“Quick summary” Festivities are coming up, which necessitates the addition of much-needed decor to enhance the festive mood and allow people to spend quality time with their loved ones. Restaurants are constantly trying to offer their customers something fresh and improved. When festivals arrive, they are the first to improve the layout and ambiance.
If you are in charge of a restaurant's Christmas décor, below we will be adding some crucial considerations you need to keep in mind. Firstly, you need to check that the decorations fit the style of your business. A casual restaurant can get away with innovative and exciting decorations, whereas a fine dining business will want to keep with classier, more subtle décor.
However, if you believe that restaurant styles have become quite cliché and you are looking for something unique, then we have got you covered.
In this detailed guide, we will explain everything you need to know about decorating your restaurant this Christmas based on your restaurant type.
When planning your Christmas decor, it's more important than ever to create the desired atmosphere and establish the right budget while maintaining the decor's timeline.
Let's get into the basics of planning your Christmas decor and get the decor for your restaurant business.
Below, we will be adding some of the most common atmospheres for your Christmas decor that you can keep at your restaurant. Keep reading:
Establishing the right budget after you have chosen a suitable theme for your restaurant business is also crucial.
But, keep in mind that the budget for decorations and materials will vary based on different elements such the type of decor, its quality, the size of your restaurant, the location, and other things.
Here are some of the total estimated budget ranges for a different type of Christmas decor:
Cozy Decor: | $800 - $2,450 |
Minimal Decor: | $750 - $1,700 |
Rustic Decor: | $1,100 - $2,400 |
Traditional Decor: | $1,500 - $3,900 |
Remember that these budget ranges are approximate and vary significantly based on different factors. It's always a good idea to research prices, shop around, and prioritize where you want to invest more or save. Additionally, consider DIY projects and repurposing items to reduce the costs further.
Apart from deciding the budget, it's also essential to set up the right timeline for the Christmas decor. You should start planning the restaurant's Christmas decorations ideas 2 months prior to Christmas. You can take more time as well if you feel. And if you think you can do it in less time - then also it's fine!
Based on your restaurant space and desired atmosphere for your Christmas decor - you can decide the right timeline to manage all the material sourcing, hire a professional event planner(if needed), set up outdoor and indoor decorations, final check, and make improvisations as needed. Don't forget to check all the last-minute decorations, such as candles, miniatures, lights, etc.
After the festivities are over, make sure to take it down gradually. Remember, this timeline is flexible; you can adjust it to fit your schedule and preferences. Just make sure to enjoy it throughout.
We all know that decor is quite important for your restaurant, but it doesn't mean getting everything you find in the store and just placing it in your restaurant. There is a strategic and whole process to make it look appealing based on your business offering and target customers.
And for the same - you need to choose a suitable theme that complements your restaurant and its offering.
Here are some common theme ideas, along with one tip you can keep in mind to ensure out-of-the-box decor for your restaurant.
When deciding on a Christmas theme for your decor, you can choose from the two best options: the classic beauty of traditional red and green or the elegance of modern metallics and whites.
Traditional Red & Green Theme: The traditional red and green theme for your Christmas decor offers you the required warmth and familiarity while uplifting the cheer of Christmas festivities with its classic color palette. It usually includes images of cozy hearths, festively adorned trees, and the joyous spirit of the season. It brings all the nostalgia to your festivals while passing all the Christmas cheer to your customers.
Modern Metallics and Whites: On the other hand, the modern metallics and whites theme offers a sophisticated and contemporary approach to Christmas decor.
It has shining silver and gold accents blended with modern whites and is all about giving a sophisticated and modern look. This one is highly recommended if you are looking for something out-of-the-box rather than keeping it traditional with red and green.
Apart from the traditional red and green theme to modern whites, there are various other themes as well to light up your restaurant this Christmas.
Let's dive into exploring three exciting themes of your Christmas decorations ideas for the restaurant: Rustic Charm, Winter Wonderland, and Santa's Workshop.
When you're picking a Christmas theme for your cafe decorations, it's important to choose one that fits well with the way your cafe looks and the vibe you want to give off. Think about what your cafe is all about and the customers you are targeting, and choose the right theme accordingly.
