Tips on Choosing Café Chairs


The range of café chairs and restaurant chair options in the market today has expanded rapidly with the growing number of commercial furniture suppliers in Australia.    The range of replica café chairs available has increased considerably, and now both domestic and commercial customers have a seemingly unlimited choice of options if you do your research.  When performing your search, it is important that you consider a range of factors, along with your intended budget.  We hope your find our tips on choosing café chairs interesting, and look forward to receiving your feedback.

 

The durability of a café chair should be a top priority in commercial applications due to heavy use and number of movements each chair will face in its lifetime.  Customers in a café rarely treat the furniture like their own, chairs and stools will be and moved and hit against tables and walls countless times.  A solid structure is an important consideration in the chair choice, as is the durability of the material. 

 

Metal chairs are hardy, but once scratched it is hard to cover up any exposed areas.    The flipside to this is that the vintage look metal chairs are en-trend, so that an aged looking metal chair will age well. Most metal chairs are generally galvanized to protect it from rust, which will also give it that nice industrial look.   There are many suppliers of metal café chairs, and variations on a certain style and subtle material changes do exist.   It would be wise to view and test each chair prior to purchase to ensure this is what you are after, and ensure there are stoppers to protect each chair when stacked and stored.

 

Plastic or polypropylene chairs are also durable, and if they have been UV treated then are perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.   If you are uncertain whether your supplier actually knows whether the chairs are UV treated, then it is best to get a guarantee.   If the chairs are in bright colours, then it is unlikely they are UV stabilised and will quickly fade.   Many chairs in our replica plastic chair range are stackable, which makes for easy storage and movement at the end of the day.

 

The budget at your disposal is a big factor in your choice of chair, however a number of other important considerations should be taken into account.   Thin plastic chairs with chrome tubular steel bases might be ideal on the wallet, particularly when you have spent a small fortune on a fit-out.  These cheaper options end up looking just that, cheap, and will not provide the appearance your business needs.   The chrome will rust, the chair seats will split and you will be up for replacement within 12 – 24 months, an unhappy experience for all.    If the solid plastic stacking chair is the better option, is UV stabilised and is priced at say 25% higher – it will only take another 3 – 9 months life out of them to have worked out better value for you in the long run.  Alternatively, a mixture of low stools along with chairs might lower your overall price.

 

If you are after a more upmarket look, or require some padding on the seat then a Danish style wooden chair might be what you are looking for.  When considering upholstery options in commercial environments, it is best not to use fabric; leather or a leather substitute will make for easy cleaning and will hold its age better.  Natural timbers give patrons the sensation of a warm environment, and the padded seat will ensure the comfort of your customers and ensure they stay longer and enjoy all the delights your business can offer.  The downside of wooden products is that they will require some touch-ups from time to time to hide marks and scratches.   This is a simple process though, so should not detract you from using such fine furniture.

 

The lifecycle of café chairs and commercial furniture is not as long as if the furniture was used in a normal domestic setting, however there are some tips and tricks to extending the life of your furniture.  If you purchase metal or aluminium chairs, then once they have become worn or you are seeking a new look in your café you can just powder coat over the original finish.   A change of colour can spruce up your environment, and can be as little as $10 per chair which is much cheaper than replacement.    Wooden chairs can be simply painted a different colour, and if you can replace seat pads then again this can be a much cheaper option than total replacement.

 

Protruding legs can be a major inconvenience in a commercial setting, particularly is busy café’s where space can be tight with many close tables.   The young and elderly find protruding legs a tripping hazard and they should be avoided at all costs.   The legs on a café chair should not be any wider than the seat shell.  A further consideration is the width and depth of the foot itself.  Narrow feet could mean that floor surfaces are damaged easily.

 

In summary, the range of café chairs and plastic commercial furniture available in the Australian market has grown rapidly.   The choices are wide, however consider the durability, look and potential for cheap rejuvenation could mean you save more in the long run than by choosing the cheapest option available.