If you’ve found yourself thinking about building a home coffee bar without using all of your countertop space, then you’re in luck! This blog post is going to tell you what you need to know to create your own perfect floating shelf coffee bar, regardless of the size of your space.
In this post, we’ll give you all of our best floating shelf coffee bar ideas, help you figure out what to put on yours, and walk you through how to decorate it.
And if you enjoy this post, then you should definitely check out this one, which is all about renter-friendly coffee bar ideas that require no drilling at all.
Why a Floating Shelf Coffee Bar Is the Smartest Small Space Solution
Before we get into the good stuff, let’s look at why a floating shelf coffee bar is definitely a smart decision to make.
First things first, you can technically add a floating shelf coffee bar anywhere in your home. From your kitchen to your living room to even your hallway. If there’s a wall you can use, you can have yourself a floating shelf coffee station.
The other reason why it’s a great option? You really don’t need a lot of space. You can easily put a small coffee maker, some mugs, and a cute accessory or two. Just please ensure you buy a sturdy shelf and don’t make it too heavy. In the next section, we’ll talk a little bit about weight limits.
How to Choose the Right Floating Shelf for Your Coffee Bar
1. Determine what size you need
Before you buy anything, you need to measure your space. You don’t want to buy something that is too small to hold what you need or something that’s too big and leaves your space feeling cramped. We’re going for cozy here, not cluttered. We suggest using some painter’s tape to mark out where you want your shelves exactly, and looking at it from multiple different viewpoints and angles.
2. Figure out if you need or want one shelf or two
Depending on how much space you have and your own personal style, you need to determine how many shelves you want. The sweet spot is normally two because you can use the top shelf for storage and the bottom shelf for your actual coffee maker.
As long as you have the space to do so, we would go with two. To check out how much space you have, we suggest doing the painter’s tape trick we talked about in the previous item on the list.
3. Pick what material and color that you want
Like in the previous item, this all depends on your personal style. If you want that extra cozy, farmhouse feeling, some wood shelves give you that vibe perfectly. All black or white shelves lean more modern and clean, which is also popular right now.
You may also be a color girly, so you can absolutely paint your shelves whatever you want to. We suggest that you check out what’s going on in the space you currently have and match that aesthetic.
4. Make sure your shelf has the proper weight limit
This is probably the most important piece of advice that you should not skip. The weight capacity of your shelves is incredibly vital to note. Coffee machines are often heavier than you look. Add your coffee mugs, containers, and decor, and it gets even heavier. Double-check the weight limit on any shelf that you buy and make sure you’re anchoring it properly once you install it. Your wall (and wallet) will thank you!
5. Check out the best places to buy
Where you can buy the items for your perfect floating shelf coffee bar depends on your budget. Amazon, IKEA, Target, and Home Goods all have really good options at different price points. But if you’re finding yourself wanting to spend a little more, you should definitely take a look at Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn.
What to Put on Your Floating Shelf Coffee Bar (The Essentials)
1. Coffee machine
Clearly, your coffee machine is the star of the show. It doesn’t matter if it’s a coffeemaker or an espresso machine. This is the first item that you should place on your floating shelf coffee bar. This is what they refer to as an “anchor piece”. You add this to the space and then you’re going to build your coffee bar around it.
When we first started out, my husband and I opted for the smallest Keurig they have, which is the K-Mini Single Serve. But then we recently upgraded to an espresso machine. It took a lot of research and saving, but we absolutely love it! With how much we drink coffee and espresso-based drinks, embarrassingly, it has already saved us money on our weekend coffee trips.
2. Cute mugs
We love a good mug collection because it can play double duty as your decor. This is where you can add in a little bit of your own personality. You can stack them, hang them underneath one of the shelves on hooks, or line them up nicely.
The mug collection we have at our own house has a little more of a spooky vibe to it because that’s what I’m into. For example, this is one of my mugs that is displayed all year round. Regardless of your own style, have fun with it!
3. Coffee container
More specifically, a coffee canister will keep your beans or grounds super fresh and it looks a lot better than the bag sitting on your shelf. These airtight containers might be a little more expensive, but they’re definitely worth it if you don’t want your beans or grounds to be stale.
4. Sugars & syrup storage
A perfect, yet simple piece of functional decor to add to your perfect floating shelf coffee bar is sugar and syrup storage, whatever you use. A small tray with a sugar bowl with one or two bottles of syrup makes everything feel organized and intentional, rather than thrown together.
5. A sign or piece of art
You don’t necessarily need something like this, but it’s a great piece of decor that will add the personalized touch you probably would love. You could get something custom made from Etsy or check out some cute, rustic decor like this.
How to Style Your Floating Shelf Coffee Bar Like a Pro
1. Pick a color palette
You don’t have to pick a specific color palette, especially if your style tends to be more eclectic, but I love a color scheme. It makes everything look more organized and put together. And you don’t have to be rigid about it, just pick two or three colors and let them repeat throughout. Personally, our color scheme is mostly neutral with a pop of color.
2. Use odd numbers
This sounds a little weird, but we find that grouping things in odd numbers look visually better. For instance, when you put out your different syrups, you should go with one or three containers. It also looks good with almost any other coffee item or accessory like mugs. It’s totally okay if you have a thing for even numbers, but this is something that we like to do.
3. Play with the heights of items
Another fun way to decorate your floating shelf coffee bar is by mixing the different heights of your items. Your space becomes a lot more fun when you have a variety of items with different heights. It makes it more “visually interesting” than just having everything the same.
4. Add something around the shelf
Like in the previous section, adding something like a sign or a piece of art is a great way to personalize your coffee bar a little more. It makes the whole space feel way more intentional.
5. Play up the seasons
If you’re one of those people who love decorating for holidays, this tip is specifically for you. You can now add your coffee bar as one of the places you decorate for all the different seasons.
For example, when it’s Halloween, feel free to add a small pumpkin or three, while at Christmastime, you can add in a Christmas candle or candy canes to really set the mood. Personally, our house breaks out the mini Christmas hats and places them on different parts of our coffee bar.
Start Building Your Floating Shelf Coffee Bar Today
Here’s the thing, you don’t have to create some perfect coffee bar for it to be perfect for you! Just because it may not look Pinterest-perfect on day one, doesn’t mean you can’t start now. Start with the shelves, your coffee machine, and a mug or two.
Play around with it a little and see what works. That’s the fun thing about decor, you can always change it up as often as you would like!
Regardless, we all know that you definitely deserve a cozy little corner that makes you feel like you have your own little piece of paradise at home. Start today and you’ll have your own floating shelf coffee bar in no time!
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