A menu of delicious items, a team of dedicated employees, and a perfect location — that’s all you need to have a successful food establishment, right? While each of those is certainly important, there is an essential element that should not be overlooked: restaurant light design. Regardless of your business, whether it be a chic cafe or the new favorite spot for nightlife, good lighting is key to creating an unforgettable experience for your guests. With the right planning, you can create a lighting scheme that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional. In this blog post, we’ll explore the different types of lighting available for restaurants, cafés, and bars, as well as some tips and design ideas to help you create the perfect lighting scheme for your space.
Common Types of Lighting Methods
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting is an atmospheric lighting method that utilizes soft, indirect light to set a warm and inviting tone. From a quaint, cozy feel to more dramatic effects, the versatility of this option can be manipulated to fit in perfectly with the environment of your establishment.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is an important element of many restaurant, café, and bar designs as it is used to draw the eye of your customers to the features of your space you’d like to highlight. It is typically used to highlight artwork, architectural features, or to create a focal point in the room in a subtle manner. This can be achieved through the use of spotlights, track lights, and wall sconces.
Task Lighting
Task lighting fuses the creation of ambiance with functionality. With task lighting, be sure to consider the placement of the lights. In a bar, task lights should be placed near the counter to provide adequate lighting for bartenders to mix drinks whereas in a restaurant placement should be near the kitchen to provide enough light for chefs to prepare meals. Task lighting can also be placed near the dining area to help customers read menus and enjoy their meals.
The Best Lighting Depending on the Time of Day
To ensure optimal comfort for your guests you’re going to need restaurant lighting designs that work no matter the time of day. As natural lighting shifts, your interior should follow suit, adapting to create the perfect tone from breakfast to dinner.
Breakfast Lighting
The key to effective breakfast light is emulating the natural tones of morning sunlight. Work in warm color lighting solutions emphasizing soft yellow and white hues that will welcome your early risers appropriately.
Lunch Lighting
When it comes to lunch, you’re going to want to have lighting options that can be adjusted and that can adapt to the shifting natural light coming from outside. Rely more upon combination lighting that creates a subtle, moderate effect.
Dinner Lighting
After a long day, your customers are going to want to be immersed in an environment that is relaxing and low-key. Lighting is the best way to achieve this. Illuminate your space in a way that accents and highlights rather than drowning out the area with overpowering brightness.
How Does the Intensity of Light Affect Mood
Lighting is the biggest factor in establishing mood. The intensity of your light will reflect the intensity of the mood for your guests.
Low Lighting
Low lighting in a restaurant, café, or bar can create an intimate atmosphere, perfect for an establishment that offers a setting for a romantic dinner or a casual catch-up with friends. One popular type of low lighting is dimmable ambient lighting, which can be adjusted to suit the intended mood of your space. Another option is the use of candlelight — a unique choice which not only provides a soft and warm glow, but also adds a touch of elegance to the space. To enhance the ambiance even further, consider incorporating decorative lighting fixtures, such as chandeliers or wall sconces. When designing a low-lit space, it's important to balance the lighting levels to ensure that guests can comfortably read menus and navigate the space.
Bright Lighting
Bright lighting can infuse energy into your restaurant, bar, or cafe making it perfect for casual lunches or a lively evening out. Task lighting is a popular option to achieve bright lighting through its illumination of specific areas of the space, such as countertops or tables. This type of lighting can be achieved through the use of under-cabinet lights or pendant lights. Another option is the use of natural light, which can be brought into the space with large windows or skylights. With bright lighting be sure to consider the color temperature of the light, as well as its intensity, to ensure that it is both functional and visually appealing.
