Cafe culture has seen a huge boom in the UK with research from the British Coffee Association showing that 80% of people visit coffee shops at least once a week, with 16% of us visiting daily! Traditional tearooms are a fantastic alternative to the high street coffee shop, creating a unique space for patrons to catch up, enjoy the ambience and of course savour a great cup of tea! If you are looking for some inspiration to decorate and furnish your tearoom or coffee shop here are our top tips.
1. Choose a theme
Whether you are opting for a traditional vintage tearoom, taking inspiration from Chinese tea houses or opting for a modern vibe, deciding on the theme before you begin decorating is essential. It allows you to begin building up mood boards and creating a general vision for what you would like the space to look like. Deciding on the style will also make it easier to search for specific decor and tea house furniture, for example if you want to follow a rustic country theme identifying that you need to look for farmhouse furniture will streamline your search process. Not only that, it will make it easier to avoid ending up with a mismatched tea house (unless of course you are going for the eclectic look!)
2. Decide on the layout and find the perfect cafe furniture
A layout that allows foot traffic to flow freely whilst enabling patrons to enjoy their drinks in peace is the key to a great tearoom layout. Once you have figured out how much space you have available, the maximum number of customers you want to be able to seat and how you want to arrange your tearoom, you can find the perfect larger furniture pieces to fill it with. It’s also important to consider the wear that your furniture might undergo in a tearoom setting, so purchasing pieces designed to be used in this environment will ensure they stay looking new and feeling sturdy.
3. Decorate the space
Decor makes a huge difference to any cafe establishment, especially tearooms which are known for their eclectic themes and styling. It’s important to bear your chosen theme in mind when choosing your colour palette, patterns and fixtures. For example, vintage style tearooms may feature florals, frills and colourful paintwork or wallpaper. Ensuring your tearoom is lit beautifully is also key to creating a warm and welcoming space so don’t forget to consider this as an important part of the overall decor.
4. Add accessories and final touches
Arguably the most enjoyable part of decorating a tearoom is adding the accessories and finishings that create the unique character and flair that you expect to find in a tearoom. This can include things like artwork on the walls, cushions and of course table decor. When it comes to decorating a tearoom table it's important to add a personal touch without filling the table to the extent that customers have to shuffle plates and cups just to make their meal fit onto the space. Consider a small vase of flowers, single candle or salt, pepper and sugar servers that tie in with the theme you've opted for.
Trent Furniture offers a wide range of tearoom and cafe furniture including solid wood tables and traditional chairs.