Coffee shop design relates to the hangout culture of the 21^st century. Looking at the history of coffee shop design since 1550 and its continuous evolution through the 17^th, 19^th, and 20^th centuries, we can relate its role to the 21^st century. The coffee shop, with its evolution, has become an important social institution globally. As a result of increasing globalisation, coffee shop design in India is also flourishing. A good coffee shop design in every city in India depicts the daily culture of the region. As a part of social culture, these spaces have become very important.

1. Choose the Ideal Size

When one decides to do a coffee shop design, the first thing that comes to mind is the correct size for the space. One can choose the ideal size for the coffee shop according to the region and the estimated customer flow. It can serve up to 80 customers at a time, according to its typology. Hence, a coffee shop size can vary from 600 square feet to 1800 square feet. A general idea is to design an ample space that will cater to customers comfortably with smooth movement and traffic flow.

2. Ideal Layout

Deciding the size is one thing apart from having a perfect, complete layout that ensures the smooth flow of the customers. Layout design is split into two parts: one is the front part for the customers, and the other is at the back of the counter for the staff. These are the two areas that can change the look of a coffee shop. Also, keep in mind that equipment placement and storage are important in the ideal layout of a coffee shop.

3. Utilize Vertical Space For Storage

A coffee shop is a welcoming leisure space for free chatter and talks. This includes the provision of ample spaces within the seats and the path one takes. There are a lot of requirements for storing different things in a coffee shop. While designing a coffee shop where customers can spend hours sipping coffee, it can have shelves that can store various things for the customers. Using the vertical spaces for storage will be a good idea because it will not consume the other necessary space.

4. Designing the movement

A coffee shop can be all about the movement. The distance between the seats for the customers and the ordering counter is a must to look at. There must be appropriate spacing between the seating arrangements. The design must focus on how one enters the space, how they seat themselves, and their reach to the ordering counter. Also, the movement from the kitchen or the back counter towards the tables is necessary to look at.

5. Optimize workspace for efficiency

The working staff, their movement, and their activities in the coffee shop are as necessary as the customer. For efficiency in the coffee shop, one must also focus on the staff and the working area. One must have an adequate amount of space behind the counters to prepare the drinks. Also, an efficient workspace includes having a proper storage area to keep the atmosphere tidy.

6. Prioritize Accessibility

A coffee shop can be good when it is accessible to all. Its design must be a priority to every kind of customer. For example, the design must keep in mind the easy access and movement to disabled people. There must be proper service areas for the same. By doing this, the coffee shop will become more welcoming to everyone around.

7. Balance Private and Social Spaces

The coffee shop design is known for its informal way of seats that one can have. These spaces are designed for one to engage with them in various ways. Hence, providing different types of seats for a coffee shop becomes a necessity. In a good coffee shop design, there must be a proper bifurcation between the private and social seats. There can be seats that are near the counters and entrance, which are seen from every area. Where else should there be seats that are in those corners of the coffee shop where one can find little peace and privacy?

8. Innovative Furniture

In recent times, there have been a lot of types of materials with which one can design different pieces of furniture. A coffee shop is the best place to incorporate the furniture designs that one can admire. Giving different-shaped chairs with various materials such as wood, metal, acrylic, fibre, etc. can give the space a different feel. Hence, when one designs the furniture for the coffee shop, they must keep in mind the ergonomics as well as the aesthetics. Giving innovative furniture designs to the coffee shop will enhance the atmosphere in numerous ways.

9. Proper Lighting 

When one goes to a coffee shop to spend some quality or leisure time, they expect a proper ambience. This makes one conscious of the type of light one uses while doing the coffee shop design. The possibility of acquiring natural light for the coffee shop is one of the ways to catch the lighting of the place. Having different kinds of hanging artificial lights in the place will make it look attractive and part of the culture. Lighting in a coffee shop can speak to a lot of aspects that support the place.

10. Branding of the place

A coffee shop is also a place that attracts customers through its display. This display has to be about the branding of the place. Branding includes the display of the service that one gets in the coffee shop. This will immediately speak about the kind of coffee one gets in there, the type of lights, and the atmosphere one can hang out in. All of it will be noticed by the customers and also create a specific environment for the coffee shop. Giving a hanging halogen light nameplate outside and inside will affect the vision of the coffee shop for the customers.

