Skip to main content
Category

Blog

OPENUU
In Blog

How to Come up with a Restaurant Design Budget

Whether you’ve previously started a well-designed restaurant or are new to the industry, you are probably aware to just how vital of a role costs and budgeting play in your overall success. In many commercial spaces, there is a limited ability to make major changes or additions, meaning that the design of your restaurant must be able to fit within predetermined layouts and budgets.

To make the most out of your restaurant design budget, utilize the following tips and boldly move forward to design the restaurant of your dreams.

Why Budgeting and Design Experts Go Hand in Hand

The ultimate goal of any restaurant is to stand out amongst the crowd. To do so, many restaurant developers assume that they will need a large budget to work with to create a truly unique concept and customer experience. However, when you choose to work with a restaurant design team, you can stretch a modest budget further than you may have thought. Restaurant design experts know how to work around challenging spaces to showcase your concept, streamline renovations, and address any design obstacles that could be costly.

Designing with the Future in Mind

Whether you’re aiming to create a stand-alone restaurant or eventually break out into a chain, it’s important that you utilize your budget to avoid future problems. It’s better to make sure that you get the job done right the first time, rather than experience costly mistakes due to poor budgeting and design during your initial planning.

Restaurant Design Budget in the Kitchen

For the most part, a large chunk of any restaurant design budget will be used to repurpose and create a best-in-class kitchen. The kitchen is the heart of any successful restaurant, with plenty of moving parts that chefs and servers alike rely upon to keep service running smoothly. From plumbing to powering gas ranges, there are plenty of costs to consider when designing your kitchen. This should include a fund for inevitable repairs of large-scale commercial kitchen equipment.

How Much of Your Overall Budget Should Be Put Aside for Restaurant Design?

According to Aaron Allen & Associates, restaurant developers often spend around 10% of their construction budget on the design and planning of the restaurant. Additionally, they find that the cost of building a restaurant to be anywhere between $85 and $300 per square foot, but costs can increase as your restaurant uses more high-end materials, as are often used in fine dining establishments.

If you’re working within a set budget for your restaurant, discuss your options with a professional design studio who can help you avoid obstacles and bring your restaurant concept to life cost-effectively. For more information on creating a restaurant design budget for your future best-in-class dining establishment, contact us.

OPENUU
In Blog

Why Restaurant Design and Branding go hand in hand?

In the first stages of opening a new and successful restaurant, there are a variety of critical elements to consider that will work together to create a solid foundation on which to start your business on. Things like your restaurant’s overlying concept, interior environment, and name all come together to create the brand of your restaurant.

If you’re unsure of how to cultivate branding that best represents your mission and values, an interior designer will work together with you to bring your restaurant concept and brand to life.

Why You Should Invest in Branding Your Restaurant

Your restaurant’s branding will go far beyond the type of food that you serve, although incorporating your menu into a cohesive brand is vital for success. Your brand is how your future customers will interpret your restaurant, aligning who you are with what you do. 

Branding is an important part of restaurant development, whether you’re opening a quick stop restaurant or one that provides a high-end dining experience.

People are drawn to places that feel comfortable and inviting, and your restaurant’s brand is what will help your target audience’s decision-making process when deciding between your restaurant and another. Your branding is what helps you stand out amongst the competition which is especially important in a saturated industry like food and hospitality.

How to Succeed at Restaurant Branding

To create a restaurant brand that is distinguishable and enticing, focus your attention on perfecting these specific restaurant design areas to highlight the uniqueness of your offerings:

Create an engaging concept. Your restaurant’s concept ties together all other aspects of your brand. If you’re open to taking a path less traveled, look at gaps in your local market and cultivate a concept that will entice future customers. If you’re in an area where there are not a lot of casual-style restaurants, consider creating a laid-back concept that invites people in to sit back and enjoy a good, fairly-priced meal.

Set the tone with the right interior environment. If a customer’s expectations are met with the right service and an interior environment that ties into their perception of your restaurant, chances are that they’ll tell others about it. The interior environment of your restaurant goes much further than what it looks like.

Creating a certain ambiance that matches your concept and overall brand helps customers remember their experience. From the right lighting to the use of color in your space, every facet of your interior design goes a long way to creating a lasting brand for your unique restaurant.