A rustic charm theme could work great if you're in a cozy place with lots of wood and warm colors. On the other hand, if your cafe is all about being fun and playful, especially for teenagers, a Santa's workshop theme could be perfect. If many teenagers visit, you can add things they'd enjoy, like a fun selfie corner or a craft station where they can make their own decorations.
Remember, it's all about making your restaurant feel like a connected place during Christmas for everyone who is with their family and even those who are away from them.
Decorating the dining area where your customers will enjoy their meals and cherish the moments with loved ones is also important. It will be the focal point, instantly catching your customer's eye, so you need to make efforts for its decor as well.
But make sure it compliments well with your overall theme and passes that Christmas cheer among your customers.
When considering decorating your restaurant's dining area, you cannot forget about adorning the tables with appealing holiday-themed tablecloths, runners, and napkins. These details, adorned with Christmas cherish, bring a whole new level of joy and festivities vibe in you and your customers as a whole.
Remember to keep the theme consistent, consider your cafe's regular customers, and have fun experimenting with various elements to make your cafe's holiday decor truly special.
Create stunning centerpieces for your restaurant's tables with seasonal flora, ornaments, and lovely candles. You can add ribbons and other decorative ornaments that match your color scheme and brand elements to jazz it up this festive season.
Make sure to keep all the table decorations look and feel similar, and it shouldn't take up too much space on the table. Even a tray filled with ornaments or a cluster of snow globes and tabletop trees would look fantastic as Christmas table centerpieces.
Choose battery-powered foliage for greater versatility. Give meaningful centerpieces to your customers to make them feel even more special. Attempt to incorporate a personal touch, such as a homemade Christmas ornament, a tiny symbol of love, or a handwritten place card.
These tiny details in your decor speak a lot about your restaurant and how much you do for your customers.
Well, you have chosen the right theme of restaurant decoration for Christmas and even got the dining area decor covered. But have you thought about windows and passersby areas that appeal to customers from the outside to check out your restaurant? It will make you stand out from the competition and increase your customer footfall significantly.
But are you wondering what you can do to enhance your window & passerby area decor?
Well, figure not - we will cover:
Let's find out & attract tons of customers to your restaurant.
Other than adorning your dining tables and overall restaurant, make sure to spruce up your windows as well. With the decorative items relevant to your restaurant, customers, and theme - you can create a festive and inviting atmosphere that captures the holiday spirit with amazing window decor.
Some of the things you can use to spruce up your restaurant decor are Garlands (artificial pine or tinsel garlands work well), String lights (white or colored), Snowflake decorations (paper, plastic, or other materials) along with other ornaments, ribbons, and bows.
You can significantly transform your restaurant's windows into a captivating Christmas spectacle by adorning them with these aesthetic festivities decor items. Make sure to create a balanced and inviting display that incorporates the festive season into your restaurant's ambiance, welcoming all your customers with its joyful and heartwarming decor.
Adding festive scenes or characters to attract passersby is also important to jazz up the overall Christmas decor of your restaurant. This restaurant's Christmas decor can significantly enhance its appeal to passersby, create a memorable experience, and bring them Christmas cheer.
Some of the decor items you can use to attract passersby are Oversized Ornaments, Giant Gift Boxes, Themed Window Displays, Animated Decorations, Window Stickers, Snowflakes, Candy Canes, Trees, and even Twinkling Fairy Lights.
These elements not only get attention but also add festive vibes and cheer, inviting people to stop and take in the holiday magic. Strategically placing these decorative items near the windows or entrances can create a sense of curiosity and entice potential customers to step inside and enjoy the festive atmosphere you've created.
Your dining point, windows, or passerby area is important for decor, but amongst all of that - you also need to find creative decor ideas for every corner of your restaurant. Right from your entry and reception - which incorporates the festive feeling right from the start to walls & ceiling as well.
All this creative decor in every corner reminds the customer about the festive season and makes their overall experience memorable, which appeals to them to visit again as well.
