BLOG →SUPPLIERS GUIDE: CARE & MAINTENANCE GUIDE
How to Specify Furniture for Cafes
By Kirkdale Studios
A Guide to Specifying Café Furniture
Here is the definitive guide on how to specify the right furniture for a café and what to consider.
Furniture is not just about the aesthetics, as it can influence the customer dwell time, reinforce a brand’s identity, and being a key factor for staff efficiency.
Defining the Concept and Flow
Before selecting a single chair, it’s essential to define the soul of the space.
A high-end coffee destination requires a different furniture than a fast-paced, takeaway-focused hub. Understanding the target demographic will help with specifying furniture that really aligns with the style and atmosphere of the café.
The identity of the café will also help shaping the layout of the space. A functional layout ensures that the journey from the entrance to the counter is intuitive for the customer, without disrupting the staff.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
A well-planned layout improves operational efficiency and enhances the customer experience. Check out our table size guide.
Zoning for the Modern Customer
Nowadays cafes try to cater to the always evolving needs of the modern customers, which can include being able to work on their laptop or playing board games.
Drinking: If the main offer is mostly drinks and light snacks, compact dining chairs could be a great choice. These should be comfortable enough for a coffee break but streamlined enough to encourage natural turnover. Pairing these with 600mm tables keeps the footprint small and the floor plan flexible.
Eating: When food is a central pillar of the café offering, it’s worth considering larger tables. We recommend at least 700mm to provide enough space for plates and glassware. To maximise covers in these areas, fixed banquette seating is an excellent tool for providing a premium, built-in feel.
Working: Many cafés now function as local work-hubs. It is vital for these areas to have accessible power outlets and controlled acoustics. While barstools and counter-height tables are excellent for short-term tasks, we recommend long communal tables too, as they are better suited for groups or those staying for several hours.
Socialising: In a social hub, the furniture should signal a “slow” environment. Low-profile lounge chairs, poufs, and soft seating paired with lower coffee tables create a relaxed sanctuary that encourages customers to linger and return.
Specifying the Perfect Café Table
Café tables are the core functional element of the space and a major driver of the interior’s aesthetic. In a hospitality environment, beauty must be backed by durability: these are high-touch surfaces that must withstand constant sanitisation and heavy daily use.
What to Keep in Mind when Specifying Café Tables:
We often recommend to specify table tops and bases separately.
This approach gives more flexibility with the aesthetic and, in the event of damaged component, the items can be replaced singularly instead of buying again the whole unit.
When selecting surfaces, the priority is a balance between durability and hygiene. Laminates are a staple for busy cafés due to their scratch resistance and ease of cleaning, while solid hardwoods offer a natural warmth and superior acoustic properties, helping to soften the “clatter” of a busy service.
Beneath the surface, the choice of base is equally vital. For instance, cast iron provides the weight needed for stability, while aluminum is the industry standard for outdoor areas due to its rust resistance. To solve the common frustration of “wobbly tables,” we recommend considering bases with adjustable feet or self-stabilizing technology, especially if the café has uneven or period flooring.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
A mix of table styles, such as small two-person tables, communal tables or poseur-height options, can add flexibility and maximise seating capacity.
Most Common Materials Used for Café Tables:
Wood
Laminate
Metal
Stone
Specifying the Perfect Café Seating
Seating is perhaps the most significant factor in how a customer perceives the comfort of the venue.
What to Keep in Mind when Specifying Café Seating:
Because these pieces must withstand high turnover, we recommend choosing contract chairs, as residential-grade chairs rarely survive for a long time in a commercial environment.
For smaller venues, stackable side chairs with a slim footprint can offer the necessary flexibility and they will be very practical during the cleaning time.
Depending on the specific experience the café will offer, a variety of seating styles, such as lounge chairs for relaxation and barstools for quick visits, can help define the different “zones” of the floor plan.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
To maximise the floor space of the cafe, consider fixed seating.
Add Character with Upholstery
Upholstery is one of the most effective ways to introduce colour, texture, and personality into the café design. From subtle textures to bold patterned fabrics, upholstery allows to customise furniture and create visual interest without overwhelming the space.
What to Consider when Choosing Upholstery:
Upholstery is one of the primary tools for introducing colour and texture, but it is also a technical requirement.
We recommend picking easy-cleaning fabrics with a high Martindale count, such as 50.000, to minimise the wear and tear.
Do you want to know more about patterned fabrics?
Check out our guide.
Kirkdale Pro Tip:
Well-chosen upholstery can elevate simple furniture into a standout design feature. Using bold patterns can bring attention to specific areas of the café.
Flexibility and Future Needs
The most successful cafés are those that can adapt. Specifying modular seating or lightweight, movable tables allows a venue to evolve as the business grows.
Outdoor Furniture
This forward-thinking approach is especially important for outdoor areas. Exterior furniture must be specifically engineered to resist UV degradation and moisture.
For outdoor tables we recommend materials like iroko, teak or powder-coated aluminium.
Check out our guide on outdoor table tops.
Work with a Contract Furniture Specialist
Designing a café can be complex, particularly when balancing the interior design vision with practical requirements. Working with an experienced contract furniture supplier like Kirkdale Studios ensures you receive expert guidance on layout, furniture selection, upholstery and compliance with hospitality standards.
At Kirkdale Studios, we specialise in bespoke contract furniture for the hospitality sector.
Contact our team today, we’ll help you make your dream café a reality.