Planning Your Outdoor Dining Patio

 

What size does your restaurant patio space need to be? Incorporating a covered outdoor dining patio area is an easy way to extend your usable square footage. But how much space can you maximize? You can determine your ideal patio and commercial aluminum pergola dimensions by following a few general sizing rules. 

Outdoor Dining Patio Design Guidelines

To avoid creating a small space that feels crowded a cramped, an overly large patio that drains your ROI, or an obstacle course for customers and servers, we offer these tips to help you conquer restaurant patio design obstacles:

Check local zoning first

Contacting your local building department before planning can help you avoid expensive planning blunders. They will provide essential information regarding setbacks, COVID rules, and other regulations that will affect your commercial patio design's final footprint.

Sketch it out

Creating a paper or cut out scaled plan of your design on graph paper can be a great tool to help you play with different furniture and design possibilities, identify the pitfalls of your potential layout, and recognize areas of opportunity.

Determine your preferred table size & seating arrangement

Consider who your establishment caters to, setting the stage for interaction on your patio with the right patio table size and ample space for traffic flow:

 ●       Bistro dining for two
Bistro setups require about 2 ½ feet of space beyond the table's edge to ensure sufficient chair and circulation space. Planning on a minimum of 6 x 8 feet per table is best for comfort and accessibility.

●       Square and round table settings for 4-6 people
Designs incorporating round and square table styles for seating 4-6 patrons should plan on each table taking up a minimum 10 ½ x 10 ½ foot space. A larger 12 x 12 area, however, would offer improved comfort and traffic flow.

●       Arrangements for large parties
Larger tables often vary in size and shape. As a general rule, plan on a 3 x 3 space for each chair surrounding large outdoor tables.

●       Movable vs. built-in seating
For patron comfort, movable seating surpasses built-in seating for versatility and comfort.

 

Incorporate standout fire features carefully
A fire feature is an excellent way to draw attention to your business. Like other furnishings, it must also be carefully sized to your space. Ensure safety and comfort, budgeting a distance of at least 2 ½ feet between the feature and seating for comfort, and more room surrounding larger features.

Plan extra space around surrounding doorways
Be sure to budget additional space in seating areas adjacent to doorways, giving servers ample room to wrangle food without dropping it on unsuspecting guests.

 Tips for Enhancing the Patio Dining Experience

 ●       Open up the space with greenery
Small trees and plants along walls can make your patio space feel larger and more welcoming.

●       Guard against chair pushback incidents
Protect plants and dangerous/fragile features from chair pushbacks with strategically placed low stone borders.

●       Ensure year-round use with a louvered pergola addition
Unlike flimsy umbrellas and awnings, which won’t stand up to Denver winds, StruXure aluminum pergolas are up to the task. Sleek and stylish, StruXure louvered pergolas offer versatile, effective year-round shelter, allowing you to cater to diners earlier in the spring and later in the fall and winter. Open to the warmth of sunlight in cool fall weather, dial-in the perfect amount of shade on hot summer days, or close louvers for leakproof rain protection. Our commercial pergolas can be designed to your exact specifications, taking up minimal floor space, beginning with a 12 x 12 minimum size.

●       Enhance privacy while maintaining airflow
Enhance privacy and fight pests and germs, incorporating motorized screens into your pergola system. Surround the perimeter of your dining space, or create seating zones, providing a feeling of privacy while maintaining fresh airflow.

Ensure a successful restaurant patio design. Maximize your return-on-investment with help from the pros at Denver Pergola Systems. Contact us to learn more about boosting your revenue stream with an outdoor covered seating area. Schedule a complimentary design consultation today.

This article was previously published at: https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-commercial-pergolas/planning-your-outdoor-dining-patio/

 

 

Boost Restaurant Profits With A Pergola

 

Winter weather is in full swing, and spring is on the way. As Denver area residents venture out for a bit of COVID-safe fun, boost restaurant profit opportunities with a commercial aluminum pergola addition. Commercial pergolas by StruXure install quickly and easily, allowing you to add seating space and boost profits. An outdoor covered seating area is the perfect way to entice potential patrons into your restaurant, club, or community center, offering ample ventilation to provide a safe and relaxing space.

