The reason why Starbucks is comfortable

Yuichiro Noguchi
Aug 26
4 min read

As I wrote in the column (https://www.inthelightinteriors.com/post/episode_30) before, the role of lighting in space is very important.

Even if you don't feel much need during the day when there is a lot of sunshine, the role of lighting is important in places that require lighting even during the day and places where you spend time at night.

It is no exaggeration to say that it determines the impression of the space.

If you just want to illuminate it brightly, you can place a large ceiling light in the center of the room, and all you have to do is choose lighting equipment. Ceiling lights are not popular these days, so just embed the downlight on the ceiling.

In general, lighting is simply a tool that illuminates the room brightly, so it can't be helped that there will be more such spaces, but there is no comfort or sensibility that cannot be quantified like comfort.

In many offices, factories, hospitals, convenience stores, etc., as long as they meet the functional conditions, I think it is rare to feel comfortable in those spaces.

"Lighting is a tool that brightens the room, and lighting planning is about thinking about how to place the tools." To put it in a rough way, it's like that, but there is a considerable range of things from those that only meet the function of brightening up the room to those that have artistic sensibility.

I don't think the role played by lighting was that important if it was just a function such as brightening the room, but in fact, "lights" play an important role in creating invisible things such as the atmosphere and comfort of the space. = Lighting". And designing the space with that lighting is the essence of "lighting design".

And it can be said that space design and lighting design are one, and it is impossible to achieve excellent lighting design in the scheme in which previous architectural and spatial design is planned in advance.

In recent years, the comfort of the office has affected the popularity and production efficiency of companies, and more and more shops are obsessed with the comfort of the space, such as Starbucks and Third Wave Coffee. It can be said that it is a new value in the era when more and more companies are trying to improve their branding and customer price by increasing such added value.

When I talk about lighting, I often take Starbucks as an example, but if you just want to drink coffee, convenience stores are cheaper and more convenient. However, people who go to Starbucks should not only drink coffee, but also value Starbucks itself, including the atmosphere of the store and the experience there.

In general, Starbucks tends to be thought of as a fashionable image, but the appearance of Starbucks is based on the hard aspects such as the exterior, entrance, and interior of the store, as well as the music playing, the aroma of coffee, and the impression of the people who work there. It has changed the image of the coffee shop in various ways.

It's just a cup of coffee, but at Starbucks, the special experience begins from the moment you enter the store.

The Starbucks store is a little dim even during the day.

The light that does not change day and night like a convenience store does not fall brightly from the ceiling. If you look at the walls of the store, you can't see many stores with white walls.

There are fewer downlights and spotlights on the ceiling than in general stores, and the downlights are often glarless types that are difficult to see the light source if you look closely.

In addition, pendant lights installed low on counters and tables are also important. A pendant light that accentuates a simple and modern space. In addition to the shape, by illuminating the counter and table as well as the shape, it has the effect of creating a crisp and special feeling in the space.

Indirect lighting that shines soft light on the walls and ceilings is essential for such a comfortable space production. It does not make you feel the presence of equipment, and it creates visual brightness and comfort in the space with light.

Downlights and spotlights pouring down from the ceiling, and pendant lights also hanging from the ceiling. Indirect lighting that reflects light on the ceiling or wall with a bracket light on the wall. However, if you easily add these many types of lighting, the room will be enveloped in light and become a sparkling and bright space.

The most important thing when combining lighting is the subtraction of light.

Lighting is important to deliver the necessary light to the necessary place, and it is a good way to use lighting to prevent light from hitting unnecessary places.

"The candlelight that stands on a birthday cake", "a restaurant with a beautiful night view to choose at the time of proposal", "a blissful moment spent in a luxurious hotel", "time to relax at the bar alone", we are such a place I think what I imagine on the surface is a scene with a "somehow pleasant light".

It should not be a flashy and sparkling lighting, but a "comfortable light".

Lighting is truly such an "existent existence", and lighting design is nothing more than creating that "invisible air".

I think that Starbucks' lighting is wrapped in such "lights" that it has a calm and pleasant atmosphere that is different from other stores.

The layout of the store also has a variety of large and small table seats, from large tables to counters, and the sofa, lounge chairs, and seat heights are also different. At first glance, the arrangement is not efficient, but each person can spend time freely at their favorite seat. There is no discomfort that refuses to stay for a long time, nor does it feel uncomfortable to take care of your neighbors. It is said that comfort is more important than function and efficiency.

Because it's a Starbucks store with various ingenuity like that, I think it feels special even though it's just a cup of coffee.

In other words, Starbucks is not just a store that provides coffee, but also provides experience and culture through coffee, and because it feels valuable there, it is not as convenient or cheap as a convenience store, but it dares to I go to starbucks.