How to design your bakery space

Bringing your bakery to life means tackling the specifics, including the details of bakery interior design that can bring both your menu and brand to life. 

Deciding on your bakery design is similar to thinking about restaurant interior design. But bakeries and restaurants also have key differences. For one, bakeries tend to rely more on visual displays and often have less seating and less space in their floor plans. As you dive into bakery shop interior design, consider our top 6 bakery design ideas.

1. Start with the basics

It’s easy to dive right into the details, but great bakery design starts with the fundamentals: understanding your budget, the space you’re working with, and your market. Your bakery business plan should help you identify how much you have in your budget for bakery shop interior design. Next, you’ll want to take stock of your bakery floor plan with a keen eye for layout. How is the space set up now? How can you organize it best to support ergonomics, workflow, and even cleanliness? You’ll also want to consider your seating capacity and your customers. Will shoppers come and go, or would you like them to linger and snack? Is there space out front for tables and chairs? What is your maximum capacity without overcrowding? 

When it comes to thinking about what could bring your space to life, knowing your market is key. Are you a specialty cake bakery catering to high-end customers with a love of elegance? Hoping to reach a market of college students and draw them in with a vintage vibe? Start by thinking about your customers, and the bakery shop design ideas will follow naturally. 

READ: Ways to maximize space in your small store design

2. Create an impressive display

An impressive display is key to the success of any bakery, no matter the style and market. Selling baked goods ranging from naturally leavened bread to basic cupcakes and sophisticated macaroons depends on luring people in with the sight of something delicious. A great display welcomes customers, showcases your product, and helps promote your brand. 

In a typical set up, you can include a glass case on your customer-facing countertop, adjacent to your POS system. Having a streamlined bakery POS system allows you to work accurately and efficiently while accepting all payment types. Depending on the size of your space, you can consider adding additional displays in the shopfront window to draw people inside. Tall cases with transparent ends can help make an impression while economizing on space when space is tight. 

3. Choose a thoughtful color scheme

Most bakeries occupy relatively small spaces. Having great bakery design means making the most of whatever space you have, no matter how tiny. To this end, color can make a big difference. Light and neutral colors tend to enhance a spacious effect. Choosing a simple color palette with one dominant or accent color can add dimension without resulting in an overly cluttered feeling. And remember that thinking simple doesn’t have to mean boring. Depending on your space, market, and product, you can play with bold colors and big impressions. 

READ: How to turn your home bakery hobby into a bakery business

4. Use great lighting

As with color, finding and using great lighting can make a huge difference in transforming a simple or ordinary space into something magnificent. The trick with lighting is to layer it. That means using different types of light in your space–from natural daylight and overhead lighting to countertop lighting and lamps. Layering prevents shadows and gives you options for how to illuminate a space at different times in the day. You can also consider using mirrors strategically. These can transform a small space into a much larger looking one by reflecting light. Mirrors can also help in your efforts to display your product to the greatest advantage. A mirror placed behind a display case, for example, could allow customers to see both sides of something impressive like a layer cake. 

5. Remember decorative details

Ultimately, a lot of bakery interior design comes down to the details. But you don’t have to be intimidated by bakery decor ideas. When it comes to design details, small touches can make a big difference. In choosing tile for counters or floors, consider the ways that vintage or more classic styles could enhance your space. You might choose to include personal details, like photos, or art by local artists. Even packaging ranging from napkins to boxes and bags can be a place to add design elements, including your bakery’s logo. 

READ: Small businesses that build nostalgia into their brand

6. Think about all of the senses 

It may seem obvious, but when you’re selling baked goods, you’re playing with multiple senses. Customers don’t just taste your product, they also see it, and even smell it. While strategic display cases and window displays can help with the visual element, don’t forget about opportunities to play with their sense of smell. Some bakery shop owners have found that placing a fan above the doorway spreads the aroma of baked goods onto the sidewalk and can help attract customers. When in doubt, a small sample plate next to your POS system can also help tempt a customer who’s on the fence about making a purchase.

With some research, planning, and creative thinking, bakery interior design can be an incredible opportunity to bring your brand to life and reach customers both old and new. Think about design as a chance to accent the elements you love most in your product–whether that’s the texture of your pastries, the vibrant colors of your cakes, or the place of bread in the meals and homes of your customers. 

Clover offers lots of resources for bakeries. Plus, be sure to check out Clover’s bakery POS system designed especially to help bakeries launch and grow.  And, simply reach out to a Clover Consultant if you need a hand.

Editorial Team

Insights, Quick Service Restaurants (QSR), Start a small business

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