Three Simple Swaps from chaos to calm.
by Matt Genefaas
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When a café is designed well, you feel it immediately. Nothing competing. Nothing temporary. Everything in its place.
Cluttered counters, temporary signage and overfilled surfaces quietly work against even the best coffee. The most memorable spaces strip things back and let a few well-chosen details do the work.
Our recent shoot at Solara shows how small, intentional swaps can completely change the feel of a café, without a full refit.
Here are Three that matter.
1. Clear the counter
Counters are not storage.
They’re a focal point.
At Solara, multiple signs and loose countertop items were replaced with the FOLD Display Labels. One message at a time. Clean, readable, and easy to maintain.
Nothing competing. Nothing unnecessary.
When the counter is clear, customers know exactly where to look.
2. Make signage permanent
Temporary signage always looks temporary.
Solara uses aluminium signage to communicate the essentials once, properly. No taped paper. No daily re-positioning. No visual clutter creeping back in.
Good signage doesn’t demand attention.
It earns trust by simply being there.
3. Lift, don’t layer
When everything lives on the bench, the space feels tight.
By introducing MOT shelving, Solara moves menus, products and display pieces vertically, freeing up surfaces while keeping everything within reach. The café feels lighter. Calmer. Easier to work in.
Clear benches change how a space functions and how it feels.
The MOT Way
Cafés don’t need more objects.
They need fewer, better ones.
Every MOT hospitality piece is designed to reduce visual noise and create breathing room, using materials and forms that feel purposeful and lasting.
Solara proves that elevating a café isn’t about adding more.
It’s about choosing better.