How to Design a Commercial Patio Space To Increase Restaurant Profits

●       Know the rules
Check state, county, and city rules and permitting requirements for the addition of outdoor seating space for dining, including the latest tips on COVID compliant design. Researching before installing a commercial pergola safeguards your business against potential fines and legal action that could require you to redesign a non-compliant outdoor dining or gathering space. 

●       Scrutinize your space
Carefully measure your outdoor area, ensuring ample room for pathways and doorways surrounding furnishings as you design your restaurant patio space. Create a mock-up using tape or chalk, checking the functionality of your restaurant patio design. If you plan to incorporate an outdoor bar or cooking area, don’t forget to consider how they will impact available seating. Avoid cramped spaces, opting for a more open design that provides ample room for servers, customers, and social distancing.

●       Go beyond “adequate” shelter
Creating a versatile space that keeps guests comfortably in their seats and spending ensures you will maximize the return on investment of a pergola. StruXure adjustable aluminum pergolas deliver maximum comfort, allowing you to adjust pergola louver settings on-demand. Dial-in added shade, open up to enjoy the sun’s warmth, or improve ventilation. Keep guests and furnishings dry, closing louvers for leak-free rain protection with the touch of a button or using integrated weather sensing technology. With StruXure commercial pergolas, your weather worries will be a thing of the past.

●       Improve the ambiance with the right furniture
The right furnishings beneath your restaurant pergola set the stage for the dining experience. Whether you prefer traditional picnic tables, elegant bistro sets, or modern sofa-style booths, you can design your adjustable louvered pergola to match your restaurant theme. Choose from standard and custom powder coating colors and faux wood wrap, accenting your design with corbel ends or architectural columns. Add dramatic décor, lighting, and amenities to draw attention to your space and generate a buzz. décor, lighting, and amenities to draw attention to your space and generate a buzz.

Increase profits with added amenities
The customization possibilities of StruXure louvered pergolas are nearly limitless. With the right additions, you’ll have customers lining up to enjoy your exciting new patio space. Spice up your design with:

●       An outdoor BBQ grill or pizza oven
Guests love to watch food being prepared.

●       A fire feature
Seasonal gas fire pit tables, or a large centerpiece gas fire feature, draw guests into their warmth and ambiance.
Fans & patio heaters

●       Improve comfort on summer’s warmest days and extend service into the chilly winter months, integrating fans and infrared patio heaters into your custom pergola design.

●       Motorized pergola screens and curtains
Motorized screens and curtains seal-out pests, improve sun and weather protection and offer privacy while allowing for adequate ventilation.

●       Outdoor TVs
Broadcast sports, providing a safe, relaxing space for customers to enjoy beneath your adjustable aluminum pergola.

 

 Draw Attention to Your Business with a Commercial Pergola Addition

 Advertise your business, increasing word-of-mouth buzz with a stunning, new commercial aluminum pergola and eye-catching restaurant patio design. Create a profitable outdoor dining space that draws business with the help of Denver Pergola Systems. Contact us to learn more about COVID-safe design possibilities today.

 This article was previously published at: https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-commercial-pergolas/boost-restaurant-profits-with-a-pergola/

Creative Outdoor Spaces Benefit Residents, Staff, Family at Senior Facilities

Is it time to upgrade the outdoor area at your senior facility? Retirement communities, adult daycares, nursing, and assisted living facilities typically don’t emphasize outdoor design beyond the entryway. However, your green spaces offer a lot of potential for residents, as well as their families and your staff. An inviting and functional creative outdoor space is a sought-after feature by those seeking eldercare services, especially in the COVID-19 era.

Creative Outdoor Spaces  with Pergolas for Shade & Shelter Offer Many Benefits

 Outdoor covered seating areas with the versatile, functional shelter of a commercial aluminum pergola can:

Enhance the physical and emotional well-being of residents 

Access to beautiful & creative outdoor spaces gives residents a sense of freedom, combating feelings of confinement and isolation that can lead to fatigue and depression. Vitamin D synthesis from sunlight exposure promotes hormone balance and improved sleep patterns, safeguarding health, and supporting more stable moods. The sensory stimulation of the outdoors also upholds a homier, non-institutional feel. Beneath the comfort of a commercial pergola, engaged in outdoor activities, socialization opportunities expand, helping residents and their families form support networks. 

