When looking at how to start a business in the hospitality sector, one of the first steps you’ll need to complete is clarifying your vision. For cafe owners, this includes defining your vibe.

Do you want your cafe to be a bright, bustling social spot? Or do you envision a cosy place to snuggle up in on a rainy day? Perhaps it’s somewhere in between, with different zones for different customers.

There are also unique niches for more targeted audiences, including:

• Board game cafes
• Cat cafes
• Wellness cafes
• Vegan cafes

These overarching themes can drastically affect your vibe. A wellness cafe, for example, might have an energised, natural feel while a board game cafe focuses on a fun, magical atmosphere.

Your vibe will directly impact the sort of ambience you create. Before getting into your coffee shop interior design details, write a mission statement that clarifies the sort of cafe you’re looking to create.

Your coffee shop layout guides the flow of your space and is crucial for creating a relaxed ambience.

Your flow needs to be functional, leaving plenty of room for customers to walk around. There should also be copious room for chairs to be moved around and staff to walk between tables.

Consider paths around your coffee shop, too. From each table, there should be a clear route to the main bar, the toilets, and the door.

After planning your flow, it’s time to organise your coffee shop seating plan. How will your seating match your vibe?

A social cafe may focus on larger tables with communal seating, encouraging strangers to sit side-by-side. Or you may prioritise privacy by using booths or tables tucked into cosy alcoves.

Your chairs themselves can also reflect your desired ambience. Larger armchairs and sofas, for example, are staples in warm, intimate cafes. High stools clustered around smaller tables indicate a more lively ambience, in which people come in to grab a coffee and have a quick chat with friends.

Lighting is used to set the mood in coffee shop design and plays a pivotal role in first impressions.

Most cosy ambiences will utilise warm, low lighting, veering towards yellow bulbs instead of white. Use traditional lamp shades and floor lamps to suit your aesthetic.

You might also emphasise intimacy with smaller table lamps or candles, bringing a sense of romance to your cafe.

If you’re looking to create a more modern, lively ambience, make use of natural light. From skylights to large windows, the more sunlight streams into your space, the more bright and vibrant your vibe will be.

Contemporary spaces are also more likely to make use of white bulbs. In terms of lighting styles, spotlights and low-hanging pendant lights are both great choices in modern settings.

Creating the perfect coffee shop ambience goes beyond the visual and olfactory elements; sound plays a pivotal role in shaping your customers’ experience. While the gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of cups are part of the vibe, excessive noise can quickly overwhelm the space. Consequently turning what should be a cozy retreat into a stressful environment.

In coffee shops, sound levels often spike during peak hours, with the roar of espresso machines, background music, and overlapping conversations creating a cacophony. This can hinder conversation, distract employees, and ultimately drive customers away. On the other hand, a well-balanced soundscape increases comfort and encourages people to stay longer—critical for business success.

How Acoustics Shape Ambience

Proper acoustic treatment can transform a coffee shop’s atmosphere. Acoustic panels are specifically designed to absorb sound, reducing excessive reverberation and echoes. They create an environment where noise is managed rather than muffled. Conversations become clearer, music sounds richer, and the overall vibe becomes far more inviting.

Why Coffee Shop Owners Should Care

• Customer Comfort: Uncontrolled noise can frustrate customers, making them less likely to return. A well-balanced acoustic environment encourages repeat visits.
• Staff Efficiency: A quieter workspace helps employees focus and communicate better, improving service quality.
• Extended Stays: People who feel at ease in your coffee shop are likelier to linger, increasing sales and loyalty.

Resonics has worked on thousands of projects that help businesses of all sizes optimise their space with acoustic treatments. Thus ensuring that every customer walks into a perfectly balanced soundscape.

A great coffee shop playlist provides the perfect backdrop for an inviting, enjoyable experience. It masks background noise, encourages conversation, and puts guests at ease as they spend time in your cafe.

Music also sets the tone of your space, making it crucial when curating ambience.

Instrumental jazz, for example, is relaxing but full of character and charm. Classical music is sophisticated and warm, while a pop playlist is youthful and lively. Upbeat tracks energise for spirited conversation, while slow, instrumental songs are ideal for relaxing with a cup of great coffee and a good book.

For inspiration, check out coffee shop playlists already out there. Spotify, for example, has plenty to pick from.

Once you’ve made your own cafe playlist, it’s important to remember to play the music at an appropriate level – even with acoustic panels. Your songs should provide an atmospheric background, but they shouldn’t distract from conversation.

Cafe decor provides the visual clues that define your space and shape how customers feel when entering. They can also be practical, blending form and function for a successful cafe.

In warm, inviting cafes, for example, you can encourage customers to snuggle up and get cosy with soft furnishings (like blankets and cushions) in warm colours. This also brings the added benefit of comfort to your seating area, aligning your vision with your purpose.

Cute spoons, timers for brewing tea, and little jars of decanted sugar are other examples of decor that tick the boxes of form and function.

In modern cafes, you might prefer to keep decor to a minimum and focus instead instead on furniture with clean lines and bold colours. Contemporary art hung on the walls ensures the space doesn’t feel bare.

Other key decor items frequently included in cafes include:

• Plants and greenery
• Dried flowers
• Cutlery holders
• Branded napkins
• Clocks
• Ceramics

Consider the items your cafe needs to keep guests happy and use these products as the starting point of your decor.

You don’t want your customers to leave your cafe too hot or too cold. To ensure you create an inviting ambience that coffee lovers want to return to, it’s recommended that you maintain a temperature of between 20 and 22°C.

Your heating system can add to the overall style of your cafe, too. Large, brass radiators are perfectly suited to industrial-chic aesthetics while floor-to-ceiling matte black radiators are entirely modern.

Crafting your ideal coffee shop is about more than just great coffee—it’s about creating an ambience that engages all five senses in harmony, ensuring every customer feels comfortable, inspired and eager to return. From lighting and layout to seating and sound, every detail plays a role in shaping the overall experience and reflecting your brand’s identity.

Among these elements, acoustics stand out as a crucial yet often overlooked factor. A thoughtfully designed acoustic environment not only enhances comfort but also fosters connection, allowing people to enjoy their coffee and conversations without the stress of overwhelming noise.

At Resonics, we specialise in providing bespoke acoustic solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of coffee shops and other hospitality spaces. Whether you’re starting a new venture or looking to refine your existing space, our team can help you create the balanced, inviting atmosphere your customers will love.

Explore our full range of acoustic products and services to see how we can help you bring your vision to life.

Written exclusively for Resonics by Lucy Cromwell.