Best Canteen Furniture for Colleges and Universities

When choosing canteen furniture for colleges and universities, it’s important to consider a variety of factors. Furniture should be comfortable, functional and affordable, as well as fitting into the overall design aesthetic of the building.

Types of Canteen Furniture

Canteen furniture is normally thought about in two parts, firstly the professional kitchen equipment like serving stations, bain maries and vending solutions and secondly the actual canteen furniture which will likely include the following:

Tables and Chairs

Canteen tables and chairs could include long tables or large round tables with matching seating. Smaller or more informal canteens may be furnished with cafe-style tables and chairs. Consider fixed versus flexible seating options – fixed can be more budget friendly but flexible allows you to rearrange tables and the whole space much more easily.

Canteens are busy spaces and the tables and chairs need to be durable and made from materials that will tolerate food and drink spillages as well as daily use by multiple groups of people.

Benches and Booths

Long benches paired with long tables are popular in canteens and break rooms. They help to seat greater numbers of people in the smallest amount of space as well as helping to create a sociable atmosphere.

Booth seating is always popular, allowing groups of people to dine together. Booths are popular for their customisable design options, from the bright, easy clean vinyls of American diner-style cafeterias to sumptuous restaurant banquette seating in leather or velvet style fabrics.

High-top Tables and Stools

High tables and stools are great for more informal spaces as well as being useful to help maximise use of space, for example as window seating as a high counter with stools. They are a popular option for spaces where sociability is to be encouraged and are available in a great range of designs, from fun and colourful to sleek and modern.

Canteen Seating Furniture

Three of the most important things to take into account when selecting commercial canteen seating furniture are:

Ergonomic Designs

Well-designed contract furniture will be ergonomic, that is to say that it will promote proper posture and be designed to reduce discomfort and fatigue. This is important even when it is assumed that diners will only be in the seat for a relatively short period of time.

Accessibility and inclusivity

The canteen is for everyone and so the canteen furniture should include wheelchair-accessible seating options as well as adaptable seating for individuals with different physical needs. This is another reason why one style of fixed seating isn’t always the best approach.

Maintenance and cleaning

Canteen furniture must be easy to clean. This means everything from table tops to chair fabrics to table legs you can clean around or chairs that stack away. Choosing contract-grade stain-resistant and waterproof finishes will prolong the life of your furniture and make daily clean ups easier.

Canteen Furniture Suppliers

If you’re going to invest in commercial-standard canteen furniture it’s important to use an experienced contract furniture supplier. There are many to choose from, so use these checklists to help you to choose the right one.

Evaluating suppliers based on reputation, quality, and customer service:

1. When choosing a supplier, be sure to check their reputation, the quality of the products supplied and the customer service and after-sales service offered.
2. Good suppliers will offer planning, installation and delivery services too while the best should be able to offer a guarantee or warranty.
3. You may wish to approach other educational institutions for references or check the supplier’s website for testimonials from satisfied customers in your sector.

Comparing prices and warranty options:

• Compare prices carefully, including installation, delivery and aftercare.
• Remember that commercial furniture is a long term investment, you certainly don’t want to have to replace it frequently.
• It’s important to balance costs against quality – cheaply-built options will not last long in a high use public area like a canteen.

Customisation and design services:

1. Good commercial canteen furniture suppliers will work with you to create a unique canteen environment according to the specific needs of your school or college.
2. This could include working with you on space planning to maximise covers, incorporating school colours, logos or themes as well as understanding how best to work to a budget.
3. Experienced suppliers will be able to source bespoke furniture sizes and shapes from their suppliers, allowing you to make the most of all available space.

Sustainable and Eco-friendly Canteen Furniture

Everyone is aware of the long-term benefits of eco-friendly furniture. Ask your supplier about environmentally responsible materials and manufacturing processes. The best ones will be able to answer all of your questions and will also be able to show evidence of supporting suppliers with sustainable practices.

Remember, quality furniture that is built to last longer is always better for the environment.

Tips for Planning and Designing a College or University Canteen

In a dedicated space like a canteen it’s important to start by planning the room carefully to maximise eating and drinking space and ensure that the space is, first and foremost, functional.

• Maximising space and functionality
  Spaceist can assist you in the space planning process, making sure that you’ve taken into account required seating capacity at peak times as well as traffic flow through the room.
• This is time to consider how people will use the space and the flexible furniture arrangements that will work most effectively for your space.
• Creating a welcoming atmosphere
  Once the technical planning is complete, it’s time to think about creating a really welcoming atmosphere. Think about how you would like to showcase the school colours or branding, or perhaps how to incorporate real or artificial plants or natural elements to help soften the space.
• Prioritising student input
  It’s a useful exercise to gather feedback from staff and students, whether as users of the existing space to be refurbished, or to help plan a brand new approach. Not only does this help to encourage a sense of pride or ownership in the canteen, students may have detailed information on use of the space or preferred seating arrangements that you may not have considered.

A well-designed canteen can have a huge impact on student and staff satisfaction and is a focal point of campus life. Make sure yours includes quality contract-standard, accessible chairs, tables and benches and work with an experienced supplier for the best outcome.

How is the cafeteria furniture delivered?

Most cafeteria furniture is delivered as flat packs and built on site by our specialists, so no need to worry about access.

What are the best easy to clean finishes for tables?

The best easy to clean finishes for canteen tables are contract-grade laminates (which are much more durable than cheaper domestic alternatives) or solid woods.

What are the best easy to clean finishes for soft seating or booths?

Thes best easy to clean finishes for soft seating or booths are wipe-clean vinyls or contract grade fabrics.

What colours is canteen seating available in?

Canteen seating is available in literally hundreds of shades. For some designs we may even be able to offer a colour matching service.

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