The entryway & reception are amongst the focal points of the whole restaurant and set up the festival's spirit right from when they enter. So, you should make ways to welcome guests with a beautifully decorated entrance and decorate a beautiful Christmas tree (which will be the center of attraction) for your customers.
You have chosen the right theme of restaurant decoration for Christmas and even decorated the dining area, but have you thought about the first point of your restaurant? The entrance and reception is the first and most crucial place that people will notice, so you need to decorate it pretty well.
And if the entryway and reception remain unadorned, it's the same as serving the best dish on the menu with no garnishing. As much as the taste matters, the visual appeal also matters the most. It makes sense that nobody would want to walk into an unadorned restaurant door.
The ideal way to accomplish this is to have a wreath on the front door, followed by the entrance with a garland. Add potted plants with bows and twinkling lights to make it look special. You can use lanterns that glow and a soft red carpet that feels fancy. All these decor items convey the festive mood you wish your guests to experience throughout the entrance and into the reception.
This needs to be your first priority. Having an undecorated Christmas tree inside your restaurant wouldn't make sense. So, if you're working on everything except a Christmas tree, it's time to get started on making it the center point of your business.
You can decorate your Christmas in accordance with your overall Christmas decoration theme, with a touch of personalization based on your restaurant branding and your target demographic to further encourage them.
Choose a strategic location within your establishment to position the tree – a spot visible from most angles is ideal. Make sure to select a tree size that fits well within the space and complements your overall decor. Pay attention to the balance of decorations and ensure they suit the tree's size.
Adjust lighting settings to create a warm and inviting glow around your stunning Christmas focal point to complete the alluring view.
When it comes to decorating every creative corner in your restaurant, apart from the entrance and reception - you cannot forget about decorating the walls and ceiling. It usually includes hanging wreaths, banners, and bunting for a festive touch to adorn your walls. For the ceiling decorations, you can use hanging ornaments and fairy lights.
You have covered the dining, entrance, and even a focal point(your Christmas tree). But what about decorating the walls of your restaurant for a full-house decor on Christmas?
Deck the walls of your restaurant with holiday joy by hanging beautiful wreaths, vibrant banners, and charming bunting that add to the spirit of festivities. Each piece embraces the vibe of Christmas and spreads happiness all around while transforming your restaurant into a Christmas delight.
You can jazz up your walls with sweet Christmas wishes that resonate with the season's joy, reminding your customers of the shared moments of togetherness that make this time of year so special.
Oh, and you can also create a special "Wishes Wall" where your customers can write down their own messages and wishes. It makes your restaurant feel like a big family, bringing everyone closer. With these little, personalized gestures - you can establish that connection with your customers while holding up the Christmas vibe.
While decorating the whole restaurant, how can we forget about the ceiling? It's also among the crucial parts, and you should deck it up with hanging ornaments or fairy lights to create a captivating atmosphere in your restaurant during the holidays.
Ceiling decorations completes the decorations in your restaurant space, making it more appealing and exciting for the visitors. It contributes to the enhanced overall ambiance of your restaurant while leaving a lasting impression on your guests. So, don't forget to look up when planning your holiday decor!
If you are wondering, here are some ideas to decorate your ceiling:
To spruce up the entire decor in your restaurant, lighting plays a crucial role. It shapes the overall ambiance and atmosphere of your restaurant decor for Christmas. The right lighting choices can set the mood, highlight key design elements, and create a welcoming and comfortable environment for your customers. Make sure to keep the lightning at its best and balance it well.
Here's what to keep in mind while lightning up the atmosphere in your restaurant:
Christmas is a holiday filled with bright lights!
Elevate the cozy ambiance of your restaurant this holiday season by embracing warm lighting choices that envelop your space in a welcoming glow. Use lanterns, lamps, string lights, and LED candles to create a Christmassy atmosphere in your restaurant design. Make sure your ceilings, doors, garlands, entryway, and trees are all lit up.
But keep in mind that you should balance your lighting such that it enhances rather than overpowers the décor of your restaurant. Delight your guests with string lights across ceilings, walls, and fixtures to infuse a magical charm that complements the festive spirit. Adding LED candles to the mix creates an inviting atmosphere.
