Welcome to the blog at Cafe Chairs Melbourne

Here we'll be posting a variety of topics to share with our readers including reviews of some of our most popular pieces and details of new products that have landed on our shelves. We'll also be discussing the history behind some of the iconic brands, the latest trends in cafe culture, and giving you hints and tips on how to choose the right cafe furniture for you, and how to incorporate it into various themes. We're hoping that you'll find the content interesting and useful, so please feel free to post any comments below. We'd love to hear your thoughts. Best wishes from the team at Cafe Chairs Melbourne.
 
 

How To Use Dry Bar Tables In Your Café

Posted on by Chris

Do you have any dry bar tables in your café or bar? If not, you could be missing out on a trick. Dry bar tables, for those that may not know, are tall tables that stand above standard café tables. Sometimes referred to as poseur tables, they can be used as an extension to your counter – ie. A place on which to place cutlery and condiment sets – or as stand-alone tables in their own right.

Let’s take a look at the benefits of dry bar tables and how you could use them in your dining area to potentially serve more customers and increase your revenue.

Fit them in those awkward spaces

It’s highly unlikely that you have a perfectly square shaped dining space. Instead, you’ve probably got some tight corners and small recesses, where you may find it difficult to fit in a table and chairs.

Dry bar tables are ideal for slotting into these awkward spaces because they stand tall, allowing you to place stools beneath them or even just for people to stand around and use the table to place down their drinks. Ideal for friends or couples looking to pop in for a coffee on their way home, you’ll find that the extra people also help to create a buzz.

Frees up larger tables

Because dry bar tables are compact you can use them to cater for single diners or couples, freeing up larger tables for bigger groups. Not only this, but  by slotting in tables like these it maximises your floor space enabling you to serve more customers without cramming the space so that people can’t move.

Attracts passers by

Try using a few of these tables outside if you have any spare space. They’re ideal for placing on pavement areas or small terraces and can have stools grouped around them too. People are always attracted by a café or bar that is spilling over with customers outside so this is a good way for you to get a piece of the action. What could be nicer than sitting outside watching the world go by while taking the weight of your feet for 20 minutes or so?

Visual interest

Because dry bar tables are taller than their counterparts, they’re a good way to add visual interest in other areas of your café. Why not line them up along a window edged side of your dining space? People can see inside that it looks as if you’re busy and are likely to think this is a great place to go for a coffee and some food.

Starting at just $99 for a 600mm bar table, it’s a small investment which will keep on giving by allowing you to serve more customers and increase your revenue. Are you ready to shop bar tables?

Head on over to our online store or pop by our showroom to see our furniture for yourself. With a wide range of tables, chairs and stools we’ve got all you need to furnish your café without making a huge dent in your wallet.

 

 

When to Use Low Café Stools and Why We Know You’ll Love Them!

Posted on by Chris

If you’re not already using low stools in your café, then you’re missing a trick. These great little items of furniture are extremely versatile, and we know that once you know where to use them and for what purpose, you’re going to love them 😊

Group them around your communal tables

Communal dining has been embraced by Australians and is a trend which shows no sign of going anywhere soon. We love to see low stools replacing bulky bench seating for a couple of reasons: firstly, they make communal tables appear visually more spacious; secondly, they’re easier to use and manoeuvre than benches. With their simplistic styling and lack of back rests, they lend a casual air – which is surely the intention of communal dining?

What’s more, a low stool is so much easier to pull out and sit on, especially if you’re wearing a skirt, rather than having to clamber over a bench seat on which other people may already be seated.

Perfect for high traffic areas

Low stools are often paired with small bistro tables to lend a non-verbal indication that people seated at these tables are expected not to linger for any longer than necessary. This makes them a good option for convenient seating applications. This type of seating can usually be found in small narrow areas either near the doorway, or at the back of a restaurant or café, where people are waiting to pick up their orders. Lending a small footprint, low stools are ideal for people waiting to collect a cup of coffee or slice of hot pizza.

Great for multi-use spaces

Cafes need light weight furniture that can be easily moved around to accommodate varying customer needs. Low stools are small in stature and are easy to arrange or rearrange according to the situation. Heavier, bulky chairs are not intended for this type of use and can cause damage to other furniture when moved around haphazardly by customers or staff. Low stools, on the other hand, are easily portable.

