Furniture

Buying furniture

Commercial furniture has to do something domestic furniture never does: survive being sat on, dragged, stacked and cleaned all day, every day, for years. Buying contract-grade is not about looks alone, it is about what still looks good after two years of service.

Match the furniture to the setting. Indoor dining wants comfort and a finish that wipes clean. High-turnover casual sites want stackable, hard-wearing chairs and tables that reset quickly. Outdoor furniture needs to take weather, so look for aluminium, treated wood or all-weather rattan rather than anything that rusts or rots. Banqueting wants folding or stacking kit that stores flat and sets up fast.

Two things separate contract furniture from the domestic version. Build: contract-rated frames and joints are made for constant use and often carry a commercial warranty, where domestic furniture loosens and breaks. And cleaning: choose finishes and upholstery rated for commercial cleaning, because anything that stains easily looks tired fast in a busy room.

Furniture: common questions

What is contract or commercial furniture?

Contract furniture is built and rated for commercial use: heavier frames, stronger joints, wipe-clean or commercially-rated upholstery, and often a warranty that reflects constant use. Domestic furniture is not built for the hours a venue puts on it and will loosen, mark and break far sooner, which is why it works out more expensive in the end.

How do I choose furniture for high-turnover sites?

Prioritise durability and reset speed: stackable chairs and tables that a small team can clear quickly, hard-wearing wipe-clean surfaces, and frames that take being dragged and knocked. Comfort still matters, but in fast-casual the furniture that pays off is the furniture that survives and resets, not the softest seat in the room.

What furniture holds up outdoors?

Materials that shrug off weather: powder-coated aluminium, which is light and does not rust, treated or naturally durable hardwood, and all-weather synthetic rattan. Avoid untreated steel and softwoods, which rust and rot. If furniture stays out year-round, check it is rated for it; otherwise plan to store or cover it over winter.

How much space should I allow per cover?

As a rough guide, allow around 1 to 1.5 square metres per cover for casual dining and more for fine dining, plus room for service to move between tables. Cramming in more covers than the room comfortably takes hurts the experience and slows service, so plan the layout around comfortable spacing before you order.

Can you supply banqueting and events furniture?

Yes. Folding and stacking tables and chairs that store flat and set up fast are the standard for banqueting and functions, along with trolleys to move and store them. If you run events, tell us your capacity and storage, and we will help you spec kit that sets up quickly and packs away small.

How quickly can you deliver furniture?

Furniture is usually ordered in and often comes on a larger delivery, so we will confirm the lead time before you commit. If you have an opening or event date, tell us and we will make sure it lands in time.