Today’s eateries need more than good food and excellent service to impress customers.  Restaurants must deliver the pleasant, thrilling and memorable dining experiences Patrons have learned to expect when going out to eat.

Educated and seasoned customers look for dining establishments that are clean, inviting and exciting. Every design element—walls, ceilings, floors, furniture, lighting, bathrooms, music, the overall decor—contributes to the dining experience and can either enhance or hinder whatever lasting impression the food and service are designed to make.

Being stylish and staying fresh when design Trends are fleeting is tough. You have to think ahead and implement up-and-coming trends before they become ordinary.

To help you provide the kind of ambiance that produces the delightful experiences customers crave, here are the top restaurant interior design trends for 2017.

1. CONCEPTS

No list would be complete with one of the hottest restaurant design trends to emerge—and remain—in recent years. Creative design concepts not only set restaurants apart from the crowd but they give customers a distinct experience from the moment they step into the restaurant to the moment they leave. Concepts allow patrons to become part of a story, and that leaves a lasting impression they will seek to repeat.

2. ARTWORK

Art is in. A beautiful painting, an intriguing sculpture, a dramatic mural, digital art, graffiti or a famous quote on a wall—these are eye-catching design elements that tell a story and cause memorable emotional responses that engage customers. Art can also be a topic of conversation even among strangers, not to mention the unique selfie opportunities it provides. Some restaurants opt for exhibiting artwork from local artists, which many patrons support as a community service.

3. OPEN KITCHEN

Several years old and still going strong, this trend blurs the lines between the front and the back of the house. An exposed kitchen not only has nothing to hide (Kitchen Nightmares, anyone?) but also serves as a source of entertainment for patrons, who get to see how a restaurant kitchen operates and how their food is made. Thanks to numerous reality TV shows, customers are more curious than ever about food preparation, plating, and presentation. Foodies love to be a part of the action, and ringside seating by an open kitchen is a treat for them.

4. INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Next year expect to see more raw materials such as exposed bricks, pipes, wood, and concrete as more designers go for the rustic or industrial approach. The stripped-down look and feel of exposed material adds texture and depth as well as a dynamic  dimension  to restaurant design. Better yet, customers seem to love it!

5. CONNECT AND DISCONNECT

Wi-Fi is a must. USB charging stations? A new trend. Designers are incorporating these stations into restaurants for the app-loving crowd. At the same time, other restaurants are designating device-free zones for those wishing to unplug themselves from technology while enjoying a meal.

6. ECO-FRIENDLY

Energy efficiency is attractive to restaurant owners for two reasons: it saves them money and patrons support any effort to go green. LED lighting and Energy Star-certified equipment alone can cut utility bills and reduce a restaurant’s environmental impact. Many restaurants participate or are planning to participate in comprehensive recycling and compost programs. Others are installing solar panels and filtering systems.

7. MINIMALIST FURNITURE

The so-called Scandinavian concept of understated and functional furniture will continue to expand next year. When it comes to furniture, today’s patrons seem to prefer simple, clean lines over heavy ornate tables or chairs. Mixing and matching chairs such as wooden seats, benches and stools is becoming ever more popular.

8. AMBIENT LIGHTING

In 2017, restaurants are expected to continue to invest in ambient lighting such as pendant lamps, recessed mood lighting, and customized lights to create a sophisticated and alluring atmosphere that attracts customers and adds to their dining experience.

Like the fashion scene, hotel design trends change from year to year. So, that latest styles being embraced by designers so, there will be continuous demand for the hotel design professionals.   

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