Dining Furniture Trends 2025–26: How Kitchen Aesthetics Are Shaping Restaurant Interiors

Let’s talk about something that might surprise you: kitchen appliances are now setting the tone for restaurant furniture design.

I was reading the recent feature from moebelkultur.de—and it really hit home. The article focused on kitchen trends for 2025–26, but what stood out wasn’t just the appliances. It was the emotion behind the design—the use of color, the feel of the shapes, the intention behind each curve and finish. That’s when I knew: these aren’t just kitchen trends. They’re lifestyle signals. And as someone who’s spent 20+ years helping European retailers source the right dining furniture, I see a clear direction for where restaurant interiors are heading.

Green: Not Just a Color, But a Feeling

The article described green as the color of hope. It's warm, it's emotional, and more importantly, it’s human. What I find fascinating is that green is no longer being used as a “pop” accent—it’s becoming the main theme. Olive tones, eucalyptus, soft sage... these aren’t just colors, they’re moods.

We’re already prototyping dining chairs in textured green velvets and boucle fabrics. In Germany and the Netherlands, our clients are asking for dining sets that “feel organic.” That doesn’t just mean wood—it means visual softness. It means comfort you can see from across the room. I expect to see green tones dominating restaurant seating by mid-2025, paired with matte black bases or brushed gold to bring out an elegant contrast.

Insider Tip: Chairs in deep olive or sage green paired with natural walnut table tops create a calming yet upscale restaurant vibe. Perfect for boutique hotels or upscale cafes.

Round, Gentle Shapes: Goodbye Hard Edges

Have you noticed how appliance design is shifting? Gone are the days of boxy, aggressive corners. Now it’s about roundness, soft silhouettes, curves that feel almost emotional. The same transformation is quietly taking place in furniture.

For me, that means moving away from straight, Nordic lines toward more “embracing” shapes—shell chairs with wider backrests, dining chairs that cradle you slightly. Think about how that affects dwell time. A curved backrest in a dining chair isn't just design—it’s hospitality.

I remember one of our clients in Slovenia switching to our round-edge chair model last fall. They reported a 20% increase in time customers spent in their dining area. That’s not a coincidence—it’s science meeting psychology.

Color Harmonies: Matching Materials to Mood

Kitchen appliances in 2025 are getting warmer—not just in function, but in tone. Champagne, sand, soft metallics... these hues aren’t flashy, they’re intentional. They create a feeling of emotional security. And that’s exactly what restaurant furniture should do.

In our R&D center, we’ve been pairing new chair upholstery options with brushed metal frames—champagne gold, anodized copper, soft matte chrome. The goal is to harmonize, not just decorate. When colors blend instead of clash, the space feels curated, not chaotic.

A personal moment: I once walked into a small eatery in Düsseldorf that had perfectly matched their chair legs to the light fixtures overhead. Subtle? Yes. But that harmony made the space feel like a designer boutique, even though it seated just 30 guests.

Emotional Design: Furniture That Connects

This trend goes beyond color and shape—it’s about emotion. Consumers in 2025 will choose furniture based on how it makes them feel. That's a big shift from the functional era of the 2010s.

Furniture buyers and product managers need to think like storytellers now. What’s the emotion your space evokes? Is it warmth and calm? Or energy and spontaneity?

We’re seeing more interest in textured surfaces—ribbed fabrics, boucle, raw wood grains. These tactile materials connect people to the product. They invite touch. That interaction builds memory. That’s what keeps people coming back.

Final Thought: Furniture is Becoming More Human

I’ve always believed that design is a conversation. And in 2025, that conversation is going to be about humanity—not just aesthetics. The dining furniture of tomorrow will be rounder, warmer, and greener, literally and metaphorically.

As a furniture sourcing partner, I’m already aligning our new collection with these cues. If you’re planning your 2025–26 restaurant or retail furniture line-up, now’s the time to think: Are you designing furniture that talks to today’s appliances—or to tomorrow’s emotions?

Let’s make spaces that feel like home. Even in a restaurant.

Warm regards,

Sunbin Qi

CEO, ASKT Furniture

📧 sales@sinoaskt.com | 🌍 www.asktfurniture.net | 📱 WhatsApp: +86 18912605997