Armchairs, benches, sofas: we’ve predicted that restaurant seating that falls outside of the norm will be a hot trend in 2018 as hip eateries look for new ways to embrace the unusual. Don’t get us wrong, dining chairs are anything but boring. They come in all shapes, sizes, and styles, but as commercial spaces increasingly morph into spaces that feel more like our homes, it makes sense for restaurants to embrace this trend. Plus, wouldn’t it be fun to consider seating that customers just won’t expect?
1. Lounge Chairs
Comfortable and classy, lounge chairs encourage customers to sit back and relax. Frequently found in warm, inviting cafes and tucked into quiet corners of bars, these cozy seats are making their way into all types of restaurants. Lounge chairs have seat heights around 15”, as opposed to 18” on a conventional restaurant chair, which gives designers some fun options when working with soft seating. Here are some uses we love:
- Pair two lounge chairs with a low table for an intimate setting for drinks, appetizers and conversation. Perfect for a romantic date setting or a connecting over a coffee, this combo brings interaction to the forefront. Line a live-music stage with low tables and lounge chairs to maximize space usage -- this creates unique, coveted seats.
- Use lounge chairs instead of a more traditional dining chair at a small pedestal table for a relaxing dining experience. Feel totally at ease with the combination of small tables and armchairs, perfect for unwinding in the middle of a work day or grabbing a quick dinner before an evening adventure. Just be sure to choose your tables carefully, as restaurant tables are usually designed for taller seat heights and could make the experience more uncomfortable than enjoyable.
- Make a perfect pair with a plush armchair across the table from a banquette. There’s no need for customers to give up the “comfy” seat to their dining partner when the chair opposite a banquette is a lounge chair.
Nanan Patisserie Designed by BUCK STUDIO, Arch Dailey
2. Low Stools
Tucked beneath tables or lining short counters, low stools are understated and undeniably stylish. The absence of a back makes stools seem smaller, though their footprints and seat sizes may be the same as a normal chair. This opens these versatile pieces up to uses in spaces where chairs may seem cumbersome. Regardless of whether or not space is a factor, stools bring serious style to the table (no pun intended). Upholstered with fun fabrics, they can be playful and contemporary; made with wood and carved legs, they’re decidedly country comfort. Modern lines of white oak and powder coated steel give off an air of sophistication and class. There’s a stool for every style, but here are some of our favorites uses:
- Open up small dining spaces by opting for stools instead of restaurant chairs. While a chair back may not actually take up much space, they can look like they do. Stools create the illusion of open space and free up room to maneuver in limited-seating dining rooms.
- Use stools that match or complement your chairs for when you need additional seating. In cafes and bars, it’s not uncommon to have surges of business that leave every available seat occupied. Having stools in easy-access storage can open up additional seating for those hectic peak hours.
- Intersperse fun, colorful accent stools between other seating for surprising pops of style. Sometimes, just a little spot of color is all you need to turn a design from ordinary to extraordinary. Use bold colors among a palette of neutrals to add some excitement.
Dessert Kitchen, designed by Matt Woods, Photo by David Wheeler
3. Couches
If lounge chairs suggest comfort, couches demand it. While they’re no strangers to restaurant settings, couches were often found in waiting areas and luxurious powder rooms before they were brought into the dining space. Although slightly unconventional as restaurant chairs, these comfy, plush seats are a great way to give diners a unique, memorable experience. Be sure to pick out couches that are easy to clean and maintain, though, as restaurant customers will inevitably spill anything you serve on your beautiful cushions.
- Challenge expectations of a restaurant “table” by serving customers at a lounge-style cluster of soft seating. While some people discourage eating in the living room, the indulgence of enjoying a meal from a seat on a cozy couch is hard to turn down. Use smaller end tables or a low coffee table, as few as a few lounge chairs, to complete the ensemble.
- Use benches at long, family-style tables for a home kitchen or breakfast nook feel. Okay, so benches aren’t exactly couches, but they share the same quality of togetherness that lends itself perfectly to informal, community dining settings.
Chiswick Fire Station
4. Novelty Seating
Novelty seating can take many forms, and restaurants around the globe have really stretched the concept of a chair to its limit. From theater seats to wooden logs to the back halves of mopeds, creative designers and restaurant owners have refused to be bound by convention. While they’re not for everyone, novelty seating options can surprise and delight -- as long as they’re used with purpose.
- Own it! Double down on a theme. Themed restaurants, like the bathroom-themed Modern Toilet that took the internet by storm, don’t do anything by halves. The sky’s the limit: think vintage car booths, saddle-shaped bar stools, and poolside lounges.
- Achieve function and fashion with artistic restaurant chairs. Art can take any form, and restaurant chairs are no exception. You may have to shell out more money for chairs that are both sculpture and seat, but you can be sure that they’ll stand out.
Axiom Studio, BHDM Design, Design-Milk
From hip to zany, non-traditional restaurant chairs are bringing a new layer of fun to restaurant design. What do you think of this new trend? Let us know!
