What Goes Into Designing a Restaurant? A Look at Hospitality Through a Designer’s Eye.

When we step into a beautifully designed restaurant, we often remember the mood before the menu. The way the light falls. The tone of the space. The quiet choreography of layout, acoustics, and comfort.

At Aya Design in Style, we’re continually fascinated by how hospitality spaces, particularly restaurants, can transport us. They’re not just places to eat; they’re environments designed to tell a story, frame an experience, and support connection.

While our studio’s foundation lies in high-end residential and commercial interiors, the principles we apply, clarity, emotion, purpose, are just as relevant in the world of hospitality.

What makes restaurant design different?

Designing a restaurant requires a balancing act between function and feeling. There are practical needs, service flow, seating density, lighting control, but also emotional ones: creating intimacy, energy, atmosphere.

From a design perspective, that means considering:

• The rhythm of space – how guests arrive, transition, sit, and stay

• Materials that perform – beautiful surfaces that can withstand wear

• Lighting that shapes mood – from bright daytime energy to warm evening ambiance

• Design that reflects identity – a restaurant’s interior must echo its concept, cuisine, and clientele

What we admire in hospitality design

At the Living Luxe Design Show, we saw ideas that resonate deeply with hospitality environments—clean sightlines, sculptural lighting, mood-rich palettes, and a renewed focus on texture and acoustics. These details don’t just apply to homes, they’re integral to how public spaces feel as well.

We’ve also admired projects from afar, restaurants that don’t simply look good, but feel right: where every touchpoint, from door handle to lighting dimmer, supports the overall experience.

What this means for us

While our current portfolio leans toward private residences and select commercial work, we’re always looking at how the skills we use, space planning, narrative thinking, detail-driven styling, can apply more widely.

As we continue to grow as a studio, we’re engaging in deeper conversations around hospitality and restaurant interiors, and how thoughtful, elegant design can enhance the shared experience of dining and gathering.

Because in the end, whether it’s a kitchen at home or a table for two in the city, our mission remains the same: To design spaces that make people feel good.

Curious to collaborate?

We’re always open to conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, and creative partners interested in shaping elevated, meaningful hospitality spaces. Contact us to start a conversation.