Looking for café lighting ideas to give your café that nostalgic feel that keeps clients coming for more? Whether serving artisanal pastries or brewing espressos, crafting the right ambience in your café is key to making your customers feel at home.
Out of the many lighting ideas you can implement, integrating neon signs instantly brings a cosy vibe that transforms your café into a place to be. This quirky and nostalgic combo gives your establishment a contemporary look that everyone identifies with.
In this post, we’ll share the top 20 café lighting ideas to illuminate your space and excite clients and baristas.
Top 20 Cafe Lighting Ideas to Create a Cosy Atmosphere
Check out these top 20 lighting ideas to create the perfect ambience that enhances your customers’ experience. These ideas incorporate indoor and outdoor lighting for a more outstanding and irresistible look for your café.
1. Wall Sconces + Neon Coffee Cup
Cafes make excellent spots for dates, meet-ups, and unwinding with a novel. To give your café space a soft nostalgic or romantic touch, use wall sconces along the main seating area. Behind the counter, add a coffee cup neon sign to create an Insta-friendly glow to let everyone know what they came in for.
2. Track Lighting + Neon “Latte Love”
Use track lights over the service counter to illuminate it and make the space more functional. Add a “Latte Love” neon sign for an extra sparkle. When customers walk in, their eyes will go straight to the neon glow, leading them to the heart of your café.
3. Geometric Pendants + Neon “Brewed Awakenings”
Looking for more café lighting ideas to spice up the seating area? Go for geometric pendant lights to add a modern edge to your seating area. Drape a “Brewed Awakenings” neon sign from the ceiling to make the overall look more stunning and stylish.
4. Rope Lights + Neon “Good Vibes Only”
Wrap rope lights around shelves or pillars and add a bold neon “Good Vibes Only” sign to amp up the fun. These type of neon rope light ideas offers a subtle way to infuse energy into your café while maintaining a warm inviting atmosphere.
5. String Bulbs + Neon Logo
String bulbs across the ceiling to make the atmosphere festive. Then add a neon sign of your café’s logo behind the counter for some branded charm. If you don’t have a logo yet, no worries. Go for a neon sign of your café’s name to give your establishment memorable branding. Pro tip: Design experts say that neon logos can increase brand recall by up to 50%.
6. Vintage Lights + Neon “Coffee & Friends”
Cafes are more inviting when the space feels nostalgic. Use vintage lighting to create a sentimental feel. Then complement it with a “Coffee & Friends” neon sign to really sell the social vibe. After all, what are coffee shops for if not for meet-ups?
7. Neon Halo Lighting
Take your café lighting game to a whole new level by hanging neon halo lighting directly on top of your tables. This contemporary and somewhat futuristic lighting option creates an ethereal glow, one that your customers will find irresistible.
8. String Lights + Neon “Open” Sign at the Entrance
Want outdoor cafe lighting ideas that catch the attention of passersby while inviting them in? hang string lights over the doorway and pair them with an “Open” neon sign. This combo makes your entrance feel warm while letting the customers know you’re ready to serve, even from a distance. This lighting idea offers a perfect way to give your café an outstanding appeal on those cool evening strolls.
9. Upcycled Lamps + Neon “But First, Coffee”
If you’re an eco-conscious café owner and want to project the same to the world, why not use upcycled lamp fixtures over the tables? Pair this stunning view with a “But First, Coffee” neon sign for a playful appeal that demands attention. Click here to use this free neon sign design tool to craft the design according to your preferences.
10. Table Lamps + Neon “Brew-tiful”
Here’s another fancy café lighting idea to make your seating area more intimate. It involves using small table lamps for warmth and hanging a “Brew-tiful” neon sign near the entrance. The overall appeal is quirky but is a quick way to remind your customers that your café is not only cosy but also stylish.
