Cafécore interiors – 10 design ideas to capture the charm of your favourite coffee shop at home
There’s something undeniably comforting about cafés — the smell of fresh coffee, the buzz of quiet conversation and the familiar mix of comfy seating, light and warmth that makes you want to stay just a little longer.
It’s no wonder, therefore, that people are trying to recreate that feeling at home.
From curated coffee corners to café-style seating and soft, ambient lighting, the cafécore trend is turning everyday routines into small moments of joy, and social media is fully on board.
On TikTok, the hashtag #homecafe has already surpassed 1.6 billion views, showing that café-inspired spaces are as desirable as they are doable.
From home café parties (yes, that’s a thing now) to DIY latte art and shelves styled like your local barista’s back wall, cafécore interiors are officially having a moment.
So, why the obsession? Well, let’s be honest – we’re all craving a little comfort and connection in these uncertain times, and your local coffee shop offers both by the bucketload.
Not only are they social and stylish, they’re also a heck of a lot cheaper than heading to the high street every time you fancy an oat milk latte.
“There’s something deeply comforting about the café aesthetic that people are gravitating towards right now,” explains Kunal Trehan, interior designer and founder of Touched Interiors.
“Cafés are designed to be welcoming, sociable and unhurried, all qualities we want to bring into our homes.”
And as the weather turns a little chillier and we naturally crave more warmth and cosiness, it follows that many of us are wanting to bring that café feeling home.
“It’s not about replicating a particular café,” adds Adel Rozsa, interior designer and stylist at www.studionoer.com advises.
“But creating a space that feels inviting, unhurried, and full of life – a place to reconnect, to read, or to simply be.
As a culture, we’ve become coffee lovers not just for the caffeine, but for the connection.
Meeting a friend for a latte after the school run or lingering over brunch has become a small ritual of slow living – a pause in our fast-paced days.”
The good news? You don’t need a full kitchen renovation or barista training to capture the look.
With a few thoughtful touches – a snug reading chair here, a pretty mug display there – you can bring the heartwarming vibe of your favourite coffee shop right into your own living space.
Carve out a cosy corner
Creating that cosy coffee shop vibe at home all starts with inviting, well-planned seating. Introducing the banquette.
This type of built‑in bench seating, which is often tucked into a corner or beneath a window is rising fast in kitchen and dining designs with “dining nooks with banquette seating” among the most coveted kitchen trends for 2025.
“A built-in banquette or corner bench instantly makes a space feel intimate,” explains Adel.
“It encourages you to linger – just like in your favourite café.
“Add a mix of cushions and a soft throw for that relaxed, lived-in feel,” she adds.
Curate a place for conversation
One of the best parts of any coffee shop is how it invites people to sit, talk, and stay a while.
By carving out dedicated spots for conversation, whether it’s a kitchen nook or two armchairs pulled around a low coffee table, cafécore brings that sense of ease and togetherness into your home.
If space allows, Adel recommends creating a small seating area. “A comfy armchair by the window or a quiet corner with a bistro table,” she says.
“It’s a place for morning coffee or a quiet afternoon moment.”
Café layouts are designed for conversation and it’s easy to bring those chatty vibes home. “Round tables or sociable seating arrangements encourage eye contact and connection,” Adel continues.
“Think less ‘formal dining’ and more ‘friendly gathering’.”
Style your shelves beautifully
Open shelving is a signature feature in many cafés – a perfect blend of function and charm, where stacks of mugs, jars of coffee beans, and ceramics are curated to create a pretty display of everyday objects.
To get the look at home, Adel recommends swapping upper cabinets for open shelves and styling them with everyday essentials, textured pieces, and a few personal touches to keep it feeling put together but relaxed.
“Curate your shelves with intention,” she adds.
“Stack plates neatly, decant pantry staples, and mix functional pieces with decorative ones.”
Kunal suggests showcasing stoneware, cake stands, artisan crockery or even glassware.
“Mix practical items with decorative touches like cookbooks, candles and greenery,” he continues.
“Treat it as an aesthetic feature, not just storage.”
Build a thoughtful coffee space
You don’t need a full café setup to create your own cosy coffee moment at home, just a little creativity and a designated corner.
A compact console table, a vintage bar cart, or even a section of your kitchen worktop can be transformed into a stylish coffee station – no queue, no rush, and no misspelled name on the cup!
