Description of lighting features in cafes, bars and restaurants

Lighting in restaurants is of great importance, it not only ensures the comfort of visitors, but also affects the reputation of the establishment. Accurately selected light allows you to create a good impression and show all the advantages of the interior from the most favorable side. This is one of the easiest ways to stand out from a number of competitors and be remembered by customers.

Properly selected lighting creates a unique atmosphere in a cafe, bar or restaurant, for which visitors love this or that institution.

Features of lighting restaurants and cafes

Many Western marketers believe that well-chosen lighting not only attracts customers, but also makes them return to the establishment again and again. Using a few techniques when planning a lighting system can transform an unremarkable cafe or restaurant hall and give it originality.

Competent lighting gives the room respectability and focuses on the solidity and style of the interior. At the same time, the lighting for the canteen of catering and fast food is done in a completely different way - they use a lot of bright light and highlight the counters. This allows the windows and the establishment itself to glow in the dark and attract the attention of those who need a bite to eat or buy food to go.

High-quality lighting is usually done above the bar counter to highlight the menu and create a separate area.

SNiP requirements

All the necessary information is contained in SNiP 23-05-95. The document contains information on catering establishments of all kinds. Also there is data not only for dining rooms, but also for ancillary facilities. Norms of horizontal illumination are measured in lux, they are as follows:

1. Dining room and cabanas subject to availability. 200 lux per square meter. This is the minimum limit, you can’t go lower, but it’s not forbidden to go higher, this applies to all points.
2. Kitchen for cooking main dishes, washing room - from 200 lx.
3. Distribution box, if available, from 300 lx.
4. Shops for the manufacture of flour products and confectionery - from 300 lux.
5. Places where ice cream and drinks are prepared – 300 lx.
6. Areas for the preparation and packaging of finished products - 200 lux.
7. Premises in which chocolate and sweets are made - from 400 lx.
8. Warehouses, places of shipment of finished products or receipt of goods - 75 lx.

Lighting the kitchen in a restaurant or cafe requires no less attention than the hall, as there are norms that must be observed.

All requirements listed in the list are mandatory.If representatives of the regulatory authority identify violations, the sanitary-epidemiological conclusion will not be issued, which will lead to a stoppage of work. A fine may also be issued.

By the way! It is necessary to reconsider the features of lighting if the institution changes the format or design of the dining room.

Goals and tasks that lighting performs

In restaurants, cafes and bars, light performs not only a utilitarian function, but also many others:

1. Attracting the attention of potential customers. Signage lighting, design of the entrance group and shop windows are responsible for this. Windows should stand out against the background of the general building so that people remember the location of the establishment and easily find it if necessary.
2. Creating a cozy microclimate in the hall, which promotes good rest and improves appetite. This can be achieved by combining different types of lighting.
3. Ensuring comfortable working conditions for staff. The success of a cafe, bar or restaurant largely depends on the quality performance of duties by cooks, waiters and other employees. Their workplace should be well lit, the speed of work and the quality of the presentation of dishes depend on it.
4. Giving the interior originality, creating a memorable environment that will appeal to customers. Due to this, you can create a place where a person wants to return again and again. Unusual lighting solutions will be photographed and videotaped, providing additional advertising in social networks.
5. Division of space into functional zones. With the help of light, you can separate the dining area from the dance floor or bar. There are many options, a specific solution must be selected according to the situation in order to achieve the best effect.
6. Allocation of special zones for VIP guests. This is an element of increasing prestige and attracting those who value status.

Original lamps above the tables can become the main highlight of the interior and attract attention.

Lighting in a restaurant or cafe should be carefully selected, thinking through every little thing. It is best to invite a specialist who will develop the concept and at the same time meet the standards in order to eliminate problems with supervisory authorities.

Types (levels) of lighting for food establishments

All equipment used can be divided into several groups depending on the functions:

1. General lighting. Sets the main background and is implemented as chandeliers, suspended structures or built-in light panels with uniform light without pulsation with a color temperature of 3500 to 4000 K.
   General lighting can also be implemented using track systems with several shades on the bus.
2. Accent lighting should highlight individual zones or draw attention to certain objects. You can use luminaires built into the wall or ceiling, wall-mounted options for hidden light. Another option is track lights that can be moved and directed anywhere along a pre-installed base.
   The track light is customizable to any room.
3. Decorative lighting does not provide practical benefits, but due to its original atmosphere and memorable appearance is given to the room. This can be either the lighting of paintings, figurines or other objects, or the use of LED strips or panels with iridescent colors.
4. Technical lighting includes all the premises that are needed for the normal operation of a restaurant or cafe.The norms are indicated above, the main thing is to follow them when choosing the number and power of fixtures. Here the quality of light comes first, the design does not really matter.
5. Emergency lighting is an indispensable element in the system of any institution. It includes lamps that work autonomously and provide visibility in any emergency - power outage, fire, etc. An emergency light ensures the unhindered evacuation of visitors and staff.
   Emergency exit board.

