Normally at this time of year you would be thinking about booking a table at your favourite restaurant, maybe local or maybe somewhere extra special. This Valentines is going to be different, so how can we create something just as special at home?
As a restaurant designer I work hard to create the ambience that make customers want to come back again and again. I do this by thinking about how to tantalise all the senses, thinking carefully about the customer journey. The amazing thing is, you won’t notice these details unless they are missing from a space. Here I will let you into some secrets so you can bring the same principles home to recreate that wonderful atmosphere you are missing!
Here are my top 5 tips on how to bring your favourite restaurant home:
Ambient Lighting
Although a candlelit dinner sounds romantic it is not always practical as the light produced is not sufficient, nothing worse than eating in the dark! In addition to some candles on your dinner table, create ambience with low level table and floor lamps, fairy lights over mirrors or artwork in your room. Add LED candles around the room if you tend to worry about fire safety or blowing them out in case things get busy later in the evening (I am not judging wink, wink!).
2. Soft Background Music
Add your favourite tunes to playlists in advance, mix them up with some instrumental music, whatever you will personally enjoy, set it up in your dining area at a distance so it doesn’t overpower conversation.
3. Beautiful Scents
Put some fragrant flowers on the table and add your favourite diffuser, the scent is the first of your senses to be captivated and is also the most subtle. Every luxury hotel lobby has a signature scent a bit like wearing your favourite perfume it will take you back to the memory of that place or moment every time you smell it. So maybe you had a special moment abroad that you want to be reminded of? Pick a scent that compliments the mood you want to create. A personal favourite is the Jack Harvey diffusers, the OUD range in particular feels super sexy and luxurious!
Beautiful fragrant roses and a luxury scent creates an ambience you didnt know you needed!
4. Luxury Surfaces
Again something you may not have noticed, but restaurant design has a heavy focus on surfaces. Put simply, anything you touch should feel beautiful, special and fit the mood of the space. So in casual dining that means rough, rugged and natural, wheras in fine dining you want it to feel soft, sexy and luxurious! Think about your table, if it is normally home to crafting, homeschooling, snack stations and the laundry pile (I feel your pain!), you will want to change this all for your special date. Clear all surfaces and if the table is not looking or feeling its best, pick a nice table cloth to give it that extra special touch.
5. Amazing Food
The idea of a special dinner does not have to mean you spend days upon days planning, preparing and cooking elaborate meals. You want to be able to be as relaxed as possible to enjoy time with your date. If you are cooking, make it super simple. Something you know you love eating and is easy to make is a winner. Of course you can choose to pick up a takeaway or arrange for a delivery from your favourite restaurant. Through the pandemic so many Michelin starred restaurants have started to offer meal kits or takeout options, so you dont have to miss out on that extra special meal you were looking forward to! Do make a bit of effort decanting it into table ware and dont be tempted to eat out of takeaway containers. Again this little detail will go a long way in making your dinner feel extra special. Be prepared before the food arrives with drinks, glasses and tableware so you are not scrambling around while the food gets cold either! You can find out which amazing London restaurants are offering deliveries here!