In many cities today, cafés are not only a place to buy drinks. People often choose café based on the mood or the interior of the space. Some cafés are bright and modern while some other cafés are quiet with a cozy mood. These designs might seem random, but they are actually planned carefully to attract customers. There are many reasons that people visit cafés; Some people study, relax, or take photos to upload on their SNS. The interior of the café influences whether they stay longer. As a result, the design of a café determines the way customers behave, from what they order to the time they spend.
One of the main ways café design influences customers is through mood. Colors, lighting, furniture, and music they play all affect people’s emotions when they enter. For example, warm light and wooden tables create a calm and comfortable atmosphere, making customers relax and stay longer. Customers are more likely to order pastries or stay to study. Bright lights, louder background noise, and colorful decorations, on the other hand, can make a café feel energetic, encouraging faster orders or conversations with other customers. The mood shapes the feelings, which then influences the choice of the customers.
Café interiors are also one of the factors that influence what customers choose to buy. When a café displays its menu clearly with attractive signs or with organized shelves, people tend to pick more items. A bakery section with warm light can make pastries look more fresh and appealing. Comfortable seats may encourage customers to order additional drinks while they stay. However, if the place is too crowded or if the seat is uncomfortable, it could lead the customers to leave quickly without buying more pastries. Even small factors, such as music or table spacing, can affect customer’s decisions. For example, calm music encourages slower movement and more thoughtful choices, while louder music can lead to faster decisions. These details in design lead customers’ choices without them even realizing.
Another important factor is the influence of social media. Many people nowadays choose cafés based on how they will look good in their photos. Cool backgrounds, attractive decorations, or stylish lighting make people want to take pictures and post them on social media. When the café goes on viral through social media, more customers will show up. Some cafés even place specific spots on purpose, like flower walls or neon signs, just to attract people who enjoy taking photos. For these reasons, wanting to post good pictures doesn’t only affect where people go, but also how long they stay and what they end up buying.
Café interior design has a huge impact on how people act when they’re there. Every design affects how customers feel and what they get to do. Some might think customers are just getting a drink, but most of their decisions are actually influenced by the decorations, lighting, and mood around them. Knowing these factors can help both customers and owners make better decisions and spaces for the café. As café cultures keep growing, interior design will grow much more important in how people experience these places.
By. Heeseo Kim
Works Cited
Nidhi, Pandey.“25+ Cafe Interior Design Ideas”The Restaurant Times,https://www.restauranttimes.com/blogs/menu-design/cafe-interior-design-ideas/,9 April.2025.
Knorr, Chels.“Shelf Awareness: Rebalancing Your Bakery Lighting.” Lighting for Impact, https://lightingforimpact.com/bakery-display-lighting-strategies/, 12 March. 2025.
Heshmat, Shahram. “Influencing Consumer Behavior With Music.” Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-of-choice/202404/influencing-consumer-behavior-with-music , 1 May 2024.