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How to get your café summer-ready

As the days grow longer and brighter, it’s time to shift focus from spring to summer. Getting ready for the outdoor season can sometimes feel like a big transition, but it doesn’t have to be. With a few thoughtful updates, it’s easy to tidy up, clear out the clutter and create a café that feels ready for the season ahead. This how-to is full of simple, uplifting ideas to help make the most out of the warmer months, while also encouraging guests to linger, browse and return all year round.
Outdoor café scene featuring four stacked deep green VISINGSÖ chairs next to plants and warm ambient lighting.

Start small with details

An easy way to refresh your space without a complete reset between seasons is to start with the basics: swap out tableware and textiles for lighter tones to shift the mood. Then, layer in details. Add decorative flowers and some LED tea lights for a soft light that works just as well on summer evenings as on crisp autumn mornings, making each table feel cared for and updated. A portable table organizer like CHOKLADHAJ is also a clever addition, as it keeps oils and spices in place while being easy for staff to tidy up in between guests.

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Close-up of a black table featuring a SMYCKA artificial bouquet of greenery in a grey glass vase.
A sunlit corner with dark grey VIPPÄRT chair pads on a grey seating area, surrounded by green plants, pillows and a table.
A close-up of a clear glass STOCKHOLM 2025 tealight holder next to LED-candles and leafy plants on a dark table.
A close-up of multiple wooden CHOKLADHAJ portable organizers holding salt and pepper shakers on a tiled café countertop.

Be creative with flowers

Adding flowers or greenery is one of the easiest ways to brighten up a space while blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. Hanging planters or plant stands help you get creative and make the most out of smaller surfaces, whilst table arrangements bring effortless colour and care to any room. Artificial flowers are a great, low-maintenance choice since they don’t require watering or replacement. And since they’re easy to swap out, you can still follow the seasons and keep the space feeling fresh.
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A café dining area with SMYCKA artificial flowers arrangement hanging from the wall above a black LISABO circular table.
A seating area featuring a black HELGEÖ decorating rod for a table with hanging flowers and greenery in a bright café scene.
Close-up of a grey GRADVIS vase with greenery beside a wooden CHOKLADHAJ organizer and a LED tealight on a table.
A bright room with various flowers and potted plants on black OLIVBLAD plant stands, adding greenery and charm to the space.

Set the mood outdoors

As the sun stays out longer, so does our time outside. Enjoying evenings outdoors is one of the most cherished summer activities, whether it’s eating, entertaining or simply relaxing in the sun. With the right outdoor furniture, comfy seat pads and added details like cozy lighting and speaker lamps to set the mood, it’s easy to create the perfect summer night. You can also use dividers with added greenery to frame sections while still keeping things open and inviting for guests.

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Deep green VISINGSÖ plant stands with green plants in a modern café setting with outdoor seating.
A grey VAPPEBY Bluetooth speaker lamp sits on a table, surrounded by plants, glasses, and candles in an outdoor café setting.
An outdoor area with greenery in the background shows a black SVARTRÅ LED lighting chain with 20 bulbs strung above seating.
Café outdoor seating with a deep green VISINGSÖ table and armchair, surrounded by greenery and outdoor décor.

Stay organized to keep things simple

As winter gets tucked away, dusting off the summer items and opening up the outdoor area can seem like a big task. With seasonal storage solutions, it’s easy to keep things organized, clutter-free and ready to go when the time comes. Stackable stools and lightweight furniture help you adjust the space as the weather (and the number of guests) changes. Keeping maintenance simple is also key – use a decorative charging tray to keep LED tealights powered, along with cleaning essentials, to ensure the space stays organized and welcoming all season long.

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A white SKATGÅS LED tealight kit displayed on a shelf alongside two speaker lamps and charging devices.
A table counter displays a green PEPPRIG cleaning bucket and caddy together with a spray bottle and cloth beside it.
Transparent SAMLA boxes with lids are neatly stored on BROR shelves, containing various decor items.
Two white ANTILOP highchairs with safety belts is stacked against a tiled wall next to a set of black stools.

Before you buy

  • These solutions contain a mix of articles developed for domestic and non-domestic use. Please verify that your purchases are compliant and suitable for the intended use in your area. Contact IKEA for Business for more information about the range.
  • Products purchased are intended exclusively for business purposes and not for resale. IKEA for Business accounts may under no circumstances be used for reselling of IKEA products or services to third parties. IKEA product warranties apply to the purchaser and cannot be transferred. See IKEA for Business terms for more details.