Hospitality design is increasingly becoming more important for restaurants, bars and cafes. Customers no longer just come for the food; they come for the design, the ambience and the whole experience. A big part of the design is choosing a colour palette that will run through your branding and interior design. When this is done correctly it can have a huge impact on how long the customers stay and it can play a part in how they feel. It is now essential for institutions to think about their interior spaces because the value of successful hospitality design cannot be overstated.

Colours can boost the appetite of your customers, make them feel comfortable and happy and make your table turnover increase. However, the colours you choose can also have a negative effect which is why it is important to ensure you choose the correct colour palette for your café. Do some research on the psychology of colours and it will help you to learn how each colour matches with another and whether they are giving off good or bad vibes. Once you know how each colour will affect the public you can work on how to come up with the colour scheme that works for your business. Here are some tips on colours for your café to get you started:

Using a light colour scheme

The colours that fit within a light colour scheme include ivory, white, pale yellow, light grey and beige. This light colour scheme is used when you want a room to appear bigger than it really is. Light colours tend to offer a relaxing feel to the room which is why they are often used in bistros and cafes. However pops of colour are still welcomed when using a light colour scheme to bring in some warmth and make the room feel less stark.

Using a dark colour scheme

Crimson, purple, dark green, navy and brown all fall into the dark colour scheme. Dark colours are great when trying to create a romantic, moody feel which suits bars and romantic bistros. Dark colours can also be great if used as a feature wall rather than used for the entire room. If you’re unsure how to approach a dark colour scheme, hire an interior designer who keeps up to date with colour trends to help you with their expert advice. If you use dark colours in a small area it can make the space, feel very cramped and people may feel claustrophobic. Try using warm lights and candles to lighten up the space.

Using warm colours

Yellow, orange, red, gold and terracotta all come into the warm colour scheme. These colours are bright and exciting and offering plenty of eye stimulation for the public.  Given that these colours are so bright they can become annoying to people after a long time or if used in excess. This can work in your favour when you are looking for a high volume of turnover. Warm colours are very suitable for high volume places like casual eateries and fast food places. While warm colours work well if overdone, they become overwhelming to people so ensure you use in moderation only.

Different colours will affect the public in different ways and they become a tool for shaping your restaurant. The colour scheme needs to be transferred onto everything though not just the wall and ceilings.  Your decorations will also need to work in with the colour scheme and will also need to be taken into consideration when you are choosing your colour palette. The interior isn’t just the only place you need to take your colour palette into consideration but also bear in mind this will need to be applied to the menu as well.

The menu works with the same rules as said above. Avoid unnatural tones like purple and blues instead work for yellows, red and oranges depending on what style and concept you are bringing into your café. Overall the key is to research what different colours and patterns mean to people and how they affect mood is the best way to find the right colour palette for your café.