When it comes to branding, cultivating a best-in-class concept paired with the right interior ambiance helps you connect with your customers. When you work with an interior designer to create your restaurant’s brand, they’ll help you instill your brand into the smallest touches that create a truly memorable customer experience.

For more information on how an interior designer can help you brand your restaurant and bring your concepts to life, contact us today.

OPENUU
In Blog

What Defines a Good Restaurant Brand?

A good restaurant brand doesn’t just happen. Rather, it is the result of meticulous attention to detail, expert storytelling, and a consistent effort to innovate with every decision. Best-in-class restaurant branding is smart, customer-centric, and can be easily interpreted throughout the interior environment of a restaurant.

With the right strategies, help from a professional designer, and a dedication to enhancing the customer experience, your restaurant can portray its unique brand in a bold way.

Why is Branding So Vital for Overall Success?

Branding is much more than the logo on your menus and your exterior sign. It is a careful weaving of minor details that align with your restaurants underlying mission, values, and concept. There are various factors that define a good restaurant brand, with the key concepts being:

Your restaurant’s menu: The type of cuisine that you serve may be the most obvious way of defining your brand for your customers. From the font you choose to the way that you describe your food options all tie into your larger brand. For example, if you’re a casual dining establishment, you may consider wording your menu in a “humanized” way, so that it sounds like the menu itself is having a conversation with you.

When designing your menu and the type of food that you offer, make sure that it is streamlined to your concept. Busy menus with too many options can be confusing for customers or create a perception of messiness.

Your restaurant’s name: When we think of branding, the name and logo of your restaurant is often the first thought of restaurant owners or operation managers. Your name is the gateway into your concept; without a clear name, decoding your offerings is near impossible for an outsider. A professional designer would encourage you to choose a name that is simple, easy to say, and clear to read.

Presentation: Good restaurant branding includes creating an ambiance that fits your concept and creates an atmosphere suited to your customer’s expectations. If you’re opening a fine dining establishment, it’s important that your utensils and furniture are high-quality, background sound is soft and soothing, and that your lighting is moody to create an intimate dining experience.

Service: In the same way that presentation of your built environment is vital to good branding, service that matches your concept is critical. Service differs between restaurant typologies, and once again, should match customer’s expectations upon walking in. Traditionally, fast-food restaurants only have service staff behind the counter, while high-end dining establishments are met at the door by a staff member dedicated to providing them with impeccable service.

All of the above facets of a restaurant come together to create an overarching brand that is accessible to your customers and functional for you. As a restaurant owner or manager, it’s your responsibility to create a brand that sets you apart from the competition.

If you’re interested in partnering with an experienced design studio to cultivate an engaging restaurant brand, get in touch with us today.

OPENUU
In Blog

Choosing a Restaurant Concept, Which Can Affect Design

Whether you’ve finally made the decision to open your first dream restaurant or are working on expanding your restaurant ownership career, choosing a restaurant concept is one of  – if not the most – important part of cultivating a solid foundation. The concept that you decide on will be your starting point in creating an engaging, welcoming, and sophisticated space that will stay in your customer’s minds.

If you’re venturing into the restaurant industry and need some assistance in how to design a branding concept that will engage your future customers, use the following tips and tricks to guide you through the restaurant concept design process.

Why Does Your Restaurant Need a Design Concept?

Often, the design concept that your restaurant chooses can have a great impact on the overall essence and message that your restaurant portrays. This undefined messaging is what tugs at a customer’s heartstrings and determines how they feel while dining in your establishment.

When choosing your restaurant concept, there are a variety of considerations to be made carefully, including the type of food that you’ll focus on serving, the ambiance you would like to present to customers, and your prices. Even the name that you choose for your restaurant goes a long way in presenting your concept to potential customers.

Varying characteristics of your restaurant should weave together to form a cohesive story to that interests – and maybe even inspires – your target clientele.

Consider the Type of Cuisine You Want to Offer

The most important part of a restaurant is obviously the type of food that you serve. Food style often defines the other design concepts of your restaurant, including the environment, theme, and price point of the cuisine you serve. If you’re open to different restaurant concepts or undecided on how you want to present your restaurant, nailing down the type of cuisine you specialize in will help you determine the other key facets of your concept.

