Canopy10+ Dreamy Café Aesthetics That Will Transform Your Space
Creating a café in Melbourne? That’s no small feat in the world’s coffee capital.
With countless exceptional options for coffee lovers, creating a unique and inviting café aesthetic can make all the difference in drawing customers through your doors and keeping them coming back. Your café’s aesthetic sets the tone for the customer experience, creating a memorable vibe that will differentiate you from the rest of the city's competition.
Whether you’re starting a fresh fitout or giving your existing café a makeover, exploring different design themes can help you create a standout space. In this blog, we’ll explore popular café aesthetics to inspire your next fitout.
What’s Your Aesthetic?
When thinking about the design of your café there are a few key aspects you must consider. As an owner-operator, your café should be an extension of your personality, interests, and likes. In doing so, it will attract customers who share your interests, further cementing brand loyalty through repeat visits.
The design should also take into consideration your bottom line and business profitability. If you focus on selling lower-cost items (i.e. coffees, toasties, pastries, etc.) you may want to encourage high turnover during peak times. This could mean less seating for more efficient foot traffic and limited counter space. You may even stick to counter seating only, similar to Melbourne favourite Pellegrini’s.
If your café aesthetic relies heavily on a curated experience (i.e. speciality/high-end coffee production and a diverse food menu), you may want to have more seating. Quality seating further rounds out the experience you want to deliver to your guests, encouraging them to stick around longer and order more food and drinks.
Recommended Reading: The 7 Principles of Interior Design
In considering these factors, here are trending café aesthetic choices that could shape the design of your upcoming fitout.
1. Reading/Book Café
A book café is a haven for bibliophiles and those looking for a quiet retreat. Filled with shelves of books, warm lighting, and comfortable seating, this aesthetic creates a space where patrons can escape the outside world and dive into a good read.
Key Features: Wooden bookshelves, cosy armchairs, warm tones, and soft background music.
Perfect For: A relaxed environment that encourages customers to linger longer.
2. Board Game Café
Board game cafés bring social interaction to the forefront, offering customers a place to gather, play, and connect. The design should balance functionality with fun, ensuring there’s plenty of table space for games and comfortable seating for extended stays.
Key Features: Long tables, storage for board games, fun decor, and group seating arrangements.
Perfect For: A lively, interactive café experience catering to groups and families.
3. Minimalist
Simplicity speaks volumes in minimalist café design. Clean lines, neutral tones, and uncluttered spaces create an inviting and sophisticated atmosphere. This aesthetic focuses on functionality while leaving room for small, thoughtful design touches.
Key Features: Neutral colour palettes, sleek furniture, and minimal decor.
Perfect For: Modern cafés that want to create a serene and stylish space.
4. Coffee Bar
A coffee bar aesthetic is all about highlighting the craft of coffee-making. With a strong focus on the barista station, this design invites customers to watch the art of coffee creation while enjoying an intimate and energetic atmosphere.
Key Features: A prominent bar area, high stools, industrial materials, and open shelving for coffee equipment.
Perfect For: Cafés that take pride in their coffee craftsmanship and want to showcase it.
5. Scandinavian
Scandinavian design embodies simplicity, functionality, and natural beauty. A Scandinavian-inspired café creates a clean, airy atmosphere that feels effortlessly chic and welcoming.
Key Features: Light wood finishes, neutral tones, natural materials, and an emphasis on natural light.
Perfect For: A cosy yet modern vibe that appeals to design-conscious customers.
6. Themed
From Alice in Wonderland to retro gaming, themed cafés transport customers to another world. These cafés are immersive experiences, with every design element working together to tell a story or evoke a particular vibe.
Key Features: Bold, cohesive decor that aligns with the theme, custom furniture, and interactive elements.
Perfect For: Creating a memorable experience that’s perfect for social media.
7. Parisian
Bring the romance of Paris to Melbourne with a Parisian café aesthetic. Classic elegance, sophisticated details, and charming outdoor seating can make customers feel like they’ve stepped into a bistro on the Champs-Élysées.
Key Features: Marble tabletops, bistro chairs, wrought-iron details, and subtle French accents.
Perfect For: A timeless and luxurious feel that appeals to couples and solo diners alike.
8. Boutique
For a warm and whimsical vibe, a cute boutique aesthetic focuses on charm and individuality. Think pastel tones, floral accents, and playful decor that feels like a sweet escape.
Key Features: Pastel colours, delicate furnishings, and personal touches like handwritten menus.
