Create an Impactful Dining Experience with Smart Lighting Control
Easily Customize and Automate Your Lights to Complement the Mood and Time of Day
Lighting plays a key role in the overall experience of your dining establishment. Whether your eatery in Cincinnati, OH is casual and friendly or upscale and intimate, tailored lighting can directly impact the customer experience and your bottom line in the competitive restaurant world.
But why is lighting so important? And how can you harness light to create or enhance your desired ambiance? Below, we answer these questions and explore the convenience of using a smart lighting system to customize, control, and automate your lights to save time and money.
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3 Main Types of Restaurant Lighting
First, let’s discuss the three main types of restaurant lighting: ambient, task, and accent. Each of these types of lighting serves a different purpose in creating the ideal dining experience.
Ambient lighting is the main light source in the room, whether from overhead lights or natural light. Ambient lighting allows customers and staff to see easily and comfortably.
Task lighting is used for function, such as making it easier for customers to read a menu. This type of lighting is more concentrated and can take the form of directional can lights or small table lamps.
Accent lighting is really for form instead of function. This type of lighting adds drama and mood to your dining spaces. You can accomplish this with wall sconces, track lights, or recessed spotlights for artwork.
Use Various Light Levels to Set the Mood
Light levels have a significant impact on the type of mood you wish to set in your dining spaces. Lighting that’s too dark or too bright can offset the experience and even draw customers out of your restaurant.
Low lighting is effective for more intimate and romantic settings. It encourages customers to savor their time and stay longer. You can accomplish this by dimming your ambient light sources and brightening accent light on tables, whether with lamps or candles. Be sure to keep ambient light levels just bright enough so staff can see as they wait tables and customers can easily navigate to the restrooms.
Bright lighting is much more stimulating than low lighting and serves a very different purpose. Bright lighting keeps your customers energized and alert. Consider bright lighting for establishments like smoothie bars, coffee shops, or brunch spots. If you have large windows, take advantage of natural light for your ambient light source. Use bright overhead light fixtures as an alternative.
Save Time and Money with Smart Lighting Control
As a restaurant owner, you likely take advantage of technology where you can to help run your restaurant more safely and efficiently. By controlling your restaurant lights with a smart lighting system, you’ll have access to a variety of timesaving and energy-efficient features, such as automatic shut-off, daylight and occupancy sensors, multizone dimming control, and timeclock programming.
A smart lighting system lets you customize and automate your light sources based on operating hours, daylight, and desired ambiance. For example, your lights can gradually brighten as the sun sets, and ambient lights can shut off automatically after close. Daylight sensors will keep lights low or off when natural light levels are high. Occupancy sensors keep lights off until they’re needed and are great for backroom areas that staff frequently use, such as pantries or walk-in freezers.
Conveniently control your light sources from a centralized wall-mounted touch panel or handheld tablet. You’ll have easy access to all the lighting in your establishment from one place so operation is fast and easy. Plus, you can integrate other technologies and command them from the same interface, such as your TVs, music, fans, thermostats, and security system.
When considering the design and ambiance of your restaurant, don’t skimp on the lighting – it makes all the difference. Upgrade the lighting design and control system in your establishment by working with our team at Beacon Audio Video Systems. Contact our team here or send us a live chat below to book a free consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!
