Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel

Originally Posted On: How to Get Vinyl Swatches to Compare Furniture Colors (richardsonseating.com)

As a restaurant interior designer or owner, one of the most difficult decisions you can make is choosing furniture colors. Not only do you want colors that match the brand and aesthetic of the restaurant, but you also want to make sure that they’re colors that appear welcoming to guests.

When it comes to comparing furniture colors, they can also look determine depending on the time of day and the quality of light. With this in mind, you need to look at vinyl swatches within the restaurant rather than just online.

Read on to learn how furniture color swatches can make your decision easier!

There are numerous benefits of vinyl swatches for furniture colors that you may not have considered before. Here are a few reasons why you should stop the guesswork and acquire swatches of the colors you’re considering:

The color that you’re seeing on your computer monitor may not be necessarily what it appears like in real life. This is because some computer monitors aren’t as accurate as others. For instance, your monitor may have a blue tone that’s making colors appear cooler than they actually are.

Unless your computer monitor is calibrated often and is high-quality enough to do intensive photo or video editing, then you’ll need to see the color in-person in order to make an informed choice.

Even if you’re certain that a color you’ve found is perfect for the restaurant, it’s important to still take your swatches in and see how they look inside. This is because colors can look different depending on the quality of the light. If your restaurant has soft, warm lighting for a dinner crowd, you’ll find that colors will look warmer and more muted.

Colors will also look different depending on the time of day. Mornings are often more bright and blue. If you’re designing a breakfast or brunch place, the color you initially chose may appear too cool.

Swatches for furniture colors also help you make sure that the colors you’ve chosen match the rest of the restaurant. Colors should be cohesive and welcoming. Upholstered restaurant chairs that don’t match the rest of the restaurant’s aesthetic will stand out and clash.

On the other hand, the color you initially chose may be too similar to the color of your carpet. This will make furniture seem to disappear, leading to a bland atmosphere.

We also recommend acquiring swatches that you’re not completely sure about or that you would like to just try out. Bland restaurant interiors are common because designers or owners are understandably afraid to experiment. They don’t want the inside of the restaurant to look like a circus!

However, using vibrant colors can also help the restaurant make a positive impact on guests. They’ll be more likely to remember their experience and recommend it to family and friends. For that reason, experiment. Give a few other hues, tints, and shades a chance.

When you purchase upholstered furniture online, your only choice is to either keep it or return it if you’re not happy with the color. Even if you choose to reupholster old furniture but find that the color just isn’t working out, you’re still wasting precious time and money on new fabric. This is why swatches are so important.

You’ll be able to make a final decision on the color of your furniture and not worry about second-guessing your choice.

Vinyl upholstery for restaurants is one of the top recommended fabrics because of its longevity, durability, and vibrant color options. You can receive swatches in any kind of fabric, but we recommend vinyl so that you can get a feel for the texture and how it can improve the restaurant. Here are a few reasons why vinyl upholstery is recommended:

If the restaurant you’re designing sees a lot of foot traffic, choosing vinyl is the best way to give restaurant owners a practical material that they can maintain easily. When it comes to cleaning and sanitizing, vinyl only requires some water and mild dish soap, and a thorough wipe down.

If the material is ripped, it can easily be repaired with an affordable vinyl repair kit.

Vinyl comes in a variety of colors and grades, meaning that it’s great for any budget. You’ll also have plenty of choices when it comes to colors. If you already have high-quality chairs in the restaurant but want to include some extra affordable chairs, you’ll have an easy time finding a color that matches in vinyl.

People might associate vinyl with cheap diners, but luxurious looking chairs with vinyl seating material are still possible through unique designs and a mixture of fabrics. Vinyl of different grades can also appear cheaper or more expensive.

If a restaurant has numerous windows, one of the top concerns of furniture upholstery is whether the color can remain vibrant over the years. Vinyl is uniquely situated to withstand these situations because some materials are UV-treated beforehand.

UV protectant sprays can also be applied that also help repel dust and water. Many of these sprays are odorless so guests won’t be bothered by them the next day after they’re applied.

When it comes to choosing colors for swatches, we recommend taking a look at the restaurant and determining the colors that are currently being used. Are these colors contributing to the ambiance of the restaurant or taking away? If they’re contributing, you’ll want to use them in your furniture as well.

Analogous colors are those that are next to each other on the color wheel. Complementary colors are those that are opposite. If you’re looking for accent colors that add brightness and vibrancy to a space, go with complementary colors.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for different colors that will blend well with the restaurant, choose analogous colors. You can also choose colors of the same hue but are different tints, tones, and shades.

Keep in mind that you don’t want your colors to look too similar. Guests should feel welcomed and interested in the space–not bored and uninspired!

Now that you know the importance of swatches for furniture choices, how do you acquire them? You’ll be happy to learn that swatches are usually free. We recommend requesting them directly from the furniture manufacturer you’re planning on doing business with. This is because their swatches will be based on the stock they have available.

If you request a swatch from a different manufacturer and fall in love with the texture and color, a different manufacturer may not necessarily have that available. Make it simple for you and request swatches from the same source!

At Richardson Seating Corp., we have swatches available for a variety of upholstery vinyl patterns. Each link that you click on will take you to the supplier’s site that shows all the colors they have available. Our suppliers are:

• Naugahyde
• Omnova
• Nassimi

Ordering a pattern is as simple as clicking the color’s link and creating an account with the supplier. Some suppliers will ship you sample cards that contain more than one color.

When it comes to choosing furniture colors, take the guesswork out of the process, and use swatches. Not only are swatches free and relatively easy to acquire, but you’ll also be able to make your color decisions with confidence. However, it’s important not to rush the process.

Take your time to look around the restaurant and determine its current color story. If the colors seem to be working well for the space, we recommend continuing with the palette and choosing complementary or analogous colors that would blend well but add a pop of interest.

On the other hand, if the current color palette of the restaurant is hard to work with, it could be worth a conversation with the owner about a new coat of paint. Swatches and example images you find online can be helpful in this case. People without design experience will be able to visualize the new color story better when you hold up examples in-person.

Ready to invest in premium restaurant furniture that can withstand the test of time? Contact us today for all of your inquiries to get started!