These lighting choices not only enhance the visual appeal of your restaurant but also provide a soothing backdrop for cherished moments with loved ones. You'll create a mesmerizing delight with the right blend of string lights and LED candles.
When you're decorating your restaurant for this year's Christmas holidays, use colored lights that match the theme you've chosen for your restaurant. These colorful lights enhance the look and add that required spark to your decor, which matches the style you want.
Matching the colored lights with your theme makes everything look really good and makes your restaurant feel like the holidays are exactly the way you want.
Adding the lightning for a cozy ambiance in your restaurant is more than important, but make sure you balance it pretty well. While you are decorating your restaurant for christmas, it's important to have both bright and soft lights to create a cozy feeling that enhances the overall decor and will not overpower it in any way possible.
Bright lights make things easy to see and add excitement, while soft lights make the place warm and comfy. Too much bright light might feel overwhelming, like being in the sunlight all the time. But it might be too dim and hard to see if it's all soft light.
So, it's like finding the perfect balance between a little sunshine and a warm, gentle glow. This mix of bright and soft lights will make your restaurant feel just right for enjoying delicious meals and having a great time during the holiday season.
No matter how modern the theme you have chosen, incorporating some seasonal and traditional elements that make you feel connected to the festival and its vibe is also very important.
It usually incorporates natural foliage and greenery, which includes pine branches, holly, and mistletoe for a traditional feel. Also, crafting wreaths and garlands with a rustic touch.
When looking for some of the seasonal elements in your overall Christmas decor for your restaurant, natural foliage, and greenery come at the top. You can use pine branches, holly, and mistletoe for that traditional feel in your restaurant.
You can even craft wreaths and garlands with a rustic touch. It brings all that nostalgia and festive vibe to your restaurant and brings that festive cheer among your customers.
When you're getting your restaurant ready for the holidays, incorporate the right season in terms of natural foliage and greenery with elements like pine branches, holly, and mistletoe. It gives you the traditional feel, making it feel like a classic Christmas.
These natural elements bring that special feeling of tradition. The pine branches smell nice and look like they're covered in snow. Holly has red berries, and mistletoe is known for kisses! Adding these natural things makes your place feel like you're in a cozy Christmas tale and makes your customers feel at home.
It's like bringing a bit of the outdoors inside to make your restaurant feel warm and like home during the holiday season.
Creating wreaths and garlands with a rustic style is a fantastic way to add a special touch to your restaurant's decorations this Christmas. Making wreaths and garlands with a rustic feel means using natural materials and simple Christmas decorations for restaurants that bring a cozy and country-like vibe to your customers.
To add that natural and rustic vibe, you can incorporate twigs, pinecones, burlap, and maybe even a touch of plaid fabric. These elements offer you more traditional and vintage feel in your overall restaurant decor for Christmas.
Adding these rustic wreaths and garlands in your restaurant gives a warm and cozy atmosphere that makes everyone feel at home who are away from their loved ones.
Another thing that makes you feel connected to the traditional vibes of Christmas is ornaments and other decorative accessories. All these beautiful decorative items add to the overall decor of your restaurant and bring that joy to your customers.
To enhance its appeal, make sure to place the decorative accessories in a creative way, and you can even utilize all holiday-themed figurines, stockings, and decorative pillows.
Let's read on and set your restaurant with all that fun Christmas decorative ornaments and accessories.
Elevate the holiday magic in your restaurant by strategically placing Christmas baubles and ornaments in creative and amazing ways. These festive adornments are like little bursts of joy that add sparkle and charm to your entire space.
Imagine how a simple Christmas decoration for a restaurant, like a bauble, can turn a corner into a holiday nook, or an ornament can transform a plain surface into a festive focal point.
Thoughtfully scattering these decorations throughout your restaurant creates an immersive experience where every glance reveals a new touch of the holidays. From the entrance to the dining area and even the restroom, these little delights captivate your guests' attention and enhance the overall ambiance, making every visit a joyful and memorable experience.
Here are some tips for the proper placing of baubles and other ornaments:
Elevate your restaurant's holiday ambiance by incorporating delightful holiday-themed elements that enhance the magic of Christmas. You can incorporate charming Christmas ornaments such as snowmen, reindeer, and even Santa Claus to evoke a sense of joy and wonder in your restaurant.