Perfect For: Creating an intimate and cheerful atmosphere that’s perfect for socialising.
9. Homely Café
A homely café aesthetic is all about comfort and familiarity. With soft furnishings, warm lighting, and personal touches, these cafés make customers feel like they’re enjoying coffee in a friend’s living room.
Key Features: Cushioned seating, rugs, warm colours, and a mix of vintage and contemporary decor.
Perfect For: Fostering a sense of community and relaxation.
10. Vintage
Vintage cafés evoke nostalgia with a mix of antique furnishings, retro decor, and classic colour palettes. They transport customers to a simpler time, blending charm with character.
Key Features: Mismatched furniture, retro signage, vintage crockery, and soft lighting.
Perfect For: A unique, eclectic atmosphere that tells a story of the past.
11. Industrial Style
Industrial cafés embrace raw, unfinished materials and urban aesthetics. Exposed brick walls, concrete floors, and metal accents create a modern, edgy vibe that feels effortlessly cool.
Key Features: Exposed ceilings, pendant lighting, and a neutral colour palette.
Perfect For: Trendy, urban spaces that appeal to a younger, design-conscious audience.
Café Aesthetics Brought to Life by Canopy Fitouts
Cupcake Central
The retro feel of Cupcake Central is a shining example of what’s possible when you embrace themes and stick to one guiding idea when building a café fitout. Feature tiles that were installed around the counter represented a 3D-looking cupcake wrapper. We also had Montecarlo Terrazzo tiles installed on the floor covering. The tiles give the appearance of 100s and 1000s, further highlighting the cupcake motif.
Incorporating the corporate colours we included a Catalina Green feature colour on the cabinetry panelling with brass handles. Other features include a bronzed mirror at the waiters/water station, leather booth seating to soften the solid tones/materials that were used throughout the project as well as the stone counter to represent the frosting on the cupcake.
Winston Press
A zoned layout breaks the café into different sections for different types of customers. There might be quiet corners for freelancers, larger tables for groups, and casual seating near the entrance for people who are just grabbing a quick coffee.
In the café fitout for Winston Press, we implemented a mix of modular seating and clearly designated zones to maximise available space. At the centre of the café is a large communal table that can host occasional large groups or many smaller parties. There’s also table seating for longer sittings, bar stool seating for quick bites and a takeaway window positioned right at the coffee bar.
Dux
Characterised by clean lines, neutral tones, and minimal decor, this aesthetic keeps the focus on the coffee experience. It's ideal for modern, urban cafés aiming for a sleek and uncluttered environment. Minimalist layouts often feature open, airy spaces and simple, functional furniture.
At Dux, coffee comes first before everything else. So we leaned into minimalism to centre the whole customer experience on the coffee-making process. When looking in from the outside, passersby instantly understand that it’s a coffee shop that prioritises great coffee above anything else.
Gontran Cherrier
The industrial chic aesthetic is characterised by exposed brick walls, metal fixtures, and a minimalist colour palette. This design theme combines raw, unfinished elements with modern touches for a trendy, urban look. It's perfect for cafés located in warehouse-style spaces or those looking to create an edgy, contemporary vibe.
For the French café chain, Gontran Cherrier we leaned heavily into this look. Creating a juxtaposition between beautiful French pastries and Melbourne’s urbanity.
Andros Barkers
This style is all about creating a warm, inviting space that feels lived-in and unique. It's ideal for cafés that want to exude a relaxed, homey vibe. To achieve this modern look, we layered textiles and incorporated vibrant colours and patterns.
Andros Barkers feels like a home away from home. There are spaces for visitors to relax and enjoy coffee and breakfast. Large windows draw ample natural light into the space even on rainy days.
Putting It All Together
The right café aesthetic is about more than just looks—it’s about creating an experience. Consider your target audience, location, and brand identity when selecting a theme. By incorporating thoughtful design elements, you can create a space that draws in customers and keeps them coming back.
At Canopy Fitouts, we specialise in creating stunning, functional café spaces that align with your vision and goals. Whether you’re drawn to the popular industrial aesthetic or want to bring a brand-new coffee concept to Melbourne, our team can help you bring your dream café to life.
Need more inspiration? Check out this deep dive into café design ideas. Or if you’re ready to start planning your fitout, speak to our team today and we’d be more than happy to give you advice on cost, budgets, requirements, and timeframes for your upcoming project. Give us a call at 1800 434 868 or email info@canopyfitouts.com.au.