How to D.I.Y. Café Vibes at Home

Creating a Change of Scenery During a Pandemic

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

One of the things I miss most about pre-pandemic life is going to coffee shops to write. A change of scenery does the brain good, and all that. With more people getting vaccinated, I’m excited that we’re getting closer to a return to normal. However, it is still unclear when that will happen. I’m not yet comfortable with the idea of dining indoors. Until it’s safe to go out, we can still D.I.Y. that coffee shop vibe. These tips should help you have special coffee shop days without leaving your home.

1. Decorate accordingly.
   Take your regular dining room table and fancy it up. Do you have potted plants around your house? How about pretty lamps or tchotchkes? Candles? Briefly move them onto your table to give it a new feel. This will further differentiate this time from the hundreds of other hours you’ve spent there over the last months. The more you can change the table’s appearance, the better. If you live with other people and want more privacy, you can always use a desk or side-table in your room. Get creative with what you have available!
2. Dress up — including shoes.
   Get dressed as if you’re actually leaving the house. If you generally go to coffee shops in workout clothes or pajamas, try getting dressed as if you were headed for a date. Put on shoes, too — it helps with the illusion and makes you feel more put together.
3. Make fancy drinks and snacks.
   Reserve a particular drink for the coffee shop days. Whether it is a method of making coffee, a specific type of bean, or a flavor of tea, only use it when you’re trying to shake things up. You can also reserve a unique mug to drink your delicious concoction out of. Prepare a snack that you would typically order at a coffee shop.
4. Listen to ambient videos on YouTube.
   Finally, play a video of ambient coffee shop sounds as you eat your delicious treats. There are some great ones on YouTube. Some of my favorite videos to put on include:

Doing all of the above still won’t compare to lounging in Starbucks or your local gem of choice. However, we have to take what we can get during quarantine. Have you tried any of these tips? Do you use other methods to safely give yourself a change of scenery? Let me know in the comments below.

P.S. This post is not sponsored, and I do not know the creators behind any of the channels I linked. However, they make excellent content, and I encourage you to check out the rest of their videos for more ambient goodness!