Some options can be combined, but at the same time, bright light fluxes should not intersect and create discomfort for vision.

What methods are used

There are several classic methods used when planning lighting in cafes and restaurants. They are used in most establishments, so you need to familiarize yourself with the techniques in advance:

1. The space is divided into public and private areas. Common areas - the space near the bar, the dance floor, the aisles - they are illuminated brighter. And subdued lighting is selected for the tables so that people feel comfortable and can see well what is happening around, while remaining in the dark themselves. It is important to choose the intensity so that people can see each other well.
2. If the institution works during the day, it is advisable to use daylight to the maximum. To do this, you can make windows from floor to ceiling and place tables around them. People like to sit in a cafe or restaurant and watch what is happening outside. And if there is a beautiful landscape outside the window, then these places will be even more popular.
3. Use of several light scenarios for different times of the day. You can use the brightness control or turn on different types of equipment as needed.In the morning it is better to make the room light to give a charge of vivacity for the whole day, in the afternoon soft lighting is suitable, which improves appetite and promotes friendly communication at dinner. In the evening, subdued lighting is preferable.

For the evening time, subdued light is usually selected, but at the same time, the interlocutors should see each other well.

When planning different options, it is worth considering the features of the room - its area, shape, ceiling height, the presence of partitions, etc. All this is important when choosing the right lighting reception.

Rules for the location of fixtures

There are rules to follow when planning location lamps. Their observance will provide comfortable lighting in a cafe or restaurant:

1. When choosing equipment, take into account the characteristics of each zone. In some places, it is necessary to provide good visibility so that people can read and see the interlocutor well. For lounge areas, it is better to choose subdued lighting to provide an atmosphere of relaxation and ensure a comfortable stay in a calm environment.
2. It is better to put a separate lamp above each table. Sometimes several elements are placed if the countertop is long, so that there is perfect visibility and all dishes appear in the most favorable light.
3. It is advisable to use dimmers so that you can adjust the brightness of the light and set it in the way that customers at a certain table like best.
4. It is better to use diffused or reflected light. The use of open bulbs can be, if the design project provides for it, and the bulbs do not blind the eyes.

Diffused light is best suited for cafes and restaurants, as it does not create visual discomfort.

By the way! For public institutions, it is desirable to choose LED lamps, as they have the largest resource and consume many times less electricity than their counterparts.

Recommendations for the proper organization of lighting

There are several general points that need to be taken into account so that the lighting in a bar, restaurant or cafe is comfortable and creates a unique atmosphere:

1. The design of the lamps is selected according to the environment. They are a full-fledged design element and should not fall out of it. Here it is necessary to take into account both the style and the color of the ceiling or body.
2. If there are mirror surfaces in the room, arrange the lighting so that the reflected light does not hit visitors in the eyes. In this case, you can use mirrors to give unusual effects.
3. Don't skimp on lamp quality. It is better to choose LED models, they have different color temperature options and there is no pulsation, which reduces eye strain.
4. If possible, use various add-ons that make light control more convenient and provide many additional functions. It is also worth putting smart lamps, light or presence sensors so that the light is dimmed if everyone has gone to the dance floor.
5. It is important to correctly place light accents, it all depends on the decor of the hall and its features. Pay special attention to the color rendering coefficient of the lamps above the tables. In order for the dishes to look as impressive and natural as possible, the indicator should be at least 90 Ra.

In some institutions, the lamp takes the main place in the interior design.

Planning for future lighting is needed even at the repair stage in order to lay wiring wherever it is needed.

Video: Cafe trends and ideas 2020

The lighting of cafes, restaurants and bars has its own peculiarities, as it not only creates a comfortable atmosphere, but also motivates people to return to their favorite place again and again. When planning, you need to take into account the tiers of lighting, select the most effective techniques and use several schemes to transform the room at different times of the day.