How Much Will You Charge for Your Cuisine?

Deciding on your restaurant’s pricing guide and menu is integral in defining your concept. If you’re interested in creating a fine dining environment, it is likely that you’ll have to have a higher price point than a restaurant that chooses a more casual concept.

Decide on Your Restaurant Name

Your restaurant’s name will have a big impact on your future customer’s perception of your business, the type of food you serve, and what they can expect during a dining experience with you. Some restaurant owners choose to name their establishment to showcase the type of food they serve, while others try to create an aura of mystery or hidden meaning in their name. Whatever name you decide, ensure that it carries some significance and that the design concepts of your restaurant reflect your choice.

When cultivated well, your restaurant’s concept can be integrated into your menu, name, and interior design. If you’re amid a restaurant rebrand or new development, contact us for help with your restaurant concept and design process.

OPENUU
In Blog

Creating a Soft Ambiance with Decorative Lighting

One of the most relaxing ways to light your home is with a soft ambient glow. In the evening, when you’re winding down for bed or with the curtains drawn for an afternoon movie with friends, having soft lighting in your home allows you to set the mood without stumbling over furniture. Lighting doesn’t always have to be brilliant and illuminating. Lighting can be soft and relaxing instead. In fact, with smart lights, they can be both.

The best ambient lighting comes from thoughtful interior design. Which light fixtures you choose and where you place them will shape your soft-glow environment when you dim the lights at home for rest, movies, or romance.

Diffused Light Strips Along the Ceiling

One of the greatest innovations in recent lighting has been LED strips. These are strips of tiny LED diodes that you can mount anywhere in your home. They illuminate countertops when attached below upper cabinets; they can line your television in a soft glow, or provide gentle overhead light when mounted along the ceiling.

Highlight the lines of your room and beautiful architectural features with the ambient glow of overhead light strips. If you want to soften the twinkle of individual diodes, seek a light rope or use a milky diffuser strip.

Candle Glow Wall Sconces

Wall sconces are a classic way to achieve romantic soft lighting. We have been hanging candles and lanterns on the walls as lighting for many hundreds of years. Wall sconces are reminiscent of candle sconces and hurricane lanterns from our design styles just before electricity was introduced to the modern home. Today, frosted glass or artfully sculptural sconces are a great way to provide soft lighting around the room.

Luminescent Sculpture

There are few things more mesmerizing than a glowing sculpture. Today, you can find dozens of designs in LED sculptures for coffee tables or to mount on your wall. Some are prebuilt to glow and some can even be built into a new glowing sculpture each week using fit-together pieces and your own creative inspiration.

A glowing sculpture is always a conversation piece when friends visit and can add a beautifully futuristic element to your interior design.

Glowing Wall Panels

Wall panels are the new innovation of interior lighting. These diffused LED panels glow in elegant shapes and patterns mounted on your wall. At full brightness, they can illuminate a room and when turned down low they add color-changing ambiance to your space. You choose the design and the light level by putting the panel shapes together in your own unique way.

Pro tip: Use a mounting board so it is easy to rebuild the sculpture if you want to change the style or arrangement of the panels at any time.

Smart Bulb Chandeliers

Today, even your glowing chandeliers can adapt to the mood of the room – and we don’t mean a dimmer knob. Smart bulbs installed into a pendant light array or even a twinkling crystal chandelier give you full illumination and color control of your overhead light fixtures. Smart bulbs are voice-activated or can be controlled silently through a few taps of a mobile app.

In fact, glowing sculptures, wall panels, and light strips can all be found in smart, color-controlled, and voice-activated varieties.

Cafe Style Table Lamps

Table lamps have been a warm and inviting addition to ambient lighting since before the days of electricity. Today, you can find table lamp styles in book shops, cafes, and cozy clubhouses where each cluster of comfortable chairs is softly illuminated by it’s own shaded lamp. Choose your time period and your style or go eclectic because there are hundreds of design varieties of table lamp to choose from.

Soft ambient lighting at home is a relaxing and versatile option. With smart RBG control and an elegant choice of fixtures, you can set the mood easily or bring up the lights for clear illumination when it’s time to clean or find the remote. For more elegant and practical home decor ideas, contact us today.