“A simple tray with your coffee machine or kettle, mugs, spoons, and syrups can feel like a mini coffee bar,” Adel explains.
“Add a vase of fresh flowers or a candle for warmth.”
Add in café curtains
Café curtains are having a revival in UK homes right now as an effortless way to create privacy without sacrificing natural light.
Additionally they bring that soft, inviting charm you often find in bistros and café windows.
Designers say café curtains are showing up all over kitchens, bathrooms and breakfast nooks as people look for windows to dress in lighter fabrics like linen and cotton, with touches like patterns or trims giving the look personality.
“Half-height café curtains instantly add charm and softness while also letting in natural light, explains Adel.
“This is perfect for adding a European-inspired touch, where café culture is so popular.”
Curate a gallery wall
Art is at the heart of cafécore.
From perfectly mismatched gallery walls to quirky prints, and hand-drawn signs what hangs on the walls forms part of the relaxed aesthetic that makes your favourite coffee spot feel so unique.
To bring that same eclectic creativity home, try mixing framed vintage posters with personal finds, or even a café-inspired chalkboard.
And don’t be afraid to go a little offbeat as it’s the unexpected combinations that give the space charm.
“Cafés often have an eclectic mix of artwork – postcards, prints, photography,” explains Adel.
“Create your own collection that reflects your personality and adds warmth to your walls.”
Focus on the mood
Cafécore is as much about feeling as it is about design.
The secret to capturing that irresistible coffee shop mood? It’s all in the lighting.
Whether your vibe is bright and airy or dimly lit and intimate, the right glow can make all the difference.
Think low-hanging pendants over your coffee corner, softly glowing wall sconces, or a table lamp tucked into a cosy nook.
Layering your light sources, rather than relying on the big light, creates that warm, welcoming feel that makes you want to linger over one more cup.
“Layer lighting with wall lamps and pendants,” Adel suggests.
“Use warm tones, and introduce natural materials to make the space feel inviting and calm.”
Candles are another simple way to recreate that cosy, intimate café feel at home.
“They bring warmth and soft lighting, which instantly makes a space feel inviting and relaxed,” explains Ana-Maria Guiu, founder of Interlude Candles.
She suggests scattering a few on your dining nook, coffee station, or side tables to encourage lingering and conversation.
“Opt for unscented candles for shared spaces, or gentle, comforting scents like vanilla or coffee to enhance the café vibe without overwhelming the room,” Ana-Maria continues.
“Grouping different heights and sizes can add texture and interest, creating a natural, styled look that feels effortless yet considered.”
Make it feel lived-in
Layering textures – from natural wood and linen to glazed ceramics and soft upholstery – helps evoke the cosy, lived-in feel of your favourite local coffee shop, encouraging you to want to hunker down.
“Introduce layered textures and natural materials,” Kunal suggests.
“Linen tablecloths, stoneware mugs, rattan chairs or marble accents, all nod to café style while still remaining chic.”
Bring in greenery
Greenery is the quiet magic behind many great cafés.
A few well-placed plants can soften corners, add life to shelves, and instantly make a space feel more welcoming.
Think trailing ivy over a bookcase, a vase of fresh eucalyptus by the coffee machine, or a leafy monstera bringing laid-back charm to a reading nook.
It’s biophilic design at its most effortless.
“Hanging plants, small potted herbs or fresh flowers bring vitality and echo the biophilic touches found in many stylish cafés,” Kunal adds.
Embrace the cafécore colour palette
Embracing a cafécore colour palette at home means leaning into warm, grounded tones – creamy neutrals, soft browns, deep greens, and moody charcoals, which all evoke comfort, calm, and that slow-sipping-a-latte kind of vibe.
“Café-core isn’t just an aesthetic; it’s a mindset,” adds Adel.
“It’s about slowing down, creating small rituals, and designing spaces that bring comfort and connection into daily life.
“Whether it’s your kitchen corner or dining space, it’s about turning everyday moments – that first morning coffee or a chat with a friend – into something beautiful and intentional.”
Looking for more interiors inspiration? Take a look at 12 ways to autumn-scape your home for the new season or Fashionable fungi: How to get the mushroomcore look in your home. And check out The Downton Abbey effect: 10 ‘Regencycore’ interior ideas that work in real homes
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