Colours in Business Settings: Restaurants

Choosing interior colours for a business can be a different process from choosing colours for a home.

For example, a restaurant should take advantage of the fact that red tones stimulate the appetite. When people look at red shades, they breathe faster and their hearts beat faster. They lose track of time , and they eat and drink more. In a restaurant, this translates to increased profits.

In the picture here, a bright red wall looks just right with the pizza. But bright red isn't the only option. A more upmarket look can be created with rich cinnabar or deep crimson. A clover pink, dark enough to have the effect of red, can have a young, fun look. Reddish browns and red-orange shades can give an earthy or masculine feel. All these shades will have the right physiological effect.

Combine red with yellow in peach shades or in a combination of warm shades, and you can have the increased appetite along with a desire to hurry and leave -- that's how psychologists say a yellow room affects us. If you want customers to hurry up and eat, and move on from the table so that others can sit down, then this colour trick might be the one for you.

Avoid blue, though. Blue lessens the appetite and makes people feel calm. They'll eat less and stay longer if you have blue walls.

Still, no matter what you want to do to people's heart rates, you still want them to enjoy their meals and tell their friends about your restaurant. And you still want to make your space look its best. Consider hiring professional decorators to help you find the best possible colour combination for your needs.