Adds personality

Small stools come in a pleasing array of styles, materials, and bold colours and normally with a lower price tag than larger items of café furniture. Low stools can be used to add a burst of colour within your interior and breathe new life into an awkward or dull space, making it one of the areas that customers are immediately drawn too.

Perfect for kids

Low stools are also great for kids, especially if you have an area where parents can leave their children to sit and read, colour, or play with Lego bricks, while the adults enjoy a catch up.

At Café Furniture Melbourne, we have a wide range of attractive low stools at very affordable prices, so why not take a browse, and look at exciting ways that you can utilise them in your café or bistro.

 

How To Create A Great Café Experience With Café Tables and Chairs

Posted on by Chris

If you’re looking to make your café the ‘go to’ café in town, then you need to do all you can to create a pleasing ambience in your café. Delicious food, a good layout, and nice furniture should all work well together so that your customers have a great experience and recommend your café to all their friends and family. It’s all of these things that help to build customer loyalty.

From planning the layout of your café to ensuring the interior is warm and inviting, a lot of time is usually spent in planning a successful café. It’s well worth the investment in your time since people go to cafes to catch up with friends and loved ones as well as to try the latest coffee. Consider the following factors to make your café stand out from the crowd.

Well planned and convenient dining area

Planning the interior of your café carefully is critical to your bottom line. Your seating area is what defines the comfort and privacy of your customers which is where the importance of choosing the right tables and chairs comes in.

Some of the ways customers perceive if a layout is well designed is the space left between the tables, how comfortable the chairs are to sit on, what their view is, and how attractive the general décor is.

The material and style of your café furniture can make or break the ambience of your café. For instance, if customers are paying City prices for coffee and snacks, they would not be happy to find cheap plastic chairs and tables once they walked through your doors.

Attractive outdoor areas

Does your café have an outdoor space that could be better utilised? Why not maximise its potential and increase your revenue by sprucing it up with some fabulous outdoor furniture?

If basic plastic chairs and tables are not in keeping with the style of furniture you have inside, then perhaps it’s time to dispose of them and revamp your space?

Try replacing your tired old furniture with innovative designs in chairs and tables. There’s a huge choice of quality lightweight chairs that are all designed for outdoor use in metal, plastic, rattan, and aluminium. The range of bright colours and options in plastic chairs alone is staggering. Resin tables are highly durable for outdoor use and also come in a wide choice of designs, colours, and sizes. Many of them are designed to look like other materials such as wood, granite, and marble and look extremely lifelike. You can even find sofas that are designed for outdoor use. In fact, your options when creating an outdoor dining are only limited by your imagination.

Revamp problem areas

Overfilling your indoor dining space may seem like a good idea to make room for more customers but often it has the opposite effect. If your customers feel cramped and that there is no privacy when they’re conversing, then even if your food and coffee is the best in town, they’re unlikely to return.

Problem areas include those tables that are too close to the toilets, in a hot or cold entryway, or too close to a noisy kitchen. Focus instead on placing the right size of furniture in awkward spaces. For example, a small 600 mm table placed in a tight corner with a candle on top of it, could make an inviting and intimate area for a romantic couple.

It really doesn’t matter whether you’re running a small café of a large fine dining restaurant. Your intention should still be to serve your customers in the best possible way which is why investing in good quality, comfortable, and durable furniture matters to your bottom line.

At Café Furniture Melbourne we can provide you with a huge choice of furniture and any design and layout assistance you may need. Why not drop by our showroom and take a look for yourself?

A Short Guide to Commercial Outdoor Café Furniture

Posted on by Chris

If you’re planning on utilising outdoor space so that you can cater for more customers at your cafe, then perhaps you’re looking at purchasing more furniture, such as tables and chairs. With such a wide variety of styles and materials to choose from, it can be difficult knowing what to buy.

What is commercial furniture?

The first thing to take account of is the fact that you really need to check that any furniture that you’re considering is indeed commercial furniture and not furniture that you might use for home use. Commercial furniture has been specifically designed and tested for business use in places such as cafes where it will be used by large numbers of people over long periods of time. Typically, outdoor furniture is made from materials such as wood, metal, plastic, and rattan and finished with hard wearing materials to make it more durable. We’ve put together a quick guide, to help you with your choice.

