When designing a restaurant, the type and arrangement of the lighting is planned along with the interior planning and the other design elements to deliver that “wow” impression – in a good way!
However, one doesn’t have to entirely redesign and refurbish a restaurant or a café bar to improve its character. The lighting itself is one of the key features for creating that ideal atmosphere that makes guests come back again and feel comfortable and relaxed. Custom-made lighting fixtures, as part of the interior, add to the overall style and appearance, whether it is an upscale fine dining restaurant or a chic vintage café.
Think Lighting? Think Mood!
The starting point is: what’s the mood you want to create? Certainly, depending on the size of the space, you can create several moods in different corners and parts of the restaurant. This means you can install different types of lighting fixtures that you consider to be best suited for each part. For example, small wall fixtures along the dining tables for two, and unique suspended fixtures above the café counter, or, for a bar with late-evening operations, a wholly lighted bar counter is also a viable option.

Lighting project by BSC Custom: white restaurant pendant lamps in Latinicity, Chicago
Fixtures As Art Pieces
Designers usually consider the following lighting types for restaurants and bars:
- ambiance lighting
- focal point
- accent lighting
Besides the task light that, for instance, should provide the convenience to read the menus, ambiance lighting comes right after as being important. Ambiance lighting creates the mood. It can be concealed, or dispersed with a series of identical light fixtures to create a harmonious feel.

Pendant lamps above the tables: Venga bar lighting project
Custom made chandeliers made of copper or glass are an exquisite choice to make an impressing focal point, whether at the center of a hall or ballroom or in an upscale restaurant.
Accent lighting as the term suggests creates accents by drawing attention to certain spots. Wall fixtures or suspended lights are also great for a casual café bar.

Palazzo lighting project
We at BSC Custom have vast experience in producing custom made fixtures in collaboration with designers and architects in our production facilities. We treat every fixture as a work of art itself in order to create the exact idea you imagined for your lighting.