How To Make A Perfect Restaurant Bathroom
Think about it: the bathroom is the only place in a restaurant where a guest is away from their company, alone and much more likely to notice the details of their surroundings. That's why, although they won't spend much time there, the design and ambience of your bathroom is at least equally important as the rest of your facility. It might not be the reason for guests to choose to come back, but it definitely will contribute to their overall attitude about your restaurant and its management. If it's unseemly it could be something that completely ruins the image you carefully cultivated, thus turning them away. That said, any serious and devoted restaurateur needs to have their bathroom designed as an integral part of the whole facility, and not just an afterthought. Here's how.
Logic and functionality
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t all starts with a proper and carefully developed layout, and you'll need a professional interior architect to draw up plans and variations until you have the most logically sound one. You may think it's simple, but there are numerous things to consider, and professionals are taught to think about them ahead:
- circulation space around washbasins
- nothing in the way of opening doors
- mirrors preferably not reflecting stalls
- trash cans placed in reachable but not visually intruding locations, etc.
A well planned, functional space will ensure people are not tip-toeing around each other and fumbling in an awkward bathroom cue. The number of toilets as well as the wheelchair-accessible spaces will be determined by legal requirements, so that's the data to start with. When it comes to sinks, here's some friendly advice: place the sinks in the public space rather than the individual stalls, otherwise people will take ages inside (or even if they don't, it will seem like they are).
The theme
You might not have a specific theme per se, but you do need the bathroom design to be a natural continuation of the entire restaurant's concept. Whatever you do, don't make the bathroom entirely void of any visual identity and don't make its concept a contrast to the rest of the space – you want the bathroom to exude how much thought you put into its design, as a respectable owner, not to just look like something you thought might be cool. Define your concept first, and then carry it out through the materials and finishes. That brings us to the next part.
Materials and finishes
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A minimalist restaurant, for example, will have a bright and airy bathroom with natural elements (plants, woven baskets, neutral undertones, etc.) whereas a moody and chic one will use the bathroom space to accentuate a dark and heavy design concept, letting guests completely immerse themselves in the emphasized ambience. Reflect the concept of the restaurant by using some of the same materials or colors that were used in the dining spaces.
Keep in mind that you need to stay true to your aesthetic principles but without underestimating practicality, such as cleaning and durability, and this is particularly important when it comes to flooring. Stone pavers of various composites are one of the most popular flooring choices because they're extremely durable, water-resistant, easy to clean but not slippery, as well as versatile in terms of style: you can incorporate them in a minimalist, rustic, eclectic, or any other theme. Brick is another popular choice for its warm, earthy tone, but your overall concept might call for concrete or vinyl flooring. Either way, they can all be stylish and practical options.
Last but not least, don't repeat the mistake that many restaurateurs make: don't ignore the design of the disabled toilets; naturally, it needs to follow the concept just like everything else.
Tie it all together
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You know what they say: the devil lies in the details. Once you've thought everything through carefully and consulted with a designer, every little detail is crucial to defining your atmosphere and putting a full stop to your concept. This will stick in guests' memories, and if chosen, well, you can impress them with the simplest things. The washbasins, taps, toilet dispensers, trash cans, hand dryers, soap holders, and even doorknobs are things to choose carefully and take your time with. Also, don't underestimate the importance of the quality of your soap and toilet paper – you don't want to look cheap after putting in all that effort.
Pay attention to the heating and ventilation so the space is pleasant, and include some subtle scents, because that surely won't go unnoticed. Discuss lighting thoroughly with your designer, and use it to your advantage: with the right lighting, guests will like the reflection they see in the mirror, and they'll tie their memory of your restaurant to this pleasant feeling. Next, use the signage to your bathroom to emphasize your brand and create unique, interesting pictograms (employ a graphic designer for that).
When you have everything just how you want it, needless to say, rigorous and regular maintenance is mandatory. You don't want the old "If the bathroom is dirty, so is the kitchen" to haunt you and leave guests skeptical of the entire place after you've put in all this work. If maintenance is above the common norm, your guests are sure to leave impressed.