Cafes are different from restaurants. There are no big meals in coffee shops on which people can splurge, so profits depend on getting lots of customers every day. As a cafe owner, you know that’s easier said that done, but creating the right atmosphere and vibe is one thing that can help you attract customers.
Lighting plays a big role in creating the right vibe. Therefore, let’s discuss why it’s worth your time and energy to focus on lighting and how to get it right.
Impact of an Awesome Lighting Setup in a Coffee Shop’s Interior Design
How can using lighting smartly give your cafe’s popularity a shot in the arm?
Picture this: a quality coffee blend, freshly baked pastries, cookies, and cakes, and a cozy, relaxing space. Won’t you like to spend time in such a place after a hectic day or on a lazy Sunday afternoon?
Folks don’t visit cafes to just get a cup of coffee these days. Instead, they use them as social hubs where they can chat with friends, hold informal meetings, and even work.
A great lighting setup is a simple way to create the relaxing, welcoming, and cozy atmosphere you're after.
This brings us to the important question:
What are the secrets of great cafe lighting?
Here are 8 expert-approved lighting tips that’ll make your cafe shop shine.
Tip #1 – Lighting Design Should Match Your Cafe’s Brand Image
Lighting can make or break your cafe’s vibe. Before you select a lighting design, ask yourself: Does it fit my brand’s image?
Whether you are deciding what lights to use, the placement of lighting fixtures, the right colour temperature and tone, or anything else lighting-related, make sure it fits your cafe’s core theme. For example, if your cafe’s core theme is contemporary, vintage chandeliers will look out-of-sync.
Since external signage is essential for attracting footfall, enticing customers to return, and enhancing your brand image, pay particular attention to how it is lit. Clear, powerful external signs can tempt thirsty visitors off the street, so make sure your signage is well-lit, attention-grabbing, and unique.
While bright outdoor signage helps draw customers in, a well-designed interior space helps create a memorable, welcoming atmosphere and an engaging rapport between you and customers. Therefore, ensure both are smartly lit and reflect your cafe’s core theme.
Tip #2 – Make Good Use of Natural Light During the Daytime
Natural light not only lends a certain aesthetic appeal to your shop but is also exceptionally energy efficient (after all, sunlight is free). What’s more, natural light also positively impacts mood since it increases dopamine levels.
Optimising natural light in a cafe during the daytime helps invite customers to grab a coffee and spend quality time with their friends. If you’re wondering how to optimise natural light, the answer is pretty simple. Incorporate large windows, skylights, glass doors, and mirrors in your interior design.
If excessive heat during summer months is an issue, try heat control films on windows. Light, sheer curtains can also help you regulate the amount of sunlight that enters your cafe.
Optimizing natural light helps create an inviting atmosphere while saving money on your electric bill.
Tip #3 – Ensure a Relaxing, Comfortable Atmosphere During the Evenings
As the sun goes down, switching to a laid-back and cosy ambience can help customers unwind after a busy day.
Wondering how can you give your shop a cosy, relaxing vibe during evening hours?
We recommend warm, low-intensity lighting that focuses on wall lights. You should avoid overhead fixtures. But it is important to have a brighter spots too. Lighting up the coffee station or the pastry case can help strike the right balance between intimate and inviting.
Keep in mind your shop should feel cosy and welcoming — not dull, dark, and gloomy.
Tip #4 – Mix Art & Lighting
Lighting up your café doesn't have to be boring. Get creative and give your shop some flair. One way to do this is by using accent lights to highlight certain features of your shop.
Picture this: You have stunning photographs in one corner of your coffee shop, but that part once the sun goes down and your cafe switches to dim lighting, people can hardly see and appreciate them.
You can make use of accent lighting to not only gently highlight those pictures, but also to make them more appealing than before.
And don't you forget about the fixtures themselves. Select artistic fixtures in place of regular, boring stuff. However, make sure what you have picked matches your shop’s style and theme.
Tip #5 – Brightness Adjustment & Colour Tone
When it comes to lighting up a cafe, one question that is often asked is, Why are brightness and colour temperature important factors?
Colour temperature can set up the colour tone for your cafe, which in turn influences your cafe’s overall atmosphere and feel. In simpler language, colour temperature basically mean how cool-toned or warm-toned your lights are. Cool lights are bluish in nature, whereas warmer lights are yellowish-orange.
For cafes, warm lights are a great option because they create a homey and comfortable vibe, perfect for helping customers relax and unwind after a busy day. Colour temperatures in the range of 2,200k to 3,200k is ideal for cafes.
Brightness of your lights also make a huge difference. Bright lights help stimulate appetite, but dimmer lights are a better option for cafes. This is because they tend to make customers spend more time in a relaxed and comfortable ambience. All the same, if you want to create a high-energy vibe in your coffee shop, you can use bright lights.
If not the entire cafe, maybe some parts of your cafe can be brighter than the others. For this strategy, we recommend using Smart Lights because they come equipped with advanced features like brightness control panels, dimming timers, automatic shut off mechanisms, and daylight sensors. These features allow you to customize lighting according to your convenience and centralize the entire lighting setup via a smartphone or laptop.
Tip #6 – Consistency and Balance are the Keys
If there was only one advice we could give to you about cafe lighting, it’d be don’t go overboard with brightness or drama. Instead, aim for a balanced mix of different light sources that create a relaxing atmosphere.
First things first, ensure your lights are functional and are spread evenly throughout the space. Secondly, ensure there are no harsh glares falling directly on your customers’ eyes.
Thirdly, the colour tone should be consistent. Super dramatic lighting is strictly a no-no. But at the same time, don’t give your cafe a look that’s too dim. There’s a thin distinction between low lighting and being so dim that whole place looks gloomy and depressing. You know those coffee shops where owners decide to use only candles or lamps? They look more like a mourning place than a social hotspot.
The sweet spot is having enough light so guests can comfortably see each other. This everyone feel more relaxed and at ease.
Tip# 7 – Use Lighting to Influence Customer’s Behaviour
Smart use of lighting can help you guide customers’ behaviour. Surprised? Don’t be.
Research shows bright lights can actually make people hungrier, so customers might order more than they planned. On the other hand, warm, dim lighting helps create a relaxing atmosphere that makes customers spend more time, maybe ordering a few extra cups of coffee or plates of snacks.
Remember, your lighting strategy should be right for your target audience. Targeting your audience? Go for a modern, creative vibe. In contrast, for older customers, keep things simple and you’ll be fine.
Tip #8 – Embrace LED Lighting
Wondering why you should use LED lights?
Well, here are some top reasons.
- LED lights use up to 80% less energy than fluorescent lights, which means they can lower your electricity bill.
- They also last up to 2-4 times longer than fluorescent lamps and more than 40 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
- LED lights give bright, uniform light without flickering and are environmentally-friendly since they don’t contain mercury.
That said, keep in mind that not all LED lights are of the same quality. You should always opt for bulbs with a CRI rating of 90 or above, as they considerably improve the feel and aesthetic of a room. In contrast, if you choose low CRI rating bulbs, walls, furniture, and other decor will not appear as they should. At LiquidLEDs, we sell only high-quality, CRI 90+ LEDs, which last longer, are more durable, and offer better light quality than average LED lights.
Conclusion
Use these 8 cafe lighting ideas to find out what works for you. You don’t have to follow these recommendations to a T — instead, mix and match to fit your brand’s image. As long as your lighting strategy is in sync with your coffee shop theme, you’ll nail it. And of course, always use quality LED lights.