Retro isn’t simply retro, especially in the context of restaurant design and commercial restaurant furniture. Retro is current, it’s in and it’s set to be in for the foreseeable future. We explore how the iconic 50’s American diner continues to inspire restaurant design. From large restaurant tables, to bar stools and fixed booth seating, to bright neon signs, there are many ways to incorporate features of this style into your restaurant or cafe. Décor trends come and go relatively quickly in the restaurant industry as peoples’ tastes change, but it appears elements of this style have far greater sticking power than others.
A step back in time
So where did the American diner begin… The actual concept of the diner began a long time before the 1950s back in the 1900s when Water Scott, a Rhode Island entrepreneur, repurposed a horse-pulled wagon into a car that served sandwiches, coffee, and pies. This proved to be a profitable business, and other companies quickly followed suit, producing lunch wagons or early diners.
The concept evolved over the years, slowly taking shape as to what we now see as a 1950’s diner. The look of the diner changed as it spread to the suburbs, implementing stainless steel exteriors, large windows and wall decor. In the 1970’s a revival took place, and many diners were built with a retro look. The diner is an icon of American culture located in almost every town and city and has now been adopted here in the UK – Chains such as TGI Fridays, Franky & Benny’s, Five Guys and many privately owned restaurants have taken inspiration from this cultural icon.
Furniture
Retro or vintage-inspired restaurant furniture is hugely popular and can transform a venue from a plain space to a funky and inviting establishment; think of the booths and comfortable side chairs covered in brightly coloured faux leather. Although restaurants nowadays may not choose the bright colours that directly emulate an American diner, they may feature similar shapes of furniture in shades that match their interior and brand – still giving off a retro look.
Other popular features of American diners which are coveted in contemporary hospitality establishments are large, industrial style restaurant tables or high bars with retro bar stools.
Finishes
Chrome was all the rage in the in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and has since made a comeback, with these reflective metals are making a statement in on-trend restaurant interiors. Chrome is paving the way this year and replacing brass as the ‘finish du jour’. Retro elements like metal finishes on restaurant tables, countertops and stools are also having a resurgence in the food service industry.
Décor
When you conjure up an image of an American diner in your head, you undoubtedly have the below image in mind. And many establishments will emulate this look and feel to a tee, whereas others will take elements from it. In the typical diner we’re used to seeing bright and gaudy walls, even largely mirrored sections. These styles are still seen frequently in retro restaurant design but sometimes not to such an extent. We see a mix of colours, the use of bright colours and large mirrors/mirrored wall areas in many a venue. Retro wallpaper designs and even wood panelling is also popular and immediately give the impression of an eatery dating back to the 50’s era.
Flooring
Checkered floor tiles are one of the most quintessential diner attributes. And, nowadays, some restaurants are even choosing retro linoleum for their flooring because there are many more colour options than wood or concrete flooring, and it’s very easy to install and maintain.
Lighting and accessories
In addition, neon signs are becoming a popular design element, with restaurants, pubs and hotels using them to decorate their walls and even external areas of their buildings. How many eateries do you frequent whereby 50’s wall art is used, including road signs, framed pictures of 50’s era celebrities, number plates or vinyl records? It demonstrates that anything and everything funky and kitsch can be put on a wall! Juke boxes were also a huge part of the American diner, but we now see them in all kinds of venues because they simply exude cool, retro style.
Make the American Diner style work for you
So, you can go all-out American diner style with black and white flooring, fixed seating booths and huge splashes of red teamed with neon signs, or you can celebrate vintage styling in a little more subtly. We can see that many restaurants, cafes and bars feature retro elements, and this will continue to permeate the industry. Retro styling can be bright, nostalgic and theatrical or subtle and calming, spanning your restaurant furniture, décor, flooring and lighting. But the fact is, the diner is a cool place to spend time with your friends/family. It’s friendly and inviting and therefore the perfect inspiration for contract furniture for the restaurant industry.
Get the Look
At Eclipse Furniture we’ve got a great range of commercial tables, chairs, and stools that can give your venue that all-American feel. Faux leather upholstered seating like our Tavo range has a retro vibe and is available in loads of colours, or our Extrema Table Tops in white not only have vintage appeal but are extremely durable and easy to maintain.
Here are a few of our suggestions…
From left to right: Tavo Stacking Armchair, Extrema Table Top, Lucero Bar Stool
Need some help?
If you need any help in choosing furniture for your restaurant or café, we’d be delighted to give you a free consultation. Just give us a call on 01452 336 520 or email sales@eclipsefurniture.co.uk and one of our dedicated customer success team will be happy to help.
