Restaurant Chairs in Brisbane – 5 Buying Tips You Really Need To Know

So, you’re about to take the plunge and open up a new restaurant. Of course, you’ve had to think about the location, the menu, advertising and hiring a team. As a result, choosing tables and restaurant chairs in Brisbane may feel like it’s way down the list of things to do. Yet, this is one area, that you have to get right.

In fact, believe it or not, get this element of your business wrong and you could be doomed before you even serve your first customer! Did you know, for example, that 60% of all restaurants in Australia go out of business within 3 years of opening their doors?

Get your seating wrong and the seeds of failure are planted before the doors are even opened. Get your seating right, however, and (provided everything else is aligned) you stand a greater chance of being in the remaining 40% with a thriving restaurant business for many years to come.

With this firmly in mind, what should you look for when buying restaurant chairs in Brisbane for your establishment? Here are 5 top tips.

Choose chairs that reflect your menu

The best restaurants – and indeed, those that have stood the test of time – tell a story. Nowadays, customers don’t simply come into a restaurant for a meal, they want the whole dining out experience. As such your décor – complete with café furniture should always reflect the type of food you create. As an example, If you are looking to serve rustic hearty and homely fayre then how about matching that with a heavy-duty rustic chair using reclaimed wood.

Alternatively, if you specialise in serving modern Mediterranean fayre which is lighter in nature then a fabulous Parisienne chair with a monochrome check could be the perfect accompaniment.

Finally, if your menu is more cutting-edge or avant-garde, then you might want to consider pairing it with the latest industrial-look Tolix chairs.

Focus on comfort

Although design should always be taken into account when buying restaurant chairs, Brisbane restaurant owners should know that comfort should really take precedence. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that some well-known fast food restaurants will utilise less comfortable seating in order to limit dwell times and turn tables faster. However, this is a risky strategy and comfort should really be the aim.

How do you know if a restaurant chair is comfortable or not?

Try it out, sit on it – just as you would when buying a new sofa for your home. If it’s comfortable for you, it’s likely to be comfortable for your customers!

Buy restaurant chairs with longevity in mind

Of course, it goes without saying that you should always buy durable, commercial-grade café furniture, this way you are guaranteed that your restaurant chairs in Brisbane will withstand the rigours of a busy establishment. However, what you might not have considered is that your chairs should also be purchased with one eye on the future.

Put it this way…buying café furniture is a pretty big investment and one which you don’t really want to repeat 1 or 2 years down the line when you decide it’s time for a design upgrade. For this reason, smart budget-conscious restaurateurs choose chairs that aren’t going to clash when they update their design. For this reason, steer clear of buying restaurant chairs that are outlandish or garish. Neutral and non-offensive is definitely the way to go!

Choose different configurations of seating

If you have a large enough space, then it’s always a good idea to opt for a variety of seating configurations. This way you can cater to various groups, all while getting more ‘bums on seats’.

Bar chairs, for instance, are a great idea for those looking to kill time before their table is ready. Now they can sit in comfort and have a drink while they wait.

Alternatively, bench or booth seating may be ideal for seating larger groups of people, while tall bar chairs offer the perfect solution for those looking for a more casual dining experience.

Either way, varying your restaurant chair options is a great way of utilising your workable space for maximum profit.

Consider your table choice

The last point to remember when buying restaurant chairs in Brisbane is to consider your table choice. This is especially true if you’re looking to mix up your furniture to maximise profit (see above). For example, if you’re looking to slot in some tall bar tables, then you’re going to need some matching tall bar chairs. Standard height chairs just won’t look right!

In addition, and in a ‘What came first – the chicken or the egg?’ kind of way, you should also ensure the restaurant chairs you do buy complement the tables…or should that be the other way around?

Either way, unless you are going for a deliberate contrast such as a monochromatic effect, then matching furniture is always a good sign in restaurant terms at least.

So there you have it, 5 key points when looking to buy restaurant chairs in Brisbane. If you are struggling to find what you need, then check out our Café Solutions website. We have a wide variety of restaurant chairs, tables, and accessories for you to choose from.

Of course, if you prefer to be more ‘hands on’ with your furniture, then we also have a showroom right here in Brisbane. So why not come and see for yourself.