Restaurants
Food Preparation Colour Palette for Restaurants
Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
- Compare
- Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
- Before buying
- Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.
Worked example
A windowless kitchen has pale cabinets but the existing floor and countertop are warm and visually busy.
Sample cabinet and wall colours beside both fixed finishes under the installed light; reserve contrast for handles and work edges.
How to test it
Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Arrange cold storage, prep counters, and cooking stations in the order dishes are assembled.
- Detail
- Use nonporous work surfaces and task lighting that avoids shadows over cutting areas.
- Trade-off
- Dedicated stations improve rhythm but need more counter length.
- Trace one menu item from storage to pass
- Check handwash access from prep positions
The Elixir portfolio
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