You can hang them by the fireplace or on a special shelf. It's like getting ready for Santa to visit!
But that's not all: make things extra cozy by adding decorative pillows with Christmas designs. It just feels warm and welcoming! You can mix different figurines together to enhance the visual appeal of your overall Christmas decor. And if you want to give sweet treats to your customers, you can put little treats or surprises inside the stockings.
Arrange them in the right way so that everyone can see and enjoy them. These decorations will make your restaurant look like a holiday wonderland where fun and happiness are everywhere.
Well, you are decorating your whole restaurant - right from walls and silence to passerby area and dining area, so why not expand it to the restroom as well?
Yes, restroom. These small details and decorations throughout the restaurant - will make your customers feel valued and appeal to them to revisit you as well.
By decorating the restroom, we don't mean decorating the whole of it - it's just adding the small details like scented candles that evoke comforting aromas and adding holiday-themed soaps to enhance the visual appeal.
Let's get into detail about decorating the restroom.
Don't overlook any corner when it comes to spreading holiday joy in your restaurant! Even the restroom can be part of the festive magic. Imagine stepping into a restroom that's just as cheerful as the rest of your place. Little details can make a big difference. Consider adding some special holiday touches in there, too.
It's like a surprise burst of holiday spirit in an unexpected place. When your guests step into your restroom and find these festive touches, it shows that you've thought about every part of their experience.
Remember, it's all about consistency. If you've created a magical holiday atmosphere in the main areas, extending it to even the smallest details, like the restroom, makes the experience even more memorable. These thoughtful touches can make your restaurant stand out and create lasting memories for your guests.
By now, you have understood that adding festive touches to your restroom is also as important. But the question is how and what you can do to decorate your restroom that is appropriate and relevant as well when it comes to your overall restaurant decor.
Here are some of the ideas you can incorporate into your overall decor for the restroom:
All these thoughtful touches create a harmonious experience that leaves a lasting impression on your patrons, turning even a quick trip to the restroom into a memorable part of their holiday outing.
Engaging staff and guests in the whole decoration is also essential. It encourages your staff and customers to be involved throughout the process and saves crucial business resources. A well-designed decor scheme involving your staff and customers can foster a sense of connection and boost morale, productivity, and customer interactions.
Moreover, when your customers enjoy their time and experience in a thoughtfully decorated space, they're more likely to return, and share their positive experiences with others as well.
Let's get started.
Spreading holiday cheer is even more fun when everyone joins in! So, encourage your staff to wear festive clothes or accessories like Santa hats, red or green clothes, or cozy sweaters to incorporate that lively vibe and experience that immersive holiday feel.
When your staff dresses up in festive ways, it makes the place feel like a holiday party where everyone's invited. And don't forget to remind them to greet every guest with big smiles and cheerful Merry Christmas.
When your staff is friendly and happy, it also passes that cheerful, festive feel to your customers. Due to this, your restaurant will shine with the spirit of Christmas, and everyone who walks in will feel that warm and joyful atmosphere.
If you are looking forward to including everyone in that Christmas cheer, why not your customers as well? Just like your staff, involve guests as well with interactive decorations like decorating your own ornament.
Set up a cool "decorate your own ornament" station! It is like a creative corner where guests can make beautiful ornaments. It's like making little art pieces that they can take home or hang on your Christmas tree.
It adds a personal touch to your decorations and makes your restaurant feel more welcoming. It's like having your guests join in on making the holiday magic happen. And every time they look at those ornaments, they'll remember the great time they had at your place.
There are other unique ideas as well that involve your customers - such as leaving a note on the festive wall or something like that! This connected feeling will entice them to come over & over again.
In the end, maintaining a coordinated look throughout your Christmas restaurant decor is also important. This coordination brings everything together, makes your decor look put together, and adds to the visual appeal of Christmas decoration ideas for your restaurant.
When different decor elements, such as color schemes, furniture styles, and lighting choices, work together seamlessly, they enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and leave a lasting impression on guests. A coordinated look also reflects professionalism and attention to detail, conveying a sense of care that customers appreciate.
