Question

Topic: Other

Ideal Color For A Restaurant

Posted by Anonymous on 12/11/2007 at 9:23 AM ET 250 Points
I am opening a new restaurant next fall ('08) and am researching the best colors for the interior. It will be a small cafe with seating for about 40, located in an historic building in a quaint town in Kentucky near Louisville. I do not want anything modern or too stuffy -- it should be somewhat casual and relaxed, and I'd like to give it a quaint and cozy feel. Given my vision, is blue (perhaps a periwinkle shade) an ok color for the walls with white accents? Would that put people to sleep? Would it be too feminine? Should I then carry that color scheme into my advertising?
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  • Posted on 12/11/2007 at 2:52 PM Accepted
    I love periwinkle, but question using it in a food setting. it seems more like the coloring of a bath shop. You might consider visiting some nearby cities to look at similar or even places that are not similar. Try looking at google images for pictures of cafes and tea rooms to see if you hit on something.
    Since you are moving into an historical building, that is really something that you could build on. You could have some vintage type fixtures and rich woods that could really give a quaint feeling. I really believe building on the historical building look would work. You could find some inexpensive antique items and maybe some memorabilia from the local area. It's not just about the colors on the walls, but the fixtures, lighting and decor. Rredmon is right in his accessment of colors and they can be done in a very classy way.
    As a business owner, part of me always thinks its better to be different, to just go for it, follow my gut and not take the proven path, if thats you and you are still feeling the love of periwinkle, I suggest you try picking out the rest of the decor, furniture, lighting etc to go with it and see how you feel about it then. You might be the one person with the creative genius to make it work. As for the advertising material, if you do decide to go with the periwinkle go BIG and use it. My standard rule is that if you buck convention, do it in a big way.
    THe periwinkle flower is sometimes associated with different folklore, this may be something else to consider when picking the color. Just google periwinkle and see what comes up.
    Living in a big city, I don't often get to small towns, but when I do, I love the cafes because of the small town/vintage type feel. I sure wish you luck, it sounds fabulous!
  • Posted by Tracey on 12/11/2007 at 4:05 PM Member
    I would stray away from blue... it is an 'unappetizing' color because it's one of the few (or only) colors that does not appear naturally in food (blueberries are really a shade of purple). I agree with RRedmon...
  • Posted on 12/11/2007 at 9:42 PM Member
    Try This

    "Use warm rather than cool colours for the interior décor and menu design. Shades of red, orange, burgundy, yellow, brown and cream are more conducive to the nourishing and enjoyable experience of eating than are cool shades of grey, blue and green.
    Similarly, choose yellow rather than blue-based lighting that encourages the appetite.

    Lighting style and effect should reinforce the energy and style of your restaurant. For example, soft, moody lighting can attract those customers seeking a special and memorable night out. However, dim lighting can be frustrating for office workers who want a quick and efficient lunchtime meal.

    https://spiritofdesign.com.au/art_restaurants.htm
  • Posted on 12/13/2007 at 5:32 PM Member
    It means the intensity of the light and the location of the lights.

    Hope this helps
  • Posted by bdggmg on 12/14/2007 at 8:24 PM Accepted
    Go to amazon.com and look for a book on restaurant design. Some that I've read suggest that using blue as an accent is OK.

    Consider other cafes that you've visited or take a field trip and look for some that appeal to you. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

    Perhaps you can find a local interior designer or commercial architect to help you. It's worth the investment.

    Absolutely carry your color scheme into other elements of your operation: menus, uniforms/aprons, advertising, business cards, packaging, etc.

    Good luck.
  • Posted on 12/31/2007 at 3:31 PM Member
    I agree with sticking to a warmer color palette, but if you want to be different from the others and still convey a warm, inviting atmosphere; consider the olive greens (on the darker scale). This color paired with natural woods will evoke a welcoming, natural environment. You could work with a couple variations of the same color to create drama without overwhelming the space. Use a cream color on trim and as an accent. (Using blue in a restaurant atmosphere isn't ideal) As far as lighting is concerned, use incandescent bulbs if you can. If for energy reasons you have to use fluorescent bulbs, make sure the shade is a caramel color to counteract the coolness of a fluorescent bulb. And never too bright. Hope this helps! (by the way, i'm an interior designer)
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