Dos and Don’ts for Outdoor Dining Space at Restaurants

Having both indoor and outdoor seating spaces has become a common trend in restaurants. It allows them the opportunity to attract more visitors while offering them a choice to sit indoors or outside. Restaurant authorities often pay more attention to the interior design and ignore the exterior space.

Paying attention to all areas is necessary to run the restaurant business smoothly and successfully. You might face the challenge of syncing indoor and outdoor design. Keeping a close watch on the dos and don’ts of setting up outdoor dining spaces in restaurants can help you achieve your goals.

Get into the details of this article to explore the dos and don’ts of setting up a perfect outdoor dining space at your restaurants and attract more foot traffic.

Top 3 Dos for Setting Outdoor Dining Space at Restaurants

There are a lot of options and ideas for the interior design of restaurants. However, you might struggle to find practical and durable options while setting up an outdoor space. Following some tried and tested ideas can help you achieve the best outcomes without much experimentation.

Here are the notable dos you must follow to set up a perfect outdoor dining space for your restaurant.

1.    Get the Necessary Permits

Getting all the necessary permits is the foremost do while setting up an outdoor dining space for your restaurant. Outdoor space is usually an expansion of the overall eatery and not an individual unit. Still, it requires permits from authorities to ensure the safety of diners as well as avoid potential disruptions for passers.

At times, the space outside eateries is not private but public property, so extending business over it can lead to legal complications. Pursuing permits will help you deal with all such issues beforehand and carry out your business proceedings without any hindrance.

2.    Set Up Mood Lighting

Setting up the mood lighting is the next thing you need to do to make your outdoor dining space attractive and inviting. The restaurant interiors are often quite well-lit and have an inviting atmosphere. However, the outdoor space usually has little margin for interior décor, so lighting up the space properly is what you should not compromise.

Even if the space is free of walls, you can add some plants and utilize them to light up the space. Instead of using the same lighting as the indoor area, try to use brighter lights and experiment with the overall scheme and colors. Identify and follow what goes best with the overall theme of your setup.

3.    Add Accent Wall

Adding an accent wall to your outdoor dining space is the next thing you can do. Such a statement can instantly grab the attention of the visitors and make them choose to sit outside. The outdoor space is usually free of walls and ceilings which limits the possibility of adding artwork.

You can add a fake wall and experiment with textures, designs, and colors. You can also create a mural and make the area more inviting. However, you must ensure that the accent wall compliments the overall theme of your eatery.

Consult restaurant management consultants and onboard the professionals to design the outdoor space and attract higher foot traffic.

Top 2 Don’ts for Setting up Outdoor Dining at Restaurants

Placing tables and chairs outside your restaurant will not automatically attract diners. Setting up the space requires proper planning as well as avoiding a few mistakes. At times, knowing what you should avoid proves more beneficial in the long run.

Here are some of the don’ts you need to beware of while setting up outdoor dining space for your restaurant.

1.    Skip Pest Prevention

Skipping pest prevention is the foremost don’t for outdoor dining areas at restaurants. Bugs and insects are a common part of the environment. Outdoor settings with crumbs of food, unclean tables, and leftover food can attract more of them and compromise the dining experience of visitors.

Infected food and bug bites will be the common issues, due to which the diners will start avoiding the outdoor space. Investing in pest prevention can help you make the area safe and clean. You can invest in plants that serve as natural pest killers. Plan a standard pest control procedure when you can keep the business closed for the required time.

2.    Choose Random Furniture

Choosing random furniture is another notable don’t for setting up an outdoor dining space at your restaurant. The outdoor area should be equally inviting and comfortable for people to prefer it. Random and uncomfortable furniture will instantly repel the visitors and make them look for other options.

Some setups choose plastic, wrought iron, or steel furniture to sustain the rough weather. However, it is not specifically comfortable. Try to match the furniture of interior and exterior space. Moreover, also ensure to keep it in the best condition to avoid disappointing the visitors.

Set Up Perfect Outdoor Dining To Boost Your Business!

Offering indoor and outdoor dining spaces at restaurants simultaneously means attracting and serving more visitors. You must be well-prepared to handle everything efficiently while planning such an expansion. Do not feel hesitant to consult restaurant experts to set up the space perfectly and grow your sales.