11. Clustered Edison Bulbs + Neon “Bean There, Done That”
You won't go wrong with spicing up your café atmosphere with clustered Edison bulbs. They bring a trendy, industrial vibe to your establishment. Complement this look with a “Bean There, Done That” neon sign to give your café décor setting a cheeky tone.
12. Faux Candles + Neon “Perk Up”
Do you want to make your café the first thing that people think of when they start their workday? Faux candles offer a romantic glow that spices up your café atmosphere. Throw in a “Perk Up” neon sign by the coffee station to keep everyone caffeinated and ready to face the day.
13. Neon Arrows Pointing to the Bar
Add some creativity with neon arrows that guide incoming customers to the counter. This is a playful and functional way of directing traffic, especially during the busy rush hours. Plus, it eliminates the confusion about where customers can grab their caffeine fix.
14. Tiki Torches + Neon “Coffee Under the Stars”
Want more outdoor cafe lighting ideas to attract passersby and make them want to spend some time as they seep your freshly ground coffee brew? Consider adding tiki torches around the perimeter of the outdoor seating area to create a warm inviting atmosphere. Add a “Coffee Under Stars” neon sign on the exterior wall to draw attention to the café’s outdoor vibe. And with that, you’ve just created a hotspot for cosy night outs.
15. Chandeliers + Neon “Take It Easy”
If you want to add some old-world charm to your café, install a classic chandelier then contrast it with a “Take It Easy” neon sign. This combo is a perfect fusion of vintage elegance and contemporary fun that’ll get your customers hooked to your café.
16. Low Pendant Lights + Neon “Sip Sip Hooray”
Here’s another lighting idea to transform your seating area. Install low-hanging pendant lights over the seating area to create more intimate dining spots. Then hang a “Sip Sip Hooray” neon sign above the back wall for a perfect playful touch.
17. Fairy Lights + Neon “Espresso Yourself”
Humour in signage can significantly increase customer interaction by up to 37%. So, if you’re looking for a quirky but fun lighting idea, here’s one. String fairy lights around the window frame and hang an “Espresso Yourself” neon sign just above the coffee station. This lighting idea is cheeky, and fun, and adds a warm glow to your space.
18. Hanging Lanterns + Neon “Stay Awhile”
Transform your café into a favourite meet-up spot for dates and intimate sessions by hanging warm lanterns over the tables in specific cosy corners. Spice it up with a bright “Stay Awhile” neon sign to set an inviting tone. Who doesn’t like to feel invited to stay for a second cup?
19. Warm Edison Bulbs + Neon “Coffee First” Sign
Want cafe lighting ideas to give your café space a rustic, homey glow? String Edison bulbs and add a “Coffee First” neon sign on the wall to mix tradition with contemporary pop. The overall look is outstanding and people would want to Instagram it because lighting impacts a big percentage of people’s decision to visit a café.
20. Patio Umbrella Lights + Neon “Chill Zone”
Don’t you love a café with a warm inviting outdoor seating area? Of course, everyone does, so why not create one for your café by installing LED lights under patio umbrellas? These lights illuminate tables in a soft intimate way. Spice up the look with a “Chill Zone” neon sign to designate the outdoor space as the ultimate relaxation joint. The combo of practical lighting and fun neon signage will make your customers spend more time there and boost the mood and your revenue.
Conclusion: Lighting is Everything
When it comes to creating a warm inviting atmosphere for your café, lighting is the ultimate game-changer. With the right light combinations, you’re sure to attract customers and make them want to spend more time in your establishment.
Whether you’re after something soft and cosy or bright and bold, these 20 cafe lighting ideas can transform your café into a haven for coffee lovers. Whichever lighting style you choose, don’t forget to throw in a quirky neon sign with humour to excite your customers and boost interaction.
Adding neon signs with the classic light fixtures gives your café space personality and enhances your establishment’s visibility. So, start the journey of making your café the talk of town with these creative lighting ideas. Use this free neon sign design tool to craft the sign, place your order and Oasis Neon Signs will craft it to life.