Maximising Space in Your Cafe: Furniture Solutions for Smaller Spaces

Not every café – in fact most cafés – have large amounts of floor space to work with, meaning owners have to get creative when it comes to their interior design. Not only do you have to account for seating and table arrangements, but walkthrough areas, health and safety concerns, business infrastructure and more, all of which can make the planning quite a challenge.

But there are several café seating solutions that can be used to maximise the available space, enabling you to extract more value from the total amount of sittings you can organise each week. Café furniture design can play a key role in how you shape and organise the interior of your café and we delve a little deeper into how it can be used to maximise your space.

What is space saving furniture?

Space saving furniture is furniture that is designed to help you make the most of your available space. It can be particularly useful in smaller spaces that need to maximise use of space without compromising on its functionality.

Traditional furniture is usually more standardised in terms of size and shape and what it can be used. Space-saving furniture on the other hand can come with different features that can adapt to your business and customer needs. For example, space saving seating may allow you to stack the chairs when not in use, or tables could be foldable or perhaps extendable to accommodate different group sizes.

What should I consider when buying space-saving café furniture?

Functionality and versatility

Think about what you need the café furniture to do for your business. What sort of features do you need? For example, square tables can allow you to accommodate more people per table and easily reconfigure the seating arrangement to create longer seating options. If you are considering outdoor tables and chairs, you may want to invest in lightweight but sturdy furniture that is foldable and/or stackable.

Durability and longevity

Whether its standard furniture or furniture for small spaces, it will need to be able to stand up to ongoing use. Faux leather and polyester tend to be the best seating materials as they are durable and won’t easily reveal scratches and marks, in particular darker tones. Furniture made from wood, polypropylene and powder-coated metal are usually reliable options, especially for outdoor furniture when it is exposed to UV rays, wind, rain and ice over the course of the year.

Comfort and design

Comfort is everything when it comes to seating customers, as the more relaxed they are, the more likely they are to spend money and return to your café for repeat business. If you have space for a sofa or lounge furniture these are often popular areas for customers. Pay attention to the back support and seat circumference to ensure customers can sit without having to constantly adjust their posture just to find a comfortable position.

Cost and maintenance

Set out a budget you can afford before you begin shopping around and stick to it. Running a café requires a lot of investment, so you don’t want to overspend in one area only to sacrifice in another. Bear in mind that the cheapest option isn’t always the best, so find a balance between affordability and quality, while also considering how much maintenance may be required to keep the café furniture in good condition long-term.

What are the best space saving furniture options for cafes?

Tables and chairs

The shape and size of your tables will be dictated by the dimensions of your café. Round or square tables can help to maximise space, while folding tables allow you to maximise available room. Stackable chairs help with overnight storage and changing seating configurations, while benches can accommodate more people in one sitting.

Outdoor furniture

If you have an outdoor space available you should make the most of it as it can help to increase revenue, supporting advertising and increase your audience reach. Bistro dining sets are ideal for outdoor spaces, as they are compact without being too small, while also offering good comfort and resilience against the natural elements.

Lighting

Good lighting can do wonders for a small space, helping to remove and reshape shadows to create the illusion of there being more space available than there actually is. Avoid making the lighting too bright and go for calmer, more subdued settings that create a warm and inviting atmosphere, whilst opening up the appearance of more space. Also try to get as much natural into your café as possible and strategically-placed mirrors can help bounce light around the space.

Decor and accents

The café décor should be light to help open the space, so the walls and furniture do not feel as if they are overcrowding the customers. You can accent the lighter colours with dark furniture and features to strike a good balance, with the flooring and walls offering a vibrant and engaging space that people will want to interact with.

Multi-functional furniture

Modular café furniture gives you more control over how you arrange and organise the interior, enabling you to adapt to changing circumstances and customer needs. Whether it’s benches or individual table sets, modular furniture can be set in multiple configurations so you can make the most of your space and optimise revenue opportunities.

Final thoughts

Limited space in your café doesn’t mean you have to put a limit on your business opportunities. There are plenty of ways to adapt the interior to ensure the customer experience is optimised and you can sustain and grow your revenue. A small space can be used to your advantage to create a cosy, intimate café that the large brands can’t offer to their customers, giving you a distinct advantage and competitive edge.

Find the right space saving furniture for you cafe

Spaceist is an established café furniture supplier that works with cafés and coffees of all sizes. Whether you are refurbing an existing café or looking to build a brand-new space, we can help you find the right space saving café furniture to suit your design ideas. Take a look at our website or come and visit us at our 2,5000 sq. ft. showroom. Get in touch with our team today to find out more.