Whether you own a pub, café, coffee shop or restaurant, if you have an outdoor space it can prove to be a wonderful asset for your business. To get the most out of your outdoor area you need to invest in quality commercial furniture that offers style, comfort and longevity.
Here we take a closer look at the five most important things to consider, whether you’re buying commercial outdoor café chairs and tables or anything else for the space.
When you leave commercial outdoor chairs and other furniture exposed to the elements for extended periods, consideration needs to be given to how it will cope with the weather conditions.
The UK weather is infamously hard to predict, with rain and cold snaps appearing out of nowhere, even during the warmer months. But the more prepared you are, the longer your outdoor furniture will last, ensuring it doesn’t degrade when faced with UV rays, ice, wind and rain throughout the year.
Investing in commercial outdoor furniture that is made from UV-resistant polypropylene, powder-coated metal or treated wood is a good place to start, as these types of furniture are made with external use in mind.
Alternatively, you can buy furniture covers to place over the tables and chairs when not in use, or tables that can accommodate parasols to give some form of furniture from the rain.
If you are creating a new outdoor space for your café, coffee shop or restaurant or if you are looking to refresh things, the first thing to do is to measure the space and create a floor plan. This will give you a much clearer idea of how creative you can be with the space and the type of furniture you can use.
The measuring process is similar to what you would do with an indoor space. To get the full square footage of the area, multiply the length by the width. Next, draw an overhead 2D floor plan and add in the commercial cafe chairs and outdoor tables you have in mind (it is also helpful to get the full measurements of the furniture you want to buy).
Outdoor comes in all sorts of forms, from benches and commercial bar stools to garden chairs and bistro sets. It all depends on the aesthetics of the building and outdoor design and how the furniture can complement your existing branding style.
Commercial outdoor café tables need to be a good fit aesthetically with your existing décor, although that doesn’t mean it has to be identical. An outdoor space is a unique part of your premises, so you have creative freedom to give it a different style and look, while ensuring it doesn’t look out of place with the interior.
While looking at the aesthetic features, also consider how functional it will be for your service. Foldable tables and chairs are easy to reorganise into new layouts and allow you to bring the furniture indoors at the end of the business day.
Stackable chairs are another good option in this regard, helping you to save space when they are not in use. Commercial outdoor bar stools or benches also work well in terms of maximising space, whilst providing a comfortable spot for customers to sit and relax.
Take some time to think about the quality of the materials and maintenance requirements, as you won’t want to spend too much on repairs and replacements.
The furniture will undergo heavy usage from customers, be it from sitting on the chairs and using the tables, to food and beverages spills and more. The material needs to be easy to clean for these reasons and not stain too easily, so any marks can be removed without too much effort.
The best materials for outdoor café furniture are always treated wood, polypropylene and powder-coated metal-based. As we mentioned above, furniture made from this material holds up well to extreme weather conditions and is tough and durable, keeping maintenance requirements to a minimum.
Affordability is always a concern as you want to ensure you are getting real value for money. As with any furniture, focus on what you need first and foremost, so you at least have the basics in place to accommodate your customers.
Furniture leasing and finance is another option that could make it possible to secure your ideal commercial outdoor furniture. It removes the issue of finding a larger upfront sum to pay for everything in one payment, plus there are possible tax benefits that you could take advantage of.
From considering the climate and organising the seating arrangements to factoring in the aesthetics, maintenance and affordability, there are quite a few things to weigh up before you make a purchase. Having the right furniture in place can make all the difference to how customers perceive your business, so take your time and weigh up all the options that are available, including whether you could lease or buy on finance.
Spaceist is an established commercial outdoor furniture supplier that works in cafes, coffee shops and restaurants of all sizes. Whether you are refurbing an existing outdoor space or looking to build a brand-new breakout space, we can help you find the right commercial outdoor furniture to suit your design ideas. Take a look at our website or come and visit us at our 2,500 sq. ft. showroom Get in touch with our team today to find out more.