Improve family morale

A beautiful, comfortable outdoor space offers visitors an enjoyable outdoor setting for meeting a loved one, or a comforting place to unwind when attending to an ailing family member.

Foster a positive work environment

Exposure to nature supports a more pleasant, positive work environment. It offers employees many of the same benefits as residents, such as a relaxing spot to enjoy a meal and a place to take a peaceful stroll while engaging socially with residents. This upbeat setting enhances productivity, supporting improved resident care.

Turn unused outdoor space into a valuable asset

Converting your neglected greenspaces offers usable, functional square footage, helping remedy feelings of crowding in senior care facilities with new real estate for guests to explore and enjoy. Paired with strategically positioned mirrored windows or webcam monitoring, residents can enjoy the outdoors without burdening staff, helping them regain a sense of independence.

Provide a COVID safe gathering space

Properly designed, outdoor gathering spaces offer the best option for COVID-safe interaction, providing ample personal space and allowing for the free flow of fresh air crucial to reducing virus concentrations in the air. Maximizing the use of these spaces at this time offers guests a sense of control, alleviating their fears, and providing a safe place to interact with others, helping residents maintain emotional stability.

Tips for Adding a Covered Patio to Your Senior Care Facility

A well-executed outdoor space makes all the difference. To reap the maximum return on investment of a pergola-covered creative outdoor seating space, consider enlisting the help of a professional landscape architect who can help you address these essential aspects of your design:

Inviting entryways and exits

Entryways and exits throughout your outdoor facilities should be clearly marked, featuring distinctive landmarks at critical junctures seniors can easily identify. Automatic doors are a plus, offering convenient access. A width of 6 feet, at a minimum, is recommended to accommodate couples and wheelchairs.

Clearly marked, accessible pathways 

Ensure pathways and flooring are smooth, continuous, level, and slip and trip resistant to prevent slip and falls. Railings should be easily accessible, providing safety and support when needed. If gates/enclosures are a must, camouflaging them with greenery can prevent feelings of containment while ensuring guests are secure.

Visually stimulating plants and structures

Colorful, non-toxic plants and trees, including vibrant flowers, herbs, and veggies, are easy to identify, aiding senior orientation and independence. Choosing native, regional plants reduces maintenance and promotes wildlife. Fragrant foliage is a plus, offering sensory stimulation.

Access to restrooms and refreshments

Facilities located too far away from greenspaces can deter residents.

Multipurpose lighting

Multifunctional lighting is a must for safety and security, ensuring a clear view of outdoor spaces and extending the hours your greenspaces can be used.

Flexible design

Your commercial pergola-covered patios should be varied and flexible, providing opportunities for solitude and activity. Holding more social activities front and center boosts participation. Furniture should be versatile and able to manage the demands of varying periods of activity and rest. Combining built-in benches with sofa-sectionals and moveable/foldable chairs offers added versatility. Avoid dark-colored and metal furnishings to prevent burns, as well as slatted furniture, which is often unstable.

Versatile shelter

Because seniors are particularly temperature-sensitive, shelter and shade are crucial aspects of any outdoor patio design for seniors, encouraging even those with reduced mobility to venture out of the building. Rapid access to shelter is especially important with Denver’s rapidly changing weather. Fortunately, StruXure adjustable aluminum pergolas allow you to respond on-demand, featuring louvers with 170-degrees of rotation for precise control of the outdoor environment. Dial-in the perfect amount of shade throughout the day with the touch of a button or engage rain protection in a flash with built-in sensors that respond on-cue, providing residents outdoor shelter they can rely on.

Bells & whistles for fun and function

Add enjoyment to your pergola covered patio and garden spaces, integrating:

●       Motorized screens into your custom pergola design to prevent pests

●       Patio heaters or fire features for winter warmth

●       Outdoor TVs or projector screens for movie nights or sporting events

●       Raised vegetable/flower beds for easier resident access

●       And other features your guests might enjoy throughout the year

Boost your business’ reputation and popularity with an outdoor covered seating area that doubles as an advertisement for your facilities. Add a little fun and functionality to your senior center with the help of Denver Pergola Systems. Contact us for a complimentary design consultation today.

This article was previously published at: https://denverpergolas.com/adjustable-commercial-pergolas/creative-outdoor-spaces-benefit-residents-staff-family-at-senior-facilities/