How Does CRI Affect the Appearance of Dishes
The color rendering index (CRI) is an important consideration when designing lighting for a restaurant, café, or bar. CRI measures how accurately a light source reproduces colors, with a higher CRI indicating more accurate color reproduction. In a food service setting, the CRI can play a significant role in how dishes appear to your customers. A low CRI can make food appear unappetizing and dull, while a high CRI can bring out the vibrant colors and textures of dishes, making them more visually appealing. LED lights are often a popular choice for restaurants due to their high CRI, long lifespan, and energy-efficiency.
Types of Lighting
Lighting Fixtures
When it comes to restaurant light fixtures the options are vast and varied. From sleek and modern pendant lights, to vintage-inspired chandeliers, the right lighting fixtures can greatly enhance the ambiance of a space. With modern fixtures that exude elegance you’ll be able to transform your space into one that is striking and bold while still retaining a clean sense of minimalism. Use these contemporary pieces as ways to seamlessly pull together your kitchen or dining space in a way that leaves an effortless impression on each guest that walks in your door.
Natural Lighting
Natural lighting is a powerful tool in creating an establishment that is warm and inviting. The use of large windows or skylights can bring in an abundance of natural light, creating a bright and open space. Natural light can also help to reduce energy costs and promote sustainable practices. When including natural light in your design, it's important to think about the orientation of the space in relation to the sun, as well as the use of shading devices such as curtains or louvers, to control the amount of light entering the space. This can help to reduce glare and create a more comfortable environment for guests.
Outdoor Lighting
Outdoor lighting mistakenly receives less attention than lighting used indoors, but is foundational in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of your exterior while ensuring safety and security for guests. The use of outdoor lighting can also extend the usable hours of outdoor spaces, making it possible for guests to dine or socialize outside even after dark. From string lights to lanterns and bollard lights, the right outdoor lighting can provide a comfortable and enjoyable outdoor dining and socializing experience for your guests.
Smart Lighting
Smart lighting is a rapidly growing trend in the food and drink industry as it allows for greater control and flexibility over the lighting in a space. Smart lighting can be controlled and scheduled through a smartphone or tablet, allowing for easy adjustments on the fly. The devices can also be integrated with other technology such as sensors, which can detect the presence of customers and adjust lighting levels accordingly, or with voice control, allowing guests to adjust lighting with simple voice commands. These features not only provide convenience for the staff but also provide a unique and high-tech experience for the customers.
Popular Types of Fixtures for Restaurants, Cafes, or Bars
Before choosing the specific fixtures and designs you’d like to include, be sure to think about the energy you are trying to create in your restaurant. From your desired ambiance to the existing architectural style, your restaurant lighting ideas should be informed by an initial vision for what your guest experience will look like.
Linear & Round Pendant Lights
Using modern restaurant pendant lighting is one of the most popular ideas to make an impact in a food or drink establishment.
Linear Pendant Lights
Linear pendant lights, such as a row of hanging lights, can create a sleek, modern look and are often used to provide ambient lighting in a bar or dining area.
Round Pendant Lights
Round pendant lights, such as globe or dome-shaped fixtures, are often used to provide task lighting over tables or countertops. They can also be used to create a focal point in the space.
Track Lighting
Track lighting is a versatile and customizable lighting solution that utilizes a system of lights mounted on a track, allowing the lights to be adjusted and aimed in different directions, providing task lighting and accent lighting simultaneously. This type of lighting maximizes flexibility, making it easy to direct light where it's needed most, such as on artwork or menu boards, or to create different lighting zones within a space. This type of lighting can easily be combined with smart technology such as dimmers to further its impact.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers are the pinnacle of classic sophistication and elegance. These fixtures come in a wide variety of styles, from traditional crystal chandeliers to modern and minimalist designs. They can be used as a focal point in a space, drawing the eye upward and creating a sense of grandeur. They can be dimmed to create a romantic atmosphere, or brightened to create a lively and energetic one.
Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting, also known as "can lighting" or "downlighting," is a subtle lighting solution that can provide general or task lighting when installed in the ceiling. Recessed lighting is a particularly effective option for smaller spaces as they do not take up any floor or wall space.