Here's what you can do.
While you are at the end of adorning your restaurant with all the decor, you need to ensure end-to-end consistency and coordinated look with the color schemes, materials, and style. As we stated earlier, the theme, decorations, and even the activities should be relevant to your target audience - so they would feel connected and can actually enjoy the overall vibe at your restaurant.
And try to make things relevant to your branding as well. You can play with your brand color, vision or mission, name, tagline, presentation, and other things. These minute details will ensure your customers remember you for an extended period.
They will feel connected and will return again & again! By sticking to coordinated things, you'll achieve a cohesive and balanced overall appearance in your restaurant.
Congratulations, you have already come this far; just a quick review remaining. Don't forget to give your holiday decorations a little effort by checking them regularly!
These small things make a big difference and help keep your decorations looking great all the time. Imagine if some lights weren't working – it could make your whole place feel less magical. But with regular checks, you make sure everything sparkles just like it should.
So, take a little time to make sure your decorations are always at their best. Your guests will notice the extra effort, and your restaurant will shine with the holiday spirit from start to finish!
Here's a quick checklist you can tick off to ensure everything is working just fine:
That's all on everything about decorating your restaurant for Christmas this season. It is like a complete guide for your get-started and bring on the Christmas cheer. Right from choosing the suitable theme to decorating the tables, entrance, passageway, and even restroom - we hope this guide will help you out in adorning your Christmas this holiday season.
You can take this blog as a quick checklist to tick off the things for the Christmas decor. The key lies not only in the decorations themselves but in the emotions and memories they evoke.
A quick tip: By incorporating heartfelt Christmas wishes, interactive elements, and personal touches, you can foster a sense of community and connection amongst your customers.
Amongst all this, you also need to balance creativity with practicality. To make it possible, consider factors such as budget, time constraints, and the overall ambiance you want to create.
No matter if you prefer a timeless and fancy style, a stylish and modern look, or a cozy and rustic vibe, the decorations you pick will create special memories, happy times, and warm feelings in your restaurant.
The answer is: it depends. Decorating your restaurant for Christmas do have a positive impact on your business, but it's not a necessity for every restaurant. However, it does allow you to better connect with your customers and uplift the festive mood.
Here are some of the benefits of decorating your restaurant for Christmas:
Apart from decorations, there are several other crucial things that restaurants should keep in mind during the Christmas season to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for both customers and staff.
Let's find out:
We hope with these considerations in mind, you can create a seamless and delightful holiday experience for your customers while ensuring smooth & efficient operations
If you are a small restaurant owner looking for budget-friendly Christmas decorations ideas, then don't worry - even with a smaller budget, you can nail it pretty well.
Check out some out-of-the-box Christmas decoration ideas for your restaurant on a budget:
By weaving these budget-conscious ideas into your holiday decoration plans, you can create a festive atmosphere that captures the season's magic while staying mindful of your financial resources.
If you are looking for some time-saving yet simple Christmas decoration for a restaurant, then we have combined the list that helps you get together your festive decor in a simple and accessible way.
Check out some of the best ways:
By following these time-saving tips, you can transform your restaurant into a festive haven without consuming excessive time or resources. Remember, it's about creating a joyful atmosphere that delights your customers and your team.
The cost of decorating a restaurant for the holidays in USA varies according to the type of décor you want, your chosen theme, your restaurant size, the extent of decorations, and other factors.
As per estimated by Neave Decor, the typical cost of incorporating holiday decorations is somewhere around $3,500, to create a joyful and immersive festive setting in your restaurant.
The average hourly rate for Christmas decorating services across the country is between $49 and $80. Furthermore, the cost of decorations will vary according to your theme and specifications.
Quick Tip: Setting a budget and prioritizing where you want to focus your decorations is recommended. You can research prices for various decorations, compare quotes from professionals (if applicable), and explore options for cost-effective yet attractive decorations.
If you are looking to spruce up your space but are on a budget, you can opt for DIY decor ideas and encourage your staff to participate in the decor - to save on costs.