attracts and retains customers.
If you’re a restaurant owner, you will do well to learn how various color palettes impact your customers’ behaviors. Only then will you be able to unlock their potential to boost customers’ appetites, increase table turnover rates, and, ultimately, improve your overall revenue.
How Do Colors Affect Restaurant Customers?
Here are the most common color schemes used in restaurant interior design and how they impact customers:
1. White and its Many Shades
Colors such as white, beige, eggshell and cream can create an inviting atmosphere that appears clean, fresh and airy. They are particularly effective in smaller spaces because they’ll make your front-of-house seem larger than it is.
Such colors evoke a relaxed, comforting feeling in customers, which makes them more likely to linger in your restaurant.
This is good news for owners of upscale eateries and fine dining establishments, where your profit per customer is significantly higher and table turnover rates aren’t a priority. However, light colours may not be the best choice for fast-food restaurants whose earnings rely on a large volume of customers moving in and out.
Additionally, owners must maintain the highest cleanliness standards wherever such lighter palates are used and keep the restaurant in excellent decorative order. Any dirt or blemish on the walls will become more visible and may put off your customers.
Finally, to offset the minimalistic look of light colors, you can use contrasting-colored furniture and decorations, such as bright or stand-out plant pots, wall art or typography. This creates a pop of color that draws the eye in and adds visual interest to your space.
2. Red and Yellow
If you look at the largest, most successful fast-food chains worldwide, you’ll notice a common theme in their branding: the use of red and yellow.
Think about it: Mcdonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut, Subway and more — all of those brands integrate these colors into their logos, storefronts, interior design and food packaging. Why? Because of the feelings they evoke in customers.
Red spurs excitement, triggers hunger and prompts urgency. This makes it an excellent choice for fast-food restaurants that want to stimulate appetite, urge diners to buy quickly and leave as soon as they are done eating. Meanwhile, yellow is often associated with friendliness and happiness. It makes a cheery and positive impression that complements red perfectly.
Together, these colors create an energetic atmosphere and a sense of urgency, which is precisely what fast-food restaurants want to achieve.
3. Green
Green is linked to nature and vitality and, therefore, is a staple of many health-conscious eating establishments. Vegan and vegetarian restaurants, juice bars, organic cafes and farm-to-table businesses often incorporate green hues in their interior design to project a sense of freshness aimed at attracting health-focused customers.
To amplify its effect, pair it with other earthy colors like brown and beige that mirror nature’s color palette. Better yet, use real plants and herbs as part of your decor to drive home your message of all-natural, healthy eating.
4. Blue
As calming and soothing as blue may be, you won’t find it in many restaurants because it’s also known to be an appetite suppressant. Still, certain niche markets, such as seafood restaurants, beachside cafes, tropical-themed bars, ocean-view dining establishments and lakefront eateries, use blue to convey a sense of tranquility and relaxation that complements their theme.
The best way you can incorporate blue into your restaurant’s interior design is to combine it with natural textures like wood, stone and woven materials, as well as soft lighting to allow it to exude its calming effect.
5. Brown
The earthiest of all earthy colors, brown, is one of the most versatile and widely used tones in restaurant settings. It radiates warmth, comfort and stability, which is why diners often feel welcomed and at ease in brown-hued establishments.
This color is often a favorite for rustic-themed restaurants, steakhouses, cozy cafes, pubs, taverns, wine bars and coffee shops.
Brown pairs well with other earth tones like shades of green, beige and even red, making it easy to include in a restaurant’s overall color scheme. However, be careful not to overdo it, as too much brown can dampen the mood.
6. Black
Whether it’s glossy or matte finishes, black has a way of making everything look sleek, sophisticated and high-end. When restaurant owners use black as part of their interior design, they are attracting a certain type of clientele: upscale diners with expensive tastes.
This color contrasts well with lighter hues, allowing certain architectural features like chandeliers, mirrors or statement pieces of furniture to stand out. It’s often incorporated in stylish, modern restaurants and bars, romantic dining spots, cocktail lounges and nightclubs.
While black can make your restaurant look chic and luxurious, remember that it’s an overpowering color. As such, if you decide to use black, integrate it strategically with other design elements such as wall accents, light fixtures, table settings or artwork.
Choose Your Restaurant’s Colors Wisely
There is power in color. Each shade, tone and hue you use in your restaurant can influence the way customers feel and behave. For this reason, it’s crucial to choose your color scheme wisely and consider the kind of atmosphere you want to create.
Test out different color combinations, seek professional advice and, most importantly, keep your ideal audience in mind. Ultimately, you want to make sure your restaurant’s interior design reflects your brand, attracts your target clientele and enhances their overall dining experience.
In doing so, you’ll be able to find the right color and provide your guests with the ambiance that appeals to them and complements your food and service.
