How to Design a Bakery: 9 Bakery Design Ideas
Tessa ZuluagaAuthor
Imagine that you’re walking down the street when, suddenly, the sweet scent of baked goods fills the air. You discover a bakery and wander through its doors to find that the interior design is just as alluring as its magnificent scent. Welcoming pastel colors and bright lights grace the shop, with display cases exhibiting tons of tasty desserts. You’re sold.
To create a satisfying experience like this, you have to consider all the aspects of a meaningful customer experience. One very important one is your bakery design.
In this article, we’ll walk you through 9 bakery design ideas for a successful bakery. Each will include the best restaurant design practices, design elements to add to your bakery interior, and examples of real bakeries that apply these eye-catching elements.
Let’s dive into it!
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9 Creative Bakery Design Ideas
1. Pick a pretty color
When people see a pink bakery box, they know they’re in for something sweet. That’s because we associate pastel colors with bakeries.
Your color scheme is dependent on both your concept and aesthetic. You can go the colorful route or you can go colorless, using white to your advantage. A great brand strategy is to pick one distinct color for all your packaging. This way, people know your brand when they see it.
DK’s Donuts is a colorful spot with even more colorful goods. Known for their very “Instagramable” purple ube donut and porter, DK’s has lots of color to go around.
Similarly, Sugar Bakeshop located in Charleston, SC uses a teal theme throughout their shop and packaging. This pretty blue shade can be found in their display case, outside on their benches, and detailed across their interior. This color is subtle yet beautiful.
2. Show it off
You’re already at an advantage selling products that are so visually appealing. When people see well-made baked goods, it’s hard not to be intrigued.
This is why display cases are so essential in bakery interior design. Your baked goods display is the focal point of your bakery. Usually long and double-tiered, display cases should be brightly lit with each baked good paired with a clear label. This way, customers will know immediately what kind of dessert has caught their eye.
Another important tip is to keep heavy baking equipment out of the guests’ line of sight. Keep their view limited to what’s tidy, charming, and delicious!
Lost Larson is a bakery with 2 beautiful Chicago locations. They display their goods in a case with tiny labels so guests can browse. Many of these treats are placed on beautiful wood trays, making them appear extra irresistible.
Another great example to check out is B. Patisserie, a San Francisco-based bakery. They have an extensive display case filled with everything from chocolate banana almond croissants to seasonal quiche.
3. Make sure your shop is well-lit
Because the success of a bakery is so visually driven, you should make sure yours is nice and bright. That means showcasing your products like they’re on a stage. Install lights inside your display case and add hanging lights over your register as well, so that guests can marvel at the confections they’re purchasing.
Dominique Ansel Bakery is a SoHo bakery centered upon the idea of creativity. Although Dominique Ansel has several successful locations, we’re inspired by this New York location that recently celebrated its 12th birthday. This bakery has great lighting, but when you visit make sure you also check out their “cronuts”, a delicious combination of a donut and a croissant.
Seylou Bakery is a wholegrain, locally sourced, fresh-milled sourdough bakery based in Washington D.C. They have excellent overhead lighting, a pretty display case, and plenty of delicious goods.
4. Don’t underestimate your tile
A bakery can make you feel as if you were transported to another time, place, or both! Each detail in your bakery design contributes to every guest’s experience. One influential aspect of this aesthetic is the tile. The choice of tile all depends on the ambiance you’re aiming for. Vintage tiles give off the classic bakery vibes many shops attempt to create. On the other hand, the original tile may lend an air of authenticity.
Ferrara Bakery is one of New York’s most traditional Italian bakeries. It has old, brown tiles that match its busy and authentic aesthetic.
5. Decorate! Decorate! Decorate!
Since bakeries are typically quite small, it’s important to fill up your space strategically. This is especially key in your decorating. Don’t be afraid to coat your walls with color, pictures of the history of your shop, or bold statement pieces. You can also have massive menus on display, hang fancy lights from the ceiling, or large chalkboard art around your space. The options are endless!
Cafe Vittoria in Boston’s North End is decorated very heavily, especially around the holidays. The vintage vibes in here are so real, and we love it. Pro tip: if you like espresso martinis try their North End Express.
Speaking of holidays, Bakery Lorraine’s San Antonio location crafts delicious seasonal baked goods and decorates with a bright pink accent color. They have 4 locations that are all unique in their own ways.
6. Sprinkle in something vintage
Although people create new recipes every day, chocolate chip cookies are still America’s most popular cookie. A tale as old as time, people love the classic recipes that have been around for years. Bakeries foster nostalgia just as chocolate chip cookies do. This classic edge can be visually created in your bakery by utilizing vintage decor.
Some vintage pieces to consider are:
Classic chairs and tables
Antique mirrors
Old restroom signs
Aged cake platters and display pans
Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits fills its shops with vintage chairs and tables that pair well with the classic white tile on the wall to charm their guests. (They also make incredible pie).
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7. Design with your target market in mind
It’s crucial to design your bakery around your target audience. Are you catering to older people who appreciate the classics or a younger crowd who craves something trendy and contemporary? Are you baking for the good-hearted people of the Midwest or the busy folks of New York City?
By analyzing what kind of guests you’ll be marketing to, you can research what they expect to see in their favorite bakery. If you specialize in wedding cakes, your bakery design should be elegant, or if your forte is bread, maybe go for a more minimalist design.
Bittersweet Pastry Shop, an elegant Chicago bakery designed its shop with sophistication and grace in mind. The shop is beautiful and bright, tastefully showcasing its delightful cakes to future brides.
On the other end, Proof Bakery Cooperative is located in LA and creates seasonal creative food, that meets the demand of LA locals. Therefore, the space itself is modern and very minimalistic.
8. Add something a little cheesy
Bakeries get to name all their creations. This is where you can get a little creative, and pun-y. Your shop can be as cheesy as you want, and your design is not excluded from this. Adding some character to your design could make it “breathtaking.”
Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop located in Austin, Texas has no problem indulging in some creativity based on its name. This “Gimmie Some Sugar” mural fits the shop’s design and brand perfectly.
9. Make it personal
Show your brand’s unique identity as much as possible. You can accomplish this in your bakery interior design, packaging, and logo. If all three of these are in sync, you can create a powerhouse of a brand.
Don’t be shy to add personal touches everywhere. Some personal touches to consider are:
Color scheme
Custom packaging (include a stamp of your logo, a business card, some ribbon…etc)
Incorporate your logo into your product (plaster it on your display case, print it onto a baked good, hang it over your selection)
Having such an organized and fluid brand can also enhance your social media pages, as all your photos will have a similar look to them.
Lafayette Bakery located in New York is the perfect example of this unique branding. Their iconic blue pastry boxes can be seen in the hands of celebrities, locals, and tourists alike all around the city. Check Lafayette out (if you haven’t already) for their incredible seasonal croissants, and carry around their popular boxes for yourself.
Focus on the basics
No matter the size of your bakery, you can still fill it with so much personality. Incorporating these tips into your design will help you create the beautiful bakery you’ve always dreamed of opening. You already have the recipes, now it’s time to design the perfect customer experience. Designing this experience also means having the best technology, such as a POS, to keep your business running smoothly. And don’t forget - everyone always loves the classics like chocolate chip cookies!
RESOURCE Bakery Menu Templates
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Related Bakery Resources
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