OBJECTUU
In Blog

5 Reasons To Incorporate Wall Clocks Into Your Wall Decor

When it comes to decorating the walls of your home, you have so many great options. These options help you to avoid having bare walls, and they really help you to complete the look with the rest of your decor. One excellent piece of decor to add to your walls is a wall clock. There are so many awesome reasons why wall clocks can really level up your wall game and make your walls looking amazing! Here are three great reasons to incorporate them into your wall decor. 

They Serve A Purpose 

One excellent reason to incorporate wall clocks into your wall decor is because they are highly functional, and they serve a purpose in your home. You need to be able to tell the time, and having one or more wall clocks in your home makes this much easier for you. You can place a clock in an area where you need to be able to tell the time easily, or in a room where you don’t have any other clocks. 

There Are So Many Styles

Another awesome reason to hang a wall clock on your wall is because you have so many styles to choose from. There are modern styles, classic styles, industrial styles, and everything in between. There are also styles that are more themed and others that are neutral. When it comes to colors, you are really only limited to your imagination. The clocks are made to be both digital and analog, which gives you even more options. You may want a digital clock for your children’s room and an analog clock for your kitchen.  This allows you to easily find a wall clock to go in any room in your home. 

They Come In Different Sizes And Shapes

Wall clocks also come in several sizes as well. These sizes allow you to have a wall clock as a centerpiece on your wall, as well as a small accent piece to fill in a smaller area. There are different shapes as well, such as circular, rectangle, square, oval, heart, and many other solid and more abstract shapes as well. You can even find customized sizes and shapes to fit in extra large, small, or oddly shaped spaces. 

They Are Affordable

Unlike other kinds of wall decor, such as paintings and other artistic pieces, wall clocks are comparatively affordable. This allows you to decorate your walls, even if you are on a budget and would otherwise have to leave your walls bare. This also makes it possible for you to purchase multiple wall clocks when you would only be able to afford one artistic piece. 

They Create An Accent Or Focal Point In The Room  

Lastly, when you choose to purchase a wall clock, you have the benefit of knowing that they will be a great accent or focal point in the room. You can choose a character themed, digital clock to be the focal point in your child’s room, a large farmhouse clock for your kitchen, a gorgeous, detailed clock for your entryway, and the list goes on. This really helps you to make a statement in whatever room you place your wall clock, and also allows you to have a functional piece. 

You really can’t go wrong when you choose to purchase a wall clock to incorporate into your decor because they serve an important purpose by showing you what time it is, they come in several styles, they are available in different sizes and shapes, they’re affordable, and they are a great accent or focal point in any room. 

To learn more great reasons to incorporate wall clocks into your wall decor, or to shop our store to find a great wall decor clock for your home today!

OBJECTUU
In Blog

Top 5 Reasons Why a Heater Fan Is A Must Have in Every Bathroom

A bathroom without a heater fan is like a kitchen without a stove – it just doesn’t make sense! If you’re still on the fence about whether or not you need one of these in your bathroom, here are some reasons why a heater fan is a must-have.

1. They Help Prevent Mold and Mildew Growth

Mold and mildew thrive in damp, warm environments – precisely the environment that often exists in bathrooms. It’s essential to keep the air circulating. A heater fan can help by drawing moist air out of the room and replacing it with drier air from outside. In addition to helping prevent mold and mildew growth, a heater fan can also help keep your bathroom feeling fresh and comfortable. So if you’re looking for a way to fight mold and mildew, a heater fan is worth considering.


2. They Help Dry out Wet Towels and Clothes

After a shower, the last thing you want is to put on a wet towel. And wet clothes are even worse. But if you don’t have a heater fan in your bathroom, that’s what you’ll be dealing with. A heater fan can help dry out wet towels and clothes quickly, so you can get dressed and on with your day. The heat from the fan helps to evaporate the water from wet fabrics, and the circulating air helps speed up the process. As a result, your towels and clothes will be dry.  Another bonus is that you can dry your wet clothes here, saving you the hassle of hanging them up to dry elsewhere. So if you’re tired of putting on damp towels, make sure to install a heater fan in your bathroom.