Metal furniture

Metal furniture is one of the most popular choices for outdoor use because of its weatherproof qualities. Because both steel and aluminium are lightweight, it’s also able to be moved around easily and stored at the end of the day. With very little maintenance required, metal furniture is a really good option.

Wood furniture

Traditional and aesthetically attractive, wood furniture is another popular choice for outdoor use. Teak is a popular choice provided it’s been treated to withstand all types of weather. In addition, there is plenty of ‘wood style’ furniture which uses synthetic timber panels which are treated to be UV resilient, so they don’t fade, and are water resistant too.

Plastic furniture

Today’s plastic chairs are made from polypropylene and usually mould injected so there are no seams to weaken, crack, or split. They come in a rainbow of colours and a huge variety of modern, exciting styles. While, they’ve always been regarded as being a low budget choice, our plastic chairs are good quality and extremely durable.

Take our Belle chairs, for example. These stylish chairs are available in some lovely summer colours which are sure to brighten up your space and come with or without armrests.

For those of you that like a traditional look, then how about our resin cross back Bentwood chairs with their rattan seats. We can’t get enough of them!

Rattan

Finally, you might want to consider rattan furniture. Traditionally this used to be made from natural grasses woven into a pattern and stretched over a bamboo frame. While it looks rustic and charming, unfortunately it doesn’t last long outdoors as the natural materials tend to split and crack in the heat or rot in the rain.

Nowadays commercial rattan furniture is made from nylon stretched over an aluminium frame. Our Parisian chairs feature a powder coated frame for extra durability and an attractive chevron finish to the body.

Here at Café Furniture Melbourne we stock a wide range of outdoor café furniture and are constantly adding to our inventory. Why not browse our online store, download our furniture catalogue for future reference, or visit our showroom to check it out for yourself.

Advantages of Stainless Steel in the Kitchen

Posted on by Chris

If you’re looking to revamp your café’s kitchen then why not consider using stainless steel. Here at Café Furniture Melbourne we stock a wide range of stainless-steel kitchen equipment including benches, shelving solutions and sinks.

Stainless steel appliances have been popular in kitchens for many years now and if you want a kitchen that is timeless and modern, then stainless steel is the way to go. Naturally, there’s a reason for stainless steel’s popularity and that is that it’s clean, attractive, and long lasting. Read on to discover even more reasons for considering stainless steel in your commercial kitchen.

Durable and timeless

Following trends is all well and good but as you know, trends come and go, and there will come a time when your once modern kitchen looks dated and old, and you’ll need to replace it.

Stainless steel doesn’t rust, discolour, or fade and as such it will be pleasing to look at for many years to come which is why it’s the perfect choice for kitchen stoves, sinks and appliances.

Easy to clean

Stainless steel is also a good choice in the kitchen because it doesn’t absorb stains or smells. Unlike a vinyl surface which is porous, stainless steel resists absorption, making it easy to clean and sanitise. With the minimum of maintenance, stainless steel will retain its sleek, shiny looks for many years and doesn’t show signs of wear and tear.

Kitchen safe

Stainless steel is ideal for the hospitality sector for the simple fact that it doesn’t absorb germs and bacteria, which is so important in areas where food is being prepared.

Aesthetically pleasing

One of the best reasons for choosing stainless steel for any kitchen is that it fits in with most decors and looks stunning in any kitchen design. Why not try adding a few other textures into the mix such as a granite worktop or wooden cabinets to balance things out and make your kitchen appear even more stylish?

Made from 304 stainless steel our benches, shelving and sinks are all heavy duty and perfect for both commercial and home use and are supplied with a 12-month warranty. Our shelving systems are coated with black epoxy to protect again moisture too. Open shelving works well in commercial kitchens because it’s easy to spot items without delving into dark cupboards, and because they’re open and the contents are visible, it makes sense to keep them tidy all of the time too.

Make your café’s kitchen a better environment to be in with our Supremely Stainless range. We’re currently offering 25% discount on the whole range, so you can save yourself some money too.