Wall Lights
Wall lights can truly bring a restaurant, café, or bar to life. Like the stars in the sky, illuminating the walls and casting a warm and inviting glow over the space. From vintage-inspired sconces to sleek and contemporary designs, these fixtures come in a wide variety of styles.
Ceiling Fan Lights
Ceiling fan lights are a practical and stylish lighting solution; combining the function of a fan and lighting, they provide both air circulation and illumination, making them ideal for spaces with high ceilings. They come in various styles to suit any aesthetic, from traditional to modern designs.
Restaurant, Cafe, and Bar Light Design Ideas and Trends
Facade & Entrance
The facade and entrance are the first things guests see and are important in making a lasting first impression. Use creative and dynamic lighting to draw attention to the establishment, and to create a sense of excitement and energy. This can be achieved through the use of colorful lighting, such as neon lights, or by using a combination of light and shadow to create a sense of depth and dimension. Smart technology like programmable lighting and sensors can be used in this area to provide more control and variation. Focus on using light to highlight the entrance, or using sensors to detect the presence of guests and adjust the lighting accordingly.
Kitchen & Work Area
The kitchen and work area are the core of any food or drink establishment. Lighting, and more specifically task lighting, can greatly enhance the efficiency and precision of your kitchen staff resulting in exceptional delivery to your customers. Aim to balance the needs of your staff with options that are aesthetically pleasing to maintain the cohesion of your restaurant, bar, or cafe.
Service Area
The primary goal of the lighting in your service area should be to highlight the delicious food and drinks you offer to your guests. One trend that has been gaining popularity to achieve this goal is the use of pendant lights above the service counter or bar. Another idea is to incorporate under-cabinet lighting to showcase the menu or drink specials, drawing attention to the offerings and making them more appetizing to customers.
Bar
Bars provide countless opportunities for creative lighting solutions. An example is utilizing LED strip lights to highlight the bottles and glasses behind the bar. These colorful lights can create a visually striking display while making it simple for customers to see the different drink options. Another idea is to incorporate task lighting like spotlights to illuminate the work area for bartenders, making it easy for them to mix and serve drinks. You can also use dimmable wall sconces or pendant lights to create a cozy and intimate atmosphere, perfect for sipping on a cocktail or two with friends.
Dining Room
Your dining room is the space for statement pieces and chandeliers are a spectacular choice. These elegant fixtures become a focal point that can add glamor and illumination to the surrounding area. Try experimenting with combining multiple lighting sources, such as table lamps, sconces, or pendants, to create a layered lighting effect that can be adjusted to suit different occasions or times of day.
Table
When your guests are seated, you want them to feel comfortable and immersed in the surrounding setting. One way to do this is by using smaller lighting fixtures that are powerful without being overbearing. Try under-table lighting, such as small LED lights, to create a soft and subtle glow that ensures that the food and drinks sitting in front of your guests will be the centerpiece. Candlelights or small table lamps can also be used to further the quaint feel of the dining experience.
Design Elements
Even when focusing on your lighting systems you should explore complementary design elements that can help solidify the magnificence of your chosen fixtures and products. A trending way to do this is by incorporating natural materials, such as wood and stone, to complement the lighting. Another idea is to incorporate bold and colorful accents, such as artwork or textiles, to create a visually striking contrast to the lighting and add a touch of personality to the space. For a space that is more airy and light you can consider using greenery, such as plants or floral arrangements, to make it feel fresh.
Outdoor & Terrace
Outdoor areas and terraces are the perfect place to enjoy the beautiful weather while dining or socializing, and lighting design plays a crucial role in creating the perfect ambiance. String lights and lanterns are popular options for these areas as they can be hung overhead or wrapped around trees and railings to create a fairy tale-like setting. Another idea is to incorporate landscape lighting, such as up-lighting trees or illuminating pathways, to create a sense of drama and add visual interest to the space.
Conclusion