3. They Help Ventilate the Room after a Steamy Shower

After a steamy shower, the last thing you want is to feel trapped in a humid bathroom. Luckily, a simple way to ventilate the room and prevent that stuffy feeling is to turn on your heater fan. The fan will help dry out the bathroom and avoid mold and mildew growth by circulating the air. Plus, it will also help distribute any fragrance from your shower gel or shampoo, giving your bathroom a pleasant scent. So next time you step out of the shower, reach for the switch and give your bathroom a quick blast of fresh air.


4. They Provide a Gentle Heat That Makes the Bathroom More Comfortable During Colder Months

When the weather outside is cold, the last thing you want is to step into a freezing cold air after a hot steamy shower. A heater fan can help to make your bathroom more comfortable during the colder months. A heater fan can quickly take the chill out of the air by circulating warm air around the room. And because it doesn’t produce any sharp gusts of hot air, a heater fan can provide a gentle heat that is perfect for relaxing in the bath or getting ready for bed. Whether you’re looking to save on your heating bill or make your bathroom more inviting, a heater fan is great to add some extra warmth to your home.


5. They Help Deodorize the Air in the Bathroom

No one likes a smelly bathroom. It is unappealing, but it can also be embarrassing if you have guests over. Fortunately, there is an easy way to combat bathroom odors: using a heater fan. Heater fans work by circulating the air in the room, which helps carry away any unpleasant smells. In addition, the heat produced by the fan helps to evaporate any lingering moisture, which can also contribute to foul odors. By running a heater fan in your bathroom, you can keep the air fresh and odor-free.


Conclusion

We hope you can now see the importance of having a heater fan in your bathroom! If you have any questions or want to learn more about our services for your bathroom renovation, don’t hesitate to contact OPENUU. We would be happy to help you select the perfect fan for your needs! Contact us for a free discovery call.

OBJECTUU
In Blog

How Lighting Enhances Your Space: Lighting Design and Ideas to Transform Your Space

Consider this. When you enter a room enhanced with friendly, inviting light, you’ll instantly feel at ease. But if you enter the same room with harsh or insufficient lighting, your mood flips completely. Why?

Lighting has biological and psychological effects that can affect the health and well-being of humans. Biologically, good lighting designs help stabilize your circadian rhythm, which boosts your overall mood and contributes to a better night’s sleep.  

On the psychological part, good lighting can help reduce depression and increase cognitive performance such as reaction time and productivity.

Let’s Shed Some Light:
How to Enhance Your Space Using Lighting

Indeed, lighting is so much more than a nighttime tool. You can spice it with a bit of creativity to make it double as a work of art and enhance your space in so many ways. In this interest, we have made you a brief rundown on how you can use lighting design and ideas to transform your (living, office, or restaurant) space

1. Change the Color Palette of Your Space

Among a variety of choices, adding color is a wise alternative if you need to breathe some life into your space. And don’t shy from the painting costs—a paint job will not be necessary.

You can change your room’s color scheme by introducing pops of brightness with superior lighting fixtures and accessories. 

For instance, if you need a bright, playful look in your rooms, you can go for a pendant light or a table lamp. If sleek colors are too extreme for your taste, terrazzo wall sconces are a great way to warm up your rooms without the dramatic hues.

2. Upgrade Your Aesthetics

In this social media era, you can easily get lost in the design trends bandwagon and feel as if your space is outdated and behind time. On the brighter side of things, decorative light fixtures can help you make an excellent comeback and transform your home or office into a beautiful and elegant space.

Consider replacing old lighting fixtures with current lighting design trends that you love. For example, you can add a modern floor lamp or crescent pendants to refresh and awaken your rooms. However, you may want to be careful to select fixtures that complement your current color palette and the overall design sensibility of your space.

3. Establish Flow in Your Space

When you want to divide an open area into distinct “rooms,” you can use decorative lighting to create distinct spatial divides. The open floor plans of new houses have a modern feel, but it can be difficult to distinguish dining, living, or working areas without the walls.

You can add pendant lighting overhead to divide areas; center the lights over each area you want separate. Consider using flush mount lighting in your living space to make it feel more open and relaxing and long hanging pendants over a dining area to create an intimate feel.

