Decorating an independent café
A café refresh is usually squeezed into a closed day or two, has to look distinctive rather than corporate, and needs a finish that survives daily wiping behind the counter.
Front of house: character with durability
Customer areas want warmth and personality; the surfaces behind the counter and around service points want a smooth, cleanable film. Using different specifications in the two zones is more sensible than compromising across both.
- Cleanable systems specified where wiping is constant
- Feature walls and joinery detailed by hand
- Colour sampled under the café's own lighting
Back of house and food areas
Prep and store areas need smooth, wipeable surfaces. Immediate splash zones behind equipment are a cladding question rather than a paint question, and we will say so.
Fitting into one or two closed days
Scope is planned to fit the closure available. Anything that cannot dry properly in the window is either phased or done overnight rather than rushed.
3 questions we get about this building type
- Can it be done in a single closed day?
- Often, for a modest scope. We will tell you honestly what fits in the time rather than promising and rushing coats.
- What finish works behind the counter?
- A smooth, washable system — with hygienic cladding where the area takes direct splash.
- Will there be a smell when we reopen?
- We use low-odour water-based systems and ventilate through the work so the space is fit for customers.
Other building types
Business-park office suites
Tenants and landlords refreshing a suite between leases or around a working team.
Serviced office floors
Operators who need rooms back in use within days and a finish that survives constant tenant churn.
Village halls and community centres
Committees decorating a hard-used community building with volunteer money and a full booking sheet.
Planning a commercial painting or decorating project?
Speak to a Hampshire commercial decorating contractor that turns up, communicates clearly and delivers a finish that lasts.