The brand of a restaurant dictates your overall experience as a patron. Of course, the food is one of the most important components of a restaurant experience, however, the service and ambiance also have a big impact on the overall enjoyment of the place.
A restaurant’s lighting design plays a major role in the atmosphere and the way the business is perceived. It is never wise to overlook the importance that lighting plays in the customer experience.
The proper lighting design in your restaurant can set you apart in the dining scene. To explore what type of lighting is right for your restaurant, it is key to connect to a local lighting company that is familiar with a restaurant’s lighting design needs.
The right company will help you explore your options so that you can make your restaurant and its food stand out. At, The Home Lighter, we help you design a lighting system and provide the latest technologies to elevate your restaurant brand.
First, let’s go over the three main types of lighting for your restaurant and how each type is created for a specific purpose.
The main source of light in a space is called ambient lighting. This light comes from natural light from windows or electric light from fixtures. Its main purpose is to provide a space where people have the visibility to move around safely.
This type of lighting works to specifically help customers and employees complete tasks. Examples include lights at the tables for reading the menu, in the kitchen for prepping meals, or at the hostess stand for performing tasks.
Accent lighting adorns the restaurant with dramatic effects. For instance, you may have a focal light that highlights a piece of art at the entrance. Or, you may opt to have a bar with attractive island lights.
There are light fixtures that accomplish more than one of the above categories. They must all be considered both for daytime and nighttime ambiance and the effects they produce.
Let’s discuss five ways restaurant lighting affects the customer experience and how it can be optimized.
One of the first impressions people receive from a restaurant is its decor. Besides the friendly hospitality of the staff, a restaurant’s decor sets the tone of the experience. People go out to eat to not only eat delicious food but also feel the magical atmosphere of the place.
As soon as customers step into a restaurant, they receive the tone of the ambiance. The color and brightness of the space can invite people further in or make them turn around and choose another place.
More than stimulating their tastebuds, customers seek a relaxing ambiance that makes them feel excited about their upcoming meal. All senses must be stimulated for an extraordinary dining experience.
As a restaurant owner, one of the main goals is to create an atmosphere where people will want to stay for a long time enjoying all that the place has to offer. Lighting can make the difference between a customer staying for hours enjoying themselves or quickly eating and leaving.
Warm lights evoke a sense of comfort and relaxation, like being at home. They help increase the interaction between customers and servers and can possibly lead to a bigger tab.
In contrast, bright lights encourage customers to move along faster and can potentially shorten their stay, as well as their order. Such a type of bright lighting is seen in fast-food restaurants where customers are encouraged to move along quickly.
We all know the importance of a dish to not only taste good but also look good. Appropriate lighting will give the restaurant’s food the best appearance possible. Beautiful dishes accompanied by an amazing flavor are what get the restaurant raving reviews.
The colors and texture of food are enhanced by good lighting. It is very sad when a skilled chef prepares a dish only to display it in a poorly lit dining room. In the time of social media and camera phones, the restaurant’s food will certainly have an online presence. Bad lighting can misrepresent the quality of the food and the standards of the restaurant brand.
Lighting design ideas include designating certain areas of the restaurant. It can help direct customers along to the appropriate positions for seating. Thoughtful lighting design can also enhance the appearance of the reception area to give customers a grand welcome.
It is also functional for areas where employees need to count money or perform other tasks. It can decorate the coat check area and provide safe walkways to the parking lot. Not to mention, outdoor lighting that decorates the landscape of plants and fountains.
Finally, proper lighting provides a cozy and relaxing dining area where each customer can enjoy the privacy of their table. All over the establishment, sections can be divided well by using contrast in light intensity, color, and style. It provides clues to customers about the place and helps the overall flow of the restaurant.
Beyond ambiance, let’s not forget the importance of well-lit working stations where employees prepare foods. The back area must have good lighting to ensure the quality of the food and avoid the endless hazards of a commercial kitchen.
The high standards of a restaurant begin in the kitchen. If the kitchen is well designed with enough and appropriate lighting for particular workstations, employees will feel comfortable and will be able to give their best performance.
In the world of smart devices, lighting systems are now equipped with tools that help you easily manage your restaurant. There is a variety of systems with advanced features including:
These smart features allow you to always customize and automate your lighting and window treatment systems. They allow you to work with natural light to balance the artificial systems on a schedule. Automizing your lighting system can save you time and money without having to rely on employees and manual operations.
Smart lighting systems can also make your restaurant more energy efficient by having lights that turn off when a room is empty. Automation can be operated from a smartphone, tablet, or computer making it very easy to operate by managers or any of the employees.
In addition to lighting, these smart systems can also connect to music, security, fans, TVs, and other settings around the establishment. No longer will you have to rely on anyone to physically operate devices. With smart technology, you will be able to streamline daily functions smoothly and effectively.
Restaurant owners are faced with various responsibilities that ensure their establishment runs successfully. Lighting design is becoming a top priority in restaurants as more managers become aware of its impact on customer experience and the general rating of the restaurant.
At, The Home Lighter, we optimize your establishment by designing, simulating, installing, and managing your restaurant lighting system. We help you ensure you have the best customer lighting experience possible by working closely with you to determine the best design.
Schedule a consultation with us and see how we can enhance your restaurant with a well-designed lighting system. Call us today to receive a quote for commercial lighting solutions Monterey CA!
