Top Cafe Interior Design Trends for 2025

An excellent cafe or coffee shop needs so much more than a barista serving up a decent cup of coffee. Well-considered interior design will positively impact your cafe and improve the whole customer experience. A welcoming and inviting space will encourage customers to visit, not just for their occasional cup of coffee, but to frequent your cafe regularly to work, study, socialise, relax and more.

The right furniture, layout and interior design can transform a good cafe into a great one. It’ll boost customer satisfaction, enhance operations, and help your brand stand out in a competitive market. Great design is about more than just looks – it’s about crafting experiences.

Whether you’re designing a brand-new venue or giving your current space a refresh, here are the top cafe interior design trends for 2025. Our insights will help you create a memorable, positive cafe experience that’ll keep your customers coming back for more.

What makes a great cafe design?

The right coffee shop décor plays a crucial role in shaping your venue’s ambiance, enhancing the customer experience, and reinforcing your brand identity. It needs to balance functionality, comfort, efficiency and personality.

Here are the key elements that define a well-designed cafe:

1. Flexible layouts

People aren’t only visiting a coffee shop for a cuppa with a friend. With a wide range of customer types – remote workers, parents with kids, solo visitors, family or friend groups – flexibility’s essential. Modular furniture and adaptable seating allow cafes to cater to different needs throughout the day.

You may also host events from time to time, such as a book club, craft workshop, cocktail making or DJ night. It’s useful to be able to move furniture aside or rearrange tables and chairs easily when you need to.

2. Smart furniture choices

The right furniture supports your overall interior design without overpowering it. Think lightweight cafe chairs that are easy to move, sturdy communal tables that encourage conversation, and durable, stain-resistant table tops that will stand up to spills and regular cleaning.

3. Purposeful zoning

A thoughtful layout divides the space into functional zones. Think quiet corners with built-in power outlets for study or work, lounge areas for relaxed conversations and efficient coffee bar counters for take-away customers. Your layout should guide the customer flow naturally, reducing congestion and improving efficiency.

4. Accessibility for all

A great cafe welcomes everyone. That means ensuring spaces are accessible to wheelchair users, parents with prams and anyone with mobility needs. Keep pathways clear. Be aware of the height of your tables and counters. Lose the clutter and tightly-packed tables to create a more inclusive environment.

10 cafe interior design trends

The smell of roasting coffee certainly helps to create an inviting atmosphere. But in today’s competitive market, you need to work harder to make your cafe a popular destination. Modern cafe interiors reflect our changing lifestyles, values and inspirations. Here are some of the biggest trends in cafe and coffee shop design right now.

1. Biophilic design

Embrace the power of plants. Being in nature helps you to relax and feel calm. Bring natural elements into your cafe – a living wall, plenty of greenery, maybe even a tree if you have space. It really helps to improve the ambience, as well as the air quality.

Look at ways to maximise natural light in your cafe too. Think big windows, unobscured glass and light colours that encourage natural light to bounce around the space.

2. Sustainability

Show that protecting our fragile planet is one of your core values (as it should be) by incorporating eco-friendly and sustainable design elements. Use natural materials like stone, brick, reclaimed wood or organic fabrics. Choose recycled plastic, glass and textiles and biodegradable packaging. Install LED lighting which is both cost effective and low energy.

All of these eco-friendly choices will be recognised and respected by people who prioritise sustainability. It’s a positive way for them to engage with your brand.

3. Minimalism

To create a relaxing, calming environment for your customers, ditch the clutter. Minimalist spaces are soothing. Choose clean lines, neutral colour palettes and a light, airy feel.

That doesn’t mean the space should be boring and devoid of personality. Cherry pick a few curated design elements – quality over quantity. And to avoid it feeling sterile, make sure you add some soft textures like throws or cushions.

4. Tech that works

Remote workers and students will choose coffee shops that support their digital lifestyle. That means decent wifi, accessible power points, smart lighting and somewhere to work comfortably from a laptop.

Add to that convenient ways to order online. That could be via a QR code, app, mobile website or self-order kiosk. It could be from your table or en route to the cafe for your take-away order. Technology can help to reduce bottlenecks and streamline the customer experience – as long as the tech and process work frictionlessly.

5. Cosy seating

Great coffee and comfortable seating will keep customers coming back. Create a cosy nook with comfy armchairs and soft textiles. There’s nothing more comforting than curling up in a comfy chair with tea and cake!

You could even add a communal bookshelf. Books can encourage customers to linger longer, connect with others and feel at home.

6. Show your working

Don’t hide your food and drink preparation behind closed doors. Make an open kitchen part of the drinking and dining experience. Show off your experts – baristas, chefs and mixologists doing their thing becomes something of a performance. It lends an air of authenticity, creativity and transparency.

Highlight your sleek professional equipment. Display your choice of mugs, glasses and crockery on open shelving. Even artisanal ingredients in jars add personality.

7. Eye-catching artwork

Transform a bland interior into something Instagram worthy. Add interesting artwork, an on-point mural, bold wallpaper and/ or neon signage. Not only do they create a focal point, they also make an eye-catching and stand-out backdrop for your customers’ social media posts.

You could collaborate with a trending local artist for mutual benefit. By featuring their artwork on your walls, you enhance your space and they get promotion. It’s a win-win which shows your connection to the local area and talent.

8. Pick a theme

A great way to stand out in a competitive market is by offering something different. Pick a theme for your cafe. That could be anything from board games to breakfast cereal, Scandi Hygge to French patisserie.

Retro vibes are popular right now. Be that 50s diner, mid-century styling, or fun 80s nostalgia. Incorporate retro furniture, nostalgic colour schemes or vintage signs. These nostalgic nods add charm and memorability. But keep it curated to avoid causing clutter.

10. Branded interiors

Your cafe’s branding is an important part of your design. From your choice of materials and furniture to colour palettes, fonts and lighting, every element should reflect your brand identity.

Tell your brand story through your design. Subtly reinforce it throughout the cafe experience, making your space memorable. It’s a compelling way to create emotional connections with your visitors.

On-trend furniture solutions for your cafe

When heritage British chocolate company, Cadbury, needed new furniture, they chose KI Furniture. We collaborated with them to provide furniture solutions for their heritage office and its restaurant in their Bournville HQ. The furniture and storage solutions needed to complement the colours of their iconic products and brands, as well as meeting their functionality requirements. The new Cadbury restaurant design features our stackable Maestro chairs in vibrant, zesty colours.