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring the Pros and Cons of Bar Tables

Posted on by Chris

Have you been considering bar tables for your café? If so then we’re excited to introduce you to the latest addition to our collection – the 600mm square Isotop table top which comes with a metal Tolix style table base.

We absolutely love this style of bar table but for you to love it too, it may help to learn more about the pros and cons of such a table. So, without further ado, let’s dive in and take a closer look.

The pros

First, let’s look at the merits of bar tables which, incidentally, are also referred to as counter height tables.

Great for small spaces – Since bar tables are taller than standard café tables, they give the illusion of space around them. What’s more, our 600 mm square tables take up less room than other tables giving more space for your customers and staff to move around. Ideal for tight corners, they maximise space like no other.

Good for tall people – Bar tables provide additional rooms for customers’ legs and are particularly suited to tall people who sometimes find the leg room cramped when sitting at a standard café table.

You get a great view – Bar tables afford those who sit at them a better view of their surroundings. This is especially true when bar tables are lined up alongside a wall of windows as customers can see what’s happening outside as well as having a commanding view of all that’s going on around them.

Brings a casual feel – Because bar tables are invariably paired with bar stools, they lend a casual feel to your venue. What’s more, bar tables can also be used without stools with the idea being that people stand around them chatting, using the table to put down their drinks. By using bar tables this way, you have room for more customers at your busiest times.

Perfect extension to your counter – Because bar stools are counter height they can be placed at the end of your counter and could be used for holding cutlery, napkins and condiments for customers to help themselves to.

Cons of bar tables

Less choice – Since standard café tables are preferred by many café owners, there are a wealth of styles and colours to choose from. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for bar tables, and there are fewer styles to choose from, although as they gain more in popularity, we’re finding more styles to offer our customers.

Not suitable for older people and disabled customers – Many older people will find it a struggle to heave themselves onto a bar stool which accompanies a bar table as will most disabled people who can often move from a wheelchair onto a standard chair but would find it impossible to move onto a bar stool.

Our 600mm square bar tables come with white or black metal frames and a wonderful selection of table tops including Dark Walnut, Choco Oak, Cement, and Alcantara. We also have a good range of round bar tables so why not check out all the bar tables and bases we have to offer. You’re sure to find one that suits your décor.

 

 

 

 

What Are the Interior Café Trends for 2019?

Posted on by Chris

It’s true that furniture can make or break a space so if you’re planning a makeover for your café this year then it’s important to choose the right pieces. Since we’re well into the new year, we thought we’d look at the trends you can expect to find in cafes and restaurants in 2019. From patterns, textures, and colours, we’ll be giving you a few hints and tips on the materials to choose for your café chairs and the designs that will be the most fitting for your walls.

Soft blush tones

Blush has come into its own as the new neutral and pairs well with grey and white to create a calming ambience. It also looks great with bold colours such as green and navy to create an art deco feel which is also bang on trend this year

It’s all in the detail

There’s nothing nicer than a café chair which showcases detail. The smallest of details can have a huge impact on the overall look of your interior space. Consider chairs with intricate backs or colour dipped legs.

Sumptuous materials

Velvet is the most highly searched fabric and is sumptuous and seductive. You could take the most boring booth seating and upholster it with velvet and buttons or studs and suddenly it appears decadent and appealing.

Sustainable and natural materials are also big this year so keep an eye out for these materials when choosing your café furniture. While metal furniture is still “in” and fits well into an industrial theme, it will also be used in more innovative ways such as a laced design to add detail to furniture and even as art work on walls.

Embrace curves

Soft curvy lines are also expected to replace some of the more rigid lines which have held centre stage for several years. For example, café chairs with rounded backs and comfortable padded seats. Look out for curves on café tables too.

Liven it up with geometrics

Geometric patterns are back in fashion (did they ever go away?). Warm and bold, geometric patterns are great for minimal rooms and can bring them to life.

Make a statement on your ceiling

Everyone is familiar with statement walls, but statement ceilings?  Now that’s a new one on us. Actually, it’s quite an interesting concept and we can see how a wallpapered ceiling or one adorned with ornate mouldings is something to get excited about. It can make a room appear larger, brighter and more memorable that’s for sure.

