Restaurant décor trends shift from year to year, but a few themes keep showing up in the industry's most photographed spaces — and neon signage tops the list. A well-placed neon sign gives a restaurant an instant social-media moment: it's the kind of detail guests photograph, tag, and share without being asked, turning a dining room into free marketing. Here are eight décor trends worth knowing if you're planning or refreshing a restaurant's look.
1. Neon Signs
Maybe you haven't noticed them yet, but neon signs are just about everywhere these days. Once you start paying attention, they're hard to miss — for decades, neon signs hung outside restaurants to lure customers in, but more recently they've moved inside as a wall-mounted work of art, meant to be enjoyed throughout a meal or evening out.
Neon has taken on an entirely new meaning in restaurant design, showing up everywhere from casual burger joints to upscale supper clubs and high-end cocktail bars. Whatever the setting, a well-designed neon sign reliably becomes the visual centerpiece of the room.
2. Urban Jungle
Plants and foliage remain a strong presence in restaurant interiors, and the trend shows no sign of slowing. As Ray Chung, director of design at The Johnson Studio, put it: “There is growing research on the positive health effects of seeing and being around greenery.” Many restaurants bring some greenery indoors; a smaller number go further and grow their own herbs on-site, turning the garden itself into part of the guest experience.
3. Incorporating Local Art
More restaurants are looking to connect more deeply with their community and local talent. What started in coffee shops has spread to full-service dining rooms, where owners now proudly display local photography, paintings, sculpture, and even custom light fixtures from artists in their area.
4. Multi-Use, Eco-Friendly, Up-Cycled Items
Sustainability keeps shaping restaurant décor. Up-cycling — the creative reuse of existing objects — shows up in everything from reclaimed tables and chairs to repurposed mirrors, picture frames, doors, and signage.
Alongside up-cycled pieces, furniture that serves multiple functions is on the rise: movable, adaptable seating and fixtures that flex with the space. Expect mismatched furniture, vintage candle-holders, and other pre-loved pieces in restaurants aiming for a look that feels collected rather than purchased.
5. Unique Finishes and Upholstery
Bold colors and unusual textile finishes continue to define standout restaurant interiors, often paired with warmer overall tones. Upholstered booths add a cozy touch, a distinct textured finish, and better sound absorption — while also solving for more flexible, custom seating layouts.
Walls and ceilings finished in unexpected materials add another layer of texture to a room, and remain one of the more affordable ways to make a space feel considered.
6. Maximalism
Maximalism is, as the name suggests, the opposite of minimalism: rather than restraint, it embraces extravagance and statement pieces. Think oversized chandeliers, bold objects, and eye-catching accessories like ornate lamps and mirrors. Rich, patterned textiles and fabrics have made a comeback alongside it, appearing across a wide range of restaurant settings.
7. Retro Vibes
Retro styling remains a reliable design choice, though the reference point has shifted — today's retro leans more on the late 1960s and early '70s than the more heavily used 1950s aesthetic. That means a softer, more toned-down palette: warm browns and burnt oranges complemented by rich creams and deep greens, paired with chrome, exposed metal, and glass.
8. Rustic Look
Rustic décor brings a cozy, familiar feel — the kind of space that reminds guests of a grandparent's kitchen. Rustic furniture ranges from light woods like oak to darker, chunkier pieces, often paired with wooden benches for an authentic, lived-in feel.
The look pairs naturally with the broader shift toward wholesome, unfussy food, reinforcing a sense of home rather than formality.
Sources: Architectural Digest and Upserve.
If you're a restaurant owner sold on the trend, our breakdown of the benefits of custom neon signs covers the business case, and our guide to buy a custom neon sign walks through ordering one for your space.