4. Add a Personality Statement

Sometimes all your space needs is an extra dose of fun. Does your life or room feel dull and serious? You can add whimsical pieces such as a statement table lamp to add interest. A subtle, modern lighting fixture or accessory will help break up a more traditionally styled space.

You can bring cheer into a serious or dark-toned room using unique accessories such as the LED tree branches decoration.

5. Smart Lighting to Enhance Your Space

With the increasing advancements in technology and lighting control, setting the perfect mood for your space is now easier than ever. Smart lighting and lighting controls are becoming more popular, especially in the hospitality industry, due to their ability to enhance customer experiences. 

The ability to control the mood and intensity of lighting is a great milestone for your restaurants. For instance, you can set a brighter atmosphere in the morning to wake customers and an intimate and relaxing mood to calm them in the evening. And what’s more on smart lights and lighting technology…

It’s the geometric assembly smart night light. The geometric night light enhances your rooms with style and accent and is easy to control. Some notable features of the geometric night light include:

  • Geometric shape- create superior aesthetics for your room by combining multiple panels
  • Sound and light Interaction- let your lights dance to the tune of the music in your space
  • Voice control- connect the geometric night light to Amazon or Google Home and control the lights hands-free
  • Customized color selection: Customize the color of the light to your mood by using an App or manually by sliding your fingertips along each panel

How We Can Help

Whatever your budget, style, or objective, lighting is an excellent way to transform how your space feels when a person walks through the door. At OPENUU, we are an award-winning design studio and believe that beautifully curated objects have the power to enrich and enhance even the gloomiest spaces.

Try something new from our contemporary lighting design selections and feel the difference each time you flip the switch. And for every purchase you make, we donate ten hot and nutritious meals to someone in need. 

For more information on how lighting can enhance your space (whether office, home, or restaurant), feel free to Contact Us today, and we will be more than willing to assist.

OBJECTUU
In Blog

6 Bathroom Must-Haves To Include When Renovating Your Bathroom

If you are looking into renovating your bathroom, you have likely realized that there are so many awesome things that you can incorporate during the renovation process. These things can help you to update some of the dated aspects of your bathroom, personalize it to meet your needs and the needs of your family, and otherwise make your bathroom look and function exactly how you have always wanted it to. This article will discuss 6 bathroom must-haves to include when renovating your bathroom. 

A Heater Fan

One awesome thing to include when renovating your bathroom is a heater fan. This is a fan that is installed directly into the wall or ceiling of your bathroom, and does an excellent job of providing you with much-needed heat. It is also great for circulating the air in the bathroom, so that you don’t have a build-up of moisture. This is very helpful when it comes to reducing issues of mold and mildew in your bathroom. 

A Heated Towel Rack 

Another awesome feature to incorporate is a heated towel rack. There are few things that are better than wrapping up in a warm towel after you have stepped out of the shower or tub and into the cold air. When you purchase a heated towel rack and place your towels on it, this is exactly what you get. The heat from the towel rack will warm the entire towel and leave it the perfect temperature for you. 

A Double Vanity

Another bathroom must-have to include during your renovation is a double vanity. If more than one person uses your bathroom, then a double vanity is a must. This allows multiple people to use the mirrors, sinks, counter space, etc., at one time, because the vanity itself was created to function this way. This can solve a lot of issues with bathroom usage and makes your bathroom much more functional. 

A Jetted Tub 

A luxurious item to include during the renovation is a jetted tub. You should be able to soak and relax during your baths, and this is exactly what a jetted tub allows you to do. The size of the tub makes it possible for you to stretch out and the jets help to massage your neck, back, and legs. This not only helps you to feel better physically, but it can also help to reduce mental stress and tension as well. 

Bright Lighting 

Your bathroom is a room where the lighting is very important. Because of this, you want to make sure that you have the proper lighting installed during your renovation. You want to have plenty of lighting above your mirrors, as well as above your shower and bathtubs. You can also choose some gorgeous light fixtures that not only add more light to your bathroom, but are also interior design features that help you to really personalize your bathroom and make it beautiful. 