Mid-century modern

This trend is one that never goes away and provides inspiration for many hospitality settings. Natural woods and low-slung lines, reminiscent of 1950’s chic, never go out of fashion and still influence modern day designs.

It’s great to be inspired by trends and it’s good to use them as a guide when you’re considering giving your café a makeover. But the most important thing to remember about your café’s interior design is that it should be about you. Put your stamp on it to make it your own. Love your interior café space and enjoy spending time there. If you’re comfortable and happy there, then so too will your customers be. Don’t just include trends for the sake of it.

 

 

Quick and Simple Cafe Furniture Tips For Christmas

Posted on by Chris

Whether or not you’re ready for it, Christmas is almost upon us. It’s the time for present wrapping, singing carols, and all the stress and excitement that comes at this wonderful time of the year.

However, for cafe, bar, and restaurant owners, the Christmas period includes more than decorating the tree. It’s the busiest time of the year! We’ve come up with a few tips to ensure you’re prepared for the upcoming festivities.

Keep your furniture looking its best

This first tip is pretty obvious, but making sure your furniture and your establishment is pristinely clean goes a long way to impressing customers, especially where food is concerned. Caring for your furniture, whether it is wooden, metal, plastic, or rattan also helps it last longer. Oiling wood tables slows down the absorption of any liquids which, in turn, helps to keep your tables cleaner for longer. Plastic furniture, on the other hand, can be cleaned with a damp cloth and an anti-bacterial spray.

Keep it tidy

It’s all well and good keeping your furniture clean, but you need to make sure that the surroundings are clean and tidy too. Not only does a good first impression keep customers happy but it’s more likely that they will return a second time.

Mopping or vacuuming your floors as well as keeping everywhere clean is expected throughout the year but with Christmas being your busiest period, it’s important not to let standards slip.

Be sure to remove any broken or unused furniture, too, to give a more presentable appearance and help save on some floor space.

Prepare for groups

With larger groups of people more likely to grace your venue at this time be prepared so that you have enough chairs to seat everyone. Stacking chairs are a great idea as these can be tucked away out of sight and brought into use at your busiest times.

Keep your decorations tasteful

Remember, less is more and changing things up slightly is better than full blown in your face decorations hung everywhere. Candles are great for creating a welcoming ambience and can be placed on tables in small lanterns and in sconces on the walls.

Save space

Ensure your floor plan is the best it can be to accommodate as many tables as possible without people feeling hemmed in, as well as there being room for any waiting staff to move between tables.

Your outdoor space

Make your outdoor space look as colourful and inviting as possible, again making sure your furniture is clean and the floor is swept and free from rubbish. You might want to string up some outdoor lights to twinkle when the sun goes down and give a more festive appearance.

Have fun

Christmas is all about bringing people together so just make sure your cafe is clean and sparkling, you’ve laid on some Christmas specials, and a warm welcome is awaiting everyone.

From all of us at Cafe Furniture Melbourne, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

4 Things to Consider Before Buying New Cafe Furniture

Posted on by Chris

Launching a new cafe is a hectic time, and what with staffing, menus, suppliers and more things on your to-do list, it’s easy to lose track of all that you’ve yet to do. Even with the logistics to work out, it’s crucial to bear in mind the design of your cafe and your budget. The appearance of your interior space is one of the first impressions customers get of your cafe and combining great coffee and snacks with a welcoming environment, can turn their experience from OK to amazing.

We’ve put together 4 things to consider when looking for your cafe furniture.

  1. Cafe Design – When it comes to design and aesthetics, consistency is key. Try and keep every aspect of your cafe in mind when choosing a theme for your furniture – food, price, estimated duration of stay, staff uniforms etc. If you’re not too sure of the ins and outs of interior design then it’s fine to play it safe and stick with neutral shades such as black, grey, silver, white, or tan. Choose just one accent colour to liven things up and keep your wood tones uniform throughout. Keeping things consistent throughout will help build your brand and create a good experience that will encourage people to come back for more.

