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How to choose the right café lamps
- Mette Bergholdt
- Last updated13. August 2025
Create atmosphere with café lighting
Light plays an important role in creating the right atmosphere in a café. It’s not just about providing enough light to read the menu and see the food, but also about setting the right mood and hygge for guests.
A café is a place where people come to relax, socialise, and enjoy a cup of coffee—or perhaps a tasty snack. That’s why it’s important that the lighting creates a sense of warmth and hygge, so guests feel welcome and at ease. Good lighting can enhance wellbeing, encouraging guests to stay longer and even come back another time.
It’s important to understand that different types of lighting affect guests in different ways. Choose lighting that matches the café’s style and purpose.
A bit about the author:
Mette Bergholdt
Mette is Key Account Manager for Projects at ANTIDARK. She is a specialist in lighting projects, with a solid understanding of how to create optimal lighting solutions for all types of spaces – for both commercial and residential settings.
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Color temperature affects the atmosphere.
If you want to create a cozy atmosphere in a café, it’s best to use soft and warm lighting. This can be achieved by using lamps with soft tones or a warm color temperature. Soft light creates a relaxed atmosphere and is more pleasant for the eyes.
A café with a cozy atmosphere can attract guests who want to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee or a delicious snack. And a bonus is that they often stay longer.
If you want to create a more modern atmosphere, you can choose lamps with a colder color temperature. This can provide a sharper and more stylish ambiance. A modern café can attract a different type of guests who want to work or study while enjoying a cup of coffee or a snack.
Therefore, it’s important to consider the color temperature of the lighting in the café. A warm color temperature of around 2700K can create a cozy and intimate atmosphere, while a colder color temperature can provide a more energetic and active environment. When we talk about color temperature, we refer to Kelvin.
Size and layout are important considerations when choosing lamps for a café
Other factors, such as the size and layout of the café, can also influence the choice of lighting. For example, in a small café, you may opt to use several low-intensity lamps to create a more intimate atmosphere. In a larger café, higher-intensity lamps may be used to illuminate the entire space.
Contact our lighting consultants who can guide you based on the size of your café: CONTACT
Table lamps
Café pendants over dining tables or in the lounge can provide a warm and soft light that creates a cozy atmosphere, while table lamps on café tables can provide a more intimate light and give guests a sense of privacy and relaxation.
Table lamps with dimmable function also have the advantage that guests can adjust the brightness according to their preferences and needs. Additionally, the table lamp will contribute as a decorative element on the table.
Spotlights as primary lighting
Spotlights are another type of lighting that can be effective in cafes. They are ideal for highlighting specific areas in the cafe, such as artwork or special products.
Spotlights can also be used to create different levels of brightness in different parts of the cafe, which can contribute to a more dynamic atmosphere. Light tracks with spotlights are a great choice as primary lighting in a cafe.
With a flexible track system like Designline or Global, you can create a customized solution that fits the size and layout of the cafe.
Floor lamp and wall lamp
Additionally, floor lamps and wall lamps can also be a great way to add extra lighting and coziness to the cafe.
Floor lamps can be placed in corners or in reading areas to provide additional light, while wall lamps can be used to illuminate artwork or create a cozy corner.
The lamp itself can also be used as a piece of art.
Contact our lighting consultants
If you are furnishing a café with lighting, it can be a great advantage to seek assistance from one of our experienced lighting consultants. They have great expertise in the field and know how to use lighting to create the right atmosphere in your café.
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