A High-Tech Toilet 

Lastly, you definitely want to incorporate a high-tech toilet into your bathroom renovation. There are some amazing toilets out there with features you likely haven’t even thought of. You can get toilets that have automatic lids that open and close, automatic flushing systems, bidets cleaning systems, self-cleaning features, and more. These features can also be customized, depending on which toilet you purchase, allowing you to get exactly what you want.

When renovating your bathroom, you have so many awesome options, and it is important that you take advantage of them. To learn about more bathroom must-haves to include when renovating your bathroom, or to begin the renovation process today, visit us at OPENUU.

OBJECTUU
In Blog

5 Costs to Include in Your Restaurant Renovation Budget

The call to renovate comes more often for restaurateurs than for other businesses. There’s so much that hinges on your restaurant’s aesthetic appeal that you can’t hope to get by with repairs.

Also, people tend to be drawn to restaurants that keep up with architectural and interior design trends.  If you hope to keep attracting customers, you need to plan for regular renovations.

The first part of renovating involves understanding what needs to be done and creating a budget that fits the bill. The big question is, how do you create the perfect budget to avoid running out of money? Stick around to find out.

Restaurant Renovation Costs to Budget for

Here are the most common costs you need to include in your restaurant renovation budget:

1. Contractor Costs

Labor costs will occupy a significant part of your budget. Generally, remodeling costs run from about $200 to $250 per square foot. However, there are many factors that could make you pay higher or lower.

For example, the size of your restaurant, the amount of work required, and the equipment they need to use affect how much you spend. Plus, a restaurant in Washington DC will cost more to renovate than another one in a small town.

You can work with a designer from the beginning for tips on what to spend more money on and what you can spend less on.  

2. Materials

Materials typically cover every hard surface you have to renovate.  For example, epoxy flooring costs in 2021 ranged from $1,407 to $2,942 while professional installation cost $3 to $12 per square foot. Hardwood floorings cost $6 to $12 per square foot. It also matters how the wood has been treated –such as engineered versus solid and so on. You also need to think about whether the floor needs preparation work.

Additionally, consider whether your restaurant renovation requires buying new furniture or refurbishing the old ones, any new art you may need to buy, and how the make of each of these things affects the cost.

Your contractor can guide you on costs, quality, and stores that give discounts. Do some homework too and compare different prices for everything you need before you lay down the costs.

3. Opportunity Costs When Closed

Major structural changes in a restaurant usually render it inoperable for a while. Smaller ones, like those that affect just one section, may also make it impossible for you to do business as usual.

For example, you can’t keep cooking in a kitchen under renovation. That means the lifeline of your restaurant will be cut off for a while. If it’s only the dining area, you may have to resort to take-out.

The point is to estimate how much you’ll miss out on sales and reservations for that period and plan for it. There’s good news though. Restaurant sales go up from 10 to 20% after renovations.  

4. Utilities

If you’re adding a new section, you need to consider the cost of utilities such as plumbing, electrical wiring, and exhaust systems.

Kitchen restaurant design cost can take up to 75% of the total budget. If you’re doing an overhaul, plan for $300 to $500 per square foot.

Commercial plumbers charge an average of $85 per hour, and an additional cost followed by 15-minute increments after the first hour. They also charge service call-out fees ranging from $50 to $150 and travel fees of $1 to $2 for each mile after traveling for ten miles.

You can use the renovation as an excuse to go green and save money on your budget and in the long term. These include lower flow fixtures while you remodel the bathroom and LED lighting fixtures.

5. Permits

Renovation permits are much cheaper compared to other renovation costs. Your contractor can let you know which ones you need according to your state’s requirements.

Typically, you need a building permit when you’re adding floors or structures. This permits costs anywhere between $50 and $1,000 depending on the age of the building and location. 

In Conclusion

The safest way to plan your budget is always on the higher side to cover unforeseen costs. Plan for the renovation during low seasons such as winter when you’re more likely to get cheaper quotations from contractors.

Better yet, enlist a designer who understands the restaurant scene so they’ll help you capitalize on aspects that will make every dollar you spend worth it.

OPENUU is a design studio with more than 20 years of experience in architecture branding, and interior design. We help businesses like yours to combine design and function for the best results. Learn more.