Restaurant Color Trends

In 2020, restaurants have taken full advantage of social media and played into the "aesthetic" that everyone craves to possess in their Instagram feed. The interior design has a focus on minimal, muted tones, with either an emphasis on soft pastels or gray tones. These hues create a homely, cozy feeling that stimulates hunger and excitement in customers.

Restaurant Typeface & Typography Trends

Perhaps one of the most important aspects for restaurant branding in the digital age is having an eye-catching and aesthetically pleasing logo and type of the restaurant name including merchandise. The type should tell a story and be a consistent theme throughout the restaurant. Today, Millennials and Gen Z look for value-driven logos that truly show what the brand is about. About 13% of consumers consider themselves brand loyal to restaurants. In 2020, the following fonts are considered trendy and attractive:

• Humanizing font
• Round Sans Serif Font
• Rustic Fonts
• Wide-open minimalism
• Pixel

Restaurant Texture Trends

Textures in restaurants are felt and viewed within the furniture and decor, which is essential for good business. Like the emphasis on neutral colors, restaurant textures today have a focus on minimal yet sustainable products that are functional spaces. A growing necessity for casual diners is to have communal spaces for easy and open communication while spending time there; A mix and match of furniture, along with homely, sturdy wood and brick structures accomplishes just that. Textured pillows and couch seating is also an installation to emphasize comfort. For Milennials and Gen Z, sustainability and environmental consciousness is an important factor, so large amounts of plants scattered around the restaurant will reflect that. Additionally, lighting is essential because depending on the vibe of the restaurant, diners will either cherish the natural light that compliments the fresh decor, while some may want darker, more ambient lighting to accomplish a different purpose. Either way, experimentation with lighting is something to consider when aiming to be trendy.

For any business, staying on top of trends is essential, but this is especially important for restaurants. As long as owners follow trends, utilize social media, and change with the times in regards to design, branding, and advertising, they are assured to stay successful. With the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants were most as risk with the lack of business, but another venture they may consider is delivery and pick-up options. According to UpServe Restaurant Insider, 31% of people use third-party delivery services, such as Grubhub or DoorDash, at least twice a week. With the shift to sustainability, consumers will appreciate reusable to-go containers which also give an opportunity for branding. Once this pandemic ends, it will be interesting to see how the trends shift to accommodate this new lifestyle of socialization and dining.