[mrob]

The modern interior design with hard surfaces everywhere is worse for usability/accessibility because it reflects sound, increasing noise levels. This is especially a problem in restaurants, some of which are loud enough to cause hearing damage.

[aspenmayer]

Hard nonporous surfaces are easier to clean, sanitize, and maintain, which is why you find these kinds of surfaces everywhere in professional settings, especially anything to do with food or medicine. Anything that isn't able to be cleaned and sanitized in those settings is usually single use disposable.