11. Crafting the ideal setting

A coffee shop design nowadays has become the best hangout place in every city that comes to people in various sizes and ambiences. These places must have an atmosphere that suits the needs of social gatherings. A coffee shop design has become one of the vibrant modern city spaces that can be a starting point for any social activity. When one can get various appealing opportunities to gather and enjoy, they will always choose these spaces immediately. As a result, connecting these spaces with technology, including wifi provisions, better air conditioning, enough charging, and plug points, makes the space and designs more efficient.

12. Different Ceilings

Along with the bigger aspects, a few small but important aspects, such as the ceilings, are very important for the coffee shop design. Nowadays, the ceiling has become an integral part of interior designs. This includes both open and covered ceilings. According to the theme, one can decide which style of ceiling they want to put in their coffee shop. Both types of ceilings have different effects on the aesthetics of the coffee shop design.

13. Using walls creatively

A coffee shop design can be called a type of informal restaurant where there is no fixed seating or the way in which one will dine. This space is of a free-flowing nature that will be formed organically according to the needs of people. This will include the walls and the furniture that resides inside the coffee shop. Here, the use of walls for graphite, paintings, or wallpapers can be done creatively. When one puts on a funky wallpaper, it will make the coffee shop look more customer-friendly.

14. Double Heighted Spaces

A coffee shop design depends on the size of the space one gets or chooses. When one has a space with double height involved, they can use it to give extra usable space to the customers. One can have a mezzanine floor and arrange seats with a bookshelf catering to various books and games. This will add to the features of the coffee shop. Also, one can give a retro look to the coffee shop design by having a coffered double-heighted ceiling that has antique hanging lights infusing the space.

15. Different Type of Seats

There are various ways in which one can arrange the sitting spaces in a coffee shop. There is a possibility of various types of small spaces that can be created while doing a coffee shop design. The tables can be arranged inside the coffee shop as well as outside, near the door window and entrances. All of these permutations and combinations for different sitting arrangements can be made while doing the coffee shop design.

16. Use of Paints and colors

Colours speak a lot about the design of the spaces. Similarly, various colours suit the design of the coffee shop beautifully. Trending themes such as industrial, biophilic, and boho chic interior designs go with colours such as peach, pink, blue, and green. Also, while one paints the walls with such colours, the supporting furniture can be painted either with bold colours or the natural colours of their materials. Using paints and textures that also speak to the brand will attract more customers as well. Colours can set the mood for the spaces; hence, using shades of bright colours tends to make the coffee shop design refreshing.

17. Importance of Acoustics

Along with the comfort of seats and colours, one also has to have pleasant surroundings. These surroundings are made with all of the factors mentioned above, as well as the sound that comes to the ears in a coffee shop design. To begin with, one must always keep the acoustics in mind while doing a coffee shop design. The places designed for the music system must have a specific distance at which the speakers are placed. This will maintain the atmosphere in a coffee shop that will keep people engaged with the space.

18. Play Of Floorings

Another part of a coffee shop design can be the floors or flooring that are used. Different types of flooring can always attract the attention of customers. Using patterns that are colourful by using different tiles and placing various materials, one can create enormous looks for the coffee shop. While the first impression of the place comes from the visual, the first contact with the place is the floor. Hence, giving a floor that intrigues the attention of the customers can make the coffee shop more interactive.

19. Proper service areas

Even a place as small as a coffee shop requires areas that are dedicated to the servicing part. Whether it comes to restrooms or kitchen areas for the staff, The coffee shop design includes having proper restrooms for the ease of customers. As the coffee shop is a place where people gather in groups and spend more hours designing proper restrooms, it will always be more comfortable.

20. Appealing Outlook

When one passes by the coffee shop, it must attract their attention and pull them inside. Walking down the street, when one looks at a huge window with glass shutters and plants peeping out with dim ambient lights, one can get easily tempted. Such outlooks also include having a bold-coloured door with a bell outside and beautiful intrication on the surface. Having an appealing outlook that gives an overall idea of the coffee shop design is necessary. The outlook of the space will always be the first thing that speaks about its design.

A coffee shop design is a space for the 21^st century where people come to spend their leisure time and even work in a different environment than an office or home. This space, with time, has evolved into a centre for gathering and doing many social activities. For different age groups, the coffee shop design serves as a different space. In India, in today’s times, the design of coffee shops has taken up a huge amount of space. Instead of going to a restaurant, one chooses to go to the nearest coffee shop for quick meetings, work, gatherings, and enjoyment. Hence, varying the size of the structure of a coffee shop is an everyday challenge for designers to create something new. It is always necessary for a designer to create a coffee shop design that answers current needs.

Content Writing And Research By: Ar. Rajeshwari Pandya Modi