Fostering a sense of community is one of the keys to happiness and longevity—in fact studies show that adults with strong social connections have reduced risk of a laundry list of potential health problems, including depression, high blood pressure, and more. Those who prioritize a strong community are also believed to live longer than those who don’t make friendship and community a priority.

But the lack of affordable third places—places apart from the home and the workplace—where friends can gather and socialize makes creating space for spending time together more difficult than it was in decades past. Think about it like this: a simple coffee date at a cafe in the city can easily run you anywhere from $30 or more for a couple of cups of coffee and a pastry. The cost can easily eat into your monthly budget and make something as simple as a coffee break with friends seem like a sporadic treat rather than a regular habit.

That’s where the home cafe TikTok trend has come into play. Particularly popular with Gen-Z creators, the home cafe allows friends to gather at home, saving money while still feeling the positive benefits of cultivating community and enjoying a third place-adjacent feel, even at home.

What is the home cafe TikTok trend?

The home cafe TikTok trend is exactly what it sounds like: Gen Zers are hosting their friends at home, creating a cafe-like environment in their kitchens and living rooms. The charming social media trend involves everything you’d find in a trendy cafe: a literal menu of different espresso-based drinks, fresh sweet treats to choose from, a great playlist in the background, and, the best part, no overpriced bill at the end of the date nor trying to find a table in a crowded and cramped cafe dining room.

What are the benefits of hosting a home cafe?

The benefits of hosting a home cafe are two-fold: it’s an easy way to host a large group of friends at home and can easily become a weekly catch-up session, allowing you and your community to reap the health benefits of spending regular time together.

The second benefit is financial. If you and your friend group take turns hosting home cafes, you’ll pay supermarket prices for coffee beans and treats, a fraction of the cost of spending the morning catching up in a trendy coffee shop.

How can you create your own home cafe?

Although many TikTok creators go all-out in the creativity and general over-the-topness of the trend, it’s actually pretty easy to create a basic home cafe. Here are some of the basics to ensure a great home cafe experience for yourself and your guests:

Hand-written signs and menus are key

The biggest wow factor when creating an at-home cafe is taking the time to create cheeky hand-written signs and menu boards. They function mainly as decor—but a wholesome sign with your cafe “name” and all the drinks you have on offer will set the tone when guests arrive and can peruse their options before “ordering.”

Display pastries and snacks artfully

It doesn’t really matter if you buy store-bought pastries rather than making them (serious bonus points if you do whip up your own croissants or cakes, though!), but taking everything out of its original packaging and arranging it artfully on something like a cutting board or on kraft paