Image Credit: OKA

Image Credit: OKA

Ever been out for dinner and found yourself paying almost as much attention to the interiors as the menu? Us too.

From the bougie tiles around the bar to the cosy banquette seating, charming café curtains and soft yet statement lighting, restaurants can be a hotbed of decorating inspiration.

And while you might not be able to have a chef-cooked dinner at home every night, there’s nothing stopping you adopting some dining design tricks.

“The restaurants we love are about more than just great food, they make us feel something through thoughtful design and atmosphere,” explains Daniel Smith, founder of Danetti.

“Every detail is carefully considered to create an experience that feels comfortable and inviting, and that’s exactly what many people are now striving for at home.”

Of course, the best restaurant interiors aren’t just about looking good.

They’re designed to create atmosphere, encourage conversation and make us want to linger long after the plates have been cleared – and that’s a feeling we want to recreate in our own living spaces.

“With us all spending more time at home, we have become increasingly aware of how our surroundings affect our mood and wellbeing, leading to a greater focus on creating interiors that feel intentional rather than purely functional,” Daniel adds.

Whether you’re looking to give your dining room a little more personality, create a cosy dining nook in the kitchen or make everyday meals feel like more of an occasion, we’ve asked the interiors experts how to recreate that restaurant feel-good factor at home.

No reservation required.

Lean into a restaurant-inspired palette

There’s a reason the best restaurants aren’t afraid to go bold with colour.

From rich burgundies to deep olive greens and chocolate browns, a little colour confidence can go a long way in creating atmosphere.

“Rich, atmospheric colours are trending in restaurant interiors, favoured for the enveloping comfort and sophisticated they inject into a space,” explains Helen Shaw, director of marketing (International) at Benjamin Moore.

“Bringing these colours into your home through paint is a great way to recreate this effect and emulate the mood of your favourite dining spot.”

Helen says one of the most popular hues for this effect is burgundy, a distinguished deep red with violet undertones that will add refinement to any space.

“New London Burgundy works beautifully on walls or cabinetry, particularly when paired with antique brass and low-lighting to create an elegant atmosphere akin to dining in a Michelin star restaurant.”

To create something effortlessly grounded, Helen also suggests opting for dark browns such as Silhouette, a hue which weaves rich espresso hues with refined notes of charcoal.

“Drenching your space with this shade, will envelop you and your guests in an elegant scheme that encourages everyone to linger longer.”

Create an ambient glow

Making your home feel like your favourite restaurant is all about recreating its atmosphere, and lighting plays a key role in this.

“Start with statement fittings to bring a sense of occasion to the dining space,” advises Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville.

“That could be an oversized pendant, a sculptural, artistic wall light or cluster of suspended lights above the table.”

Mara suggests considering how your favourite restaurant uses different light sources to create atmosphere too.

“Layering ambient, task and accent lighting at home can echo this effect, by creating softer pools of light whilst ensuring the space is still functional,” she continues.

“Wall lights around seating areas, table lamps and lower-level lighting can help create a more intimate feel, rather than relying on a single overhead source.”

Mara also recommends opting for dimmable lighting to give you greater control over the atmosphere.

“Keep things brighter while preparing and serving dinner, then lower the lights to create a softer, more intimate setting for lingering over drinks and conversation,” she adds.

Get comfy

There’s something about sliding into a cosy, upholstered restaurant booth that makes you want to settle in for the evening.

Comfortable, intimate and wonderfully inviting, it’s the kind of seating that makes even the simplest meal feel like an occasion.

But it is possible to create that same dine-in feeling at home.

“What makes banquette seating so appealing is that it gives you a wall behind you,” explains Caroline Montague, interior designer and owner of Villa Sartiano.

“People tend to feel more settled and cosy when they are slightly enclosed.

“This is why the best tables in restaurants are so often along the wall or tucked into a corner.”

The good news is that you can create that feeling without building anything.

“A bench against a wall, with a generous cushion and a few bolsters, gives you the same sense of being tucked in,” Caroline explains.

“Choose a fabric you will be happy to sit on for hours, not just one that looks good.

“For me, that would be furniture in rich walnut with dark green velvet seats.”

Victoria also suggests creating a “regular’s table” at home.

“Every good restaurant has that table everyone secretly wants,” she explains.

“The cosy corner. The booth by the window. The tucked-away seat at the back. I think every home should have its own version.”

According to Victoria Robinson, interiors and style expert at Hillarys, the best seat in the house shouldn’t be reserved for guests. It should be enjoyed every day.

“Maybe it’s a banquette, maybe it’s a window seat, maybe it’s just a particularly comfortable armchair beside a lamp,” she suggests.

“Whatever it is, make it somewhere people instinctively gravitate towards.”

Get café curtain cosy

There’s something totally charming about those little curtains you spot in French bistros and neighbourhood cafés.

Offering just the right amount of privacy without blocking out the light, café curtains offer a clever way to bring a little restaurant-style cosiness home.

When it comes to materials Marie Goodwin, head designer at Prestigious Textiles says lightweight linens in soft cream shades are perfect for an understated look, while gingham checks and delicate stripes in rich burgundy or olive-green hues can offer more playfulness.

“Pair these with warm wooden furniture, classical brass detailing and vintage-inspired wall lights to evoke the laid-back charm of a European restaurant,” she continues.

Make a statement with art

From striking oversized paintings to playful prints and eclectic collections, restaurants know how to make their walls work harder.

“Restaurants use art to give a room character,” explains Caroline.

“A single large piece, or a group of pictures hung close together, is the fastest way to stop a space from looking anonymous or temporary.”

Caroline suggests choosing something with personality over something safe.

“This is your chance to add some sense of yourself to the space,” she explains.