  1. Customer Comfort – If customers are going to enjoy drinking and eating at your cafe they need to feel comfortable. The level of comfort depends on the style of cafe you have and how long you intend for customers to stay. For instance, if you want a quick turnaround of tables, then don’t install lots of sofas or tub chairs as these naturally invite people to stay longer. Instead opt for more upright chairs made from metal or wood which are comfortable for shorter periods of time. In addition, take into account the amount of floor you have and be careful not to order so many chairs or tables that your customers feel cramped. If space is limited, you might want to consider back to back booth seating as this takes up less room than a table and 4 chairs. Consider the type of clientele you’re looking to attract too. For example, a younger clientele will appreciate technology at the table whereas older customers will appreciate space for high chairs, wheelchairs, and walkers.

  1. Durability and maintenance – Don’t be tempted to settle for the cheapest furniture you see, if the price seems too good to be true, then usually it is. Ensure that you only buy commercial furniture as this is designed to withstand regular, frequent use without showing signs of wear and tear. It’s an investment which will save you money over time. In addition, consider the maintenance needed to keep your furniture looking good. Heat resistant table tops are a great choice if you don’t want to bother with tablecloths, and can just be wiped down with a cloth and mild cleanser. Vinyl upholstery is also easier to wipe down and clean than more delicate fabrics.

  1. Business values – While you might not have considered this, the type of furniture you choose can say a lot about your business values. Many businesses are choosing furniture manufactured from sustainable sources using chemical-free processes. Furniture made in Australia also makes a statement about your commitment to supporting local businesses.

Choosing your cafe furniture may be just one more thing to do on your list, but trust us, when we say that it’s a critical aspect of your business which you need to pay particular attention to.

Here’s to A Colourful Summer

Posted on by Chris

Summer’s almost here and it’s time to spruce up that outdoor space to make the most of passing trade. It’s the time of year when everyone wants to be sitting outside soaking up the sunshine and relaxing with a long drink of something cool. With so many Melbourne cafe’s vying for attention it’s more important than ever to make your outdoor space more inviting and consider putting some summer specials on your menu too.

How to give your outdoor terrace a quick makeover

There’s no use investing in new cafe furniture or painting walls if you haven’t got a clean and tidy space to work with; So first things first, give your terrace a good sweep and, if necessary, use a power washer to clean up your tiles or paving slabs.

If you’ve got an enclosed area then a coat of fresh paint on the walls will work wonders. To soften some of the hard edges, why not put up some trellis and plant some colourful climbers to spread across your walls. Choose some scented varieties if you can to add to the ambience of summer. If you’re not green fingered then you could always attach some colourful wall plaques or pots o your walls instead.

With your terrace now looking fresh and clean, it’s time to think about upgrading your cafe furniture if it’s looking a little tired and jaded. Attractive cafe furniture is one sure-fire way of attracting passers-by, especially if it’s colourful.

Investing in outdoor furniture

Outdoor furniture comes in a vast range of styles, materials, and colours but the most important thing is to ensure that you buy commercial grade furniture. Any other type of furniture simply isn’t designed for frequent daily use.

Another tip when deciding which type of furniture to buy is to choose something that complements your indoor cafe furniture. If you’ve got traditional furniture inside then keep it the same outdoors and naturally, if you have modern tastes, then carry this through so as not to confuse customers. If you’re choosing new cafe furniture throughout then it could be a good idea to choose furniture which is designed for indoor and outdoor use.

How to create flow from one area to another

One of the easiest ways to make your indoor and outdoor space flow is by using a colour which complements the furniture you have inside. For instance, if you have black cafe tables inside then use these outdoors too but consider using coloured chairs to create a more vibrant space that smacks of summer. Polypropylene chairs are a great choice in this respect because they come in a wide range of vibrant bold colours. Our Specta chairs are simplistic in style but boy do they pack a punch if you’re looking to inject colour! From purple to red and orange to yellow it’s easy to create a kaleidoscope of colour on your terrace. Other colourful options include our designer inspired Stephanie chairs which feature a pretty cutout backrest and our Belle chairs which come in a choice of styles too.

Another popular range of chairs for the summer is our Parisian chairs. Oozing with French charm they look delightful when paired with timber topped tables for more of a rustic look or with stainless steel tables for modernity. Add in some planters filled with foliage and colourful blooms, throw up some parasols for shade, and your terrace will soon be filled with happy smiling customers.

At Cafe Furniture Melbourne we’ve got a wide range of outdoor cafe furniture styles to choose from so why not take a look and get inspired?