Restaurant Design Trends 2018

In the world of Uber Eats and value menus, how do independent restaurants and restaurant chains convince customers to actually eat inside of their stores? The past decade has fared well for the restaurant industry, especially the fast casual concepts, but with increased competition can “good food, fast” really be enough?

Turns out, quality food and convenience will only get you so far; thoughtful, unique interior design is critical in getting customers through the door. That’s why we highlighted the five best restaurant design trends you’ll be seeing here in the U.S. and across the globe in 2018. (Bonus: all of them are easy to incorporate and are sure to delight customers.)

Here are our top 5 restaurant design trends for 2018:

1. Minimal Yet Meaningful
2. Unique Wallpaper Accents
3. More Color
4. Warm Woods
5. Multi-Use Seating Arrangements

1. Minimal Yet Meaningful

Minimal design has its place in the restaurant world, especially when the space is small and the menu is focused, we totally believe in letting the food speak for itself. In reality, minimal design can feel cold and uninspired to a consumer. Like it or not, we’re edging close to the saturation point when it comes to the “Kinfolk” inspired interiors with their lackluster stark white walls, distressed reclaimed wood tables, and kitchy trinkets.

menu items become more colorful and the overall footprint of restaurants become more compact (and less cluttered), every design detail matters. From bespoke statement lighting, to custom booths (one thing millennials hate are cheap looking booths) and bold color choices, every detail should help tell your story.

Merah, a new Malaysian street-food restaurant in Melbourne, pairs traditional rattan wall coverings with tropical inspired pinks and banana leaf greens as a nod to its Malaysian roots. Hurdle Chairs, designed by the Aussie group Dowel Jones, and modern architectural lines create a successfully minimal, yet meaningful space.

2. Unique Wallpaper Accents

If you’ve followed any residential interior designers on Instagram this past year, then this next trend will come as no surprise to you. This year has been the year of bold, graphic wallpapers! Seemingly overnight, we’ve been thrown into a chic jungle of palm leaves and florals.  Next year promises to be another exciting year of wallpaper, as it’s often a cost-effective way to add drama and flair to a blank space. However, in 2018 we expect to see more creativity when it comes to restaurants and wallpaper.

3. More Color

Food writers have been busy covering this year’s hottest restaurant trend, vibrant “unicorn” themed food. Unlike Heinz’s failed colorful ketchup experiment of 2000 (the world just wasn’t ready for it), this colorful food trend is going to continue making waves well into 2018. Even Starbucks jumped on the trend with their now infamous Unicorn Frappuccino which combined magical swirls of fluorescent pink and purples and flooded the internet and social streams with eye candy for weeks!

It’s not just our food that’s getting a boost of color, restaurant chains are taking a risk by venturing away from neutrals, making a play at the younger demographics desire for a more holistic (less cheesy) approach to restaurant design. We predict in 2018 you’ll see sublime pastels balanced by strong jewel tones making their way into your favorite spaces (think honey yellows, dusty blues, and olive greens).  Adding color to restaurant chairs, table bases, walls and floor tiles is a fun way to integrate this trend. We’re smitten with the newest Tender Greens location. Designed by Design Hutch, the redesign leverages the best of our favorite restaurant trends: colorful seating, signature tiles, and tons of natural light. Vacation Cafe by Therefore Studios and Virtuous Pie by David Dworkind are also prime examples of how to execute this trend to perfection.

4.Warm Woods On Everything

Let’s just pretend that restaurants laden with natural wood details are the restaurant world’s answer to the cozy “hygge” trend. If you’re like me, you’ve been on the rollercoaster of emotion that is the reclaimed wood movement, at first falling head over heels for the sustainability story and then rolling your eyes every time another chain rolls out their newest concept starring…you guessed it, reclaimed wood. And let’s face it, because of its popularity, authentic reclaimed wood is expensive and can at times be hard to find.

That being said, the wood movement is far from over. One restaurant design trend we’re forecasting is the use of White Oak, Ash, Walnut, and Hickory wood species on walls, ceilings, table tops, and bars to create a cozy and inviting space. Each of these species have a signature grain pattern, texture, and color that sets them apart from traditional woods used in restaurants.

5. Non-Traditional Seating Arrangements

Thanks to the popularity of communal tables, non-traditional seating arrangements have become a common occurrence in the restaurant industry. Industrial designers have continued to redefine the boundaries of what restaurant seating can look and feel like, and we predict more non-traditional seating options will be available in 2018.

Comfort will be key in 2018 (and beyond), and you’ll see restaurants offer a more multi-use approach to their seating layouts—especially in fast casual and casual dining spaces. It’s simple to do, just add couches, lounge chairs, and low tables to easily break up the space. People want experiences, they want options, and they want to feel comfortable, and creating a mixed-use approach to restaurant layouts help deliver all of that.

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