“It does not need to be valuable or old either.

“A big painting leaning against a sideboard, or a collection of vintage prints in different frames, is often more interesting than a perfectly matched set.

“If you can, add a touch of humour as well,” Caroline continues.

“I love the occasional fun painting mixed in among the more serious pieces.”

Think about the welcome you get when you walk into a beautifully designed restaurant.

The lighting, the artwork, the little decorative details – it all sets the scene.

Your hallway deserves the same attention.

“Your hallway sets the tone for your entire home,” explains Hannah Thistlethwaite, senior home accessories buyer at Heal’s .

“Think of it as the entrance to a luxury restaurant or five-star hotel.

“The moment you walk through the door, the atmosphere should feel inviting with a touch of sophistication.”

Hannah suggests incorporating a beautiful console table to create a sense of understated luxury.

“Finish with a statement mirror or elegant artwork, fresh flowers or a sculptural vase to bring character and personality to the space,” she adds.

Add depth with texture

According to Caroline a restaurant with only one kind of surface feels cold and noisy.

The comfortable ones layer velvet, leather, timber, brass and stone, so that softness is balanced by something with weight.

“At home, that might be a velvet cushion on a wooden chair, a stone-topped table with linen laid over part of it, or brass candlesticks,” she explains.

“I would always include at least one soft element and one warm metal.”

Soft furnishings also absorb sound, which matters more than people realise.

“A room full of hard surfaces becomes tiring after an hour, whereas rugs, curtains, and upholstered chairs make dinner feel softer and calmer,” Caroline adds.

The best restaurants know that presentation is everything, and we’re not just talking about what’s on the plate.

A thoughtfully styled table can make even a midweek meal feel like something worth celebrating.

“The details people notice are mostly small ones: a heavy glass, a proper napkin, a brass candleholder,” explains Caroline.

“None of these are expensive or time-consuming, but it tells you someone has thought about this space and has thought about you.”

Caroline suggests using linen napkins and keeping ceramics simple and slightly imperfect.

“Mismatched plates and serving dishes give a table that imperfect, slightly artistic quality that I notice more and more in restaurants,” she adds.

“As long as the tones and shapes sit comfortably together, it works. For example, when plates are in the same colour family but are different shapes, it evokes these homely feelings of intimacy and authenticity.”

According to Caroline table also needs a focal point.

“A row of mismatched candleholders at different heights, a ceramic jug of branches, or even just a bowl of lemons can all become a feature,” she explains.

“It does not need to be grand, and a little playfulness is what makes people notice and remember it.”

Hannah also suggests investing in your glassware.

“Glassware is one of those subtle details that can instantly elevate a dining experience,” she explains.

“I recommend investing in luxury wine glasses, beautifully shaped tumblers and delicate crystal that catches the warm glow of candlelight.”

And don’t save your good stuff for a special occasion.

“One of my biggest pet hates is beautiful things being kept for ‘best’,” explains Victoria.

“Restaurants don’t lock away their nicest glasses until Christmas.

“They use them every day.

“Life feels infinitely more special when the linen napkins come out on a Wednesday night and the nice glassware isn’t waiting for an occasion.

“One of the easiest ways to make home feel more like hospitality is to stop treating everyday moments like rehearsals,” Victoria adds.

Dress windows like a boutique restaurant

Window dressings are one of the easiest ways to create restaurant atmosphere because they affect privacy, acoustics and mood all at once.

“Full-length curtains instantly soften a room and absorb sound, making conversations feel more intimate,” Victoria explains.

“I’ve even seen people use curtains behind a dining table, not for privacy, but to mimic the plush backdrop of a restaurant booth. It’s unexpected, but incredibly effective.

“Restaurants know that fabric isn’t just decoration. It’s atmosphere.”

Victoria also suggests looking to blackout blinds.

“It might sound unusual, but I think blackout blinds are one of the most overlooked restaurant-inspired features you can add to a home.

“People tend to think of them as purely practical, but they’re actually brilliant for creating atmosphere.”

Victoria says restaurants carefully control how much natural light comes in because too much daylight can kill the mood.

“That warm, cocooning feeling we all love often comes from limiting distractions and creating a more intimate environment,” she explains.

“In a dining room, snug or open-plan kitchen, a blackout blind can completely transform an evening gathering.

“A lot of restaurant atmosphere comes down to visual control.

“They don’t just decide what you see, they also decide what you don’t.”

Don’t forget the finishing touches

You’ve nailed the lighting, perfected the seating and set the mood with colour, but don’t stop there.

Just like your favourite restaurant, it’s the finishing touches that can take your space from perfectly nice to pretty special.

“Fresh flowers do a great deal, but they don’t have to be elaborate,” explains Caroline.

“A single type in a jug, or a few branches, is enough.”

But atmosphere is not only about what you see, hear, and feel, smell matters too.

“Scent is closely connected to our emotions, so it plays a big part in making a space feel warm, inviting, and intimate,” Caroline explains.

“I love candles with rich, earthy scents, and making sure they are lit before any guests arrive helps to set the atmosphere.”

Of course, the idea isn’t to turn your home into a carbon copy of your favourite restaurant, but to borrow those clever little details that make it somewhere you love spending time.

“Ultimately, part of the reason we love our favourite restaurants is that they are a third space, somewhere between home and work where we feel relaxed, looked after and part of something,” Caroline explains.

“It is that mix of intimacy and community that makes them so inviting.”

Want more inspiration? Read: 10 ways to bring some Strictly razzle-dazzle into your interiors and Bake off is back! 8 ways to channel the tent in your own kitchen. And check out The ‘opening shift’ trend: 8 ways to decorate your home for better mornings