Choosing the right outdoor furniture for your café

When setting up your café business your main focus is probably on the interior space. However, if you plan to use any outdoor space as an eating area, then you need to think carefully about how to use this space and the type of cafe furniture you will need. Your outdoor furniture is just as important as the furniture inside your café, especially now that spring is just around the corner!

That first impression - In many cases your choice of outdoor cafe furniture will greatly influence what a customer thinks about your food, service and indoor space. Your choice of outdoor cafe tables and chairs will provide your potential customer with their first impression and it needs to be a positive one. Old and uncared for cafe chairs with tables that are far too small will only make that customer look for somewhere else to eat.

A common theme - You need to think carefully about the style, colour and material of your outdoor café furniture. It's important that the furniture reflects your café interior so that the outside dining area is seen as an extension of the indoor dining space, rather than a separate area. This is even more important the space is open plan. So, if you have wooden cafe tables and cafe chairs inside, then use wooden cafe furniture outside. Simply add a parasol and patio heater for the colder weather.

Encourage people to sit outside - Outdoor café furniture needs to be practical and robust, but you still need to think about the look and feel of this furniture to encourage people to sit outside. Rattan furniture is a great choice as it is attractive, is available in different colours and can be teamed with seat pads and cushions. Metal dining sets are also a good choice when wanting to create that informal bistro dining area.

Use the space wisely - Your choice of café furniture needs to work perfectly with your chosen space. If you only have a narrow strip to the side of your café then opt for small square tables that will fit neatly into this gap. Don't try and squeeze in a large round table as no one will want to sit there. On the other hand, if you have a large open space at the exterior to your café, then you can really work this space to your advantage. Opt for a variety of different sized tables, for both communal dining and solo diners. You could even create a cosy corner with wooden cafe benches.

Here at Café Reality we have a wide range of café furniture for indoor and outdoor use. We can also help you to design your space and help you choose the right cafe furniture. To learn more about how we can help you to create the perfect outdoor dining space for your cafe, then please do get in touch with us today.