Who doesn’t love a date at the coffee shop? More than the coffee, it’s the ambience that draws us into a café. You can create it at home — caffeine or no caffeine!
* Create a vibrant atmosphere through varied sources — an expanse of brightly coloured wall, a couple of vibrant tables, cheerful ceramic pots or sunny mugs.
* Explore the local markets or look for seconds at sales in your city or online. Mismatched armchairs, dining chairs or end tables can be picked up cheap, refurbished, and help create an eclectic look.
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* Look for pieces in materials that are hard-wearing and weathered. Reclaimed wood, metal, concrete, stone and stainless steel add a bold streak.
* Make open shelving a design feature and show off your collections. Open shelves are ideal to put together a collection of shot glasses, colourful mugs, photos, and other memorabilia.
* A chalkboard in a kitchen adds instant café flavour. While you may not need to write down menus, it’s a lifesaver for shopping lists, family messages and menus for informal gatherings.
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* Splash out on appliances that make life easier and add zing to the kitchen. A superlative coffee machine is one thing, but don’t miss out on other appliances like oven, microwave, kettle, toaster and food processor. Try co-ordinating their finishes — be it matt steel or ruby red for maximum impact.
* Industrial-style lighting — be it exposed bulbs or mechanised fixtures, it is a given in most cafes. Bring home the look by stringing together a few bulbs or getting a metal floor lamp.
* Score a warm ambience with pendant lamps. The down lighting creates an inviting mood and works perfectly in living and dining areas.
* Make words and quotes part of your home décor. Try decals, posters and prints to get the message across. If there’s something special that you want to say, try DIY.
* Look for posters online — what’s a café without a couple of upbeat posters? Or else, select a few vintage-style travel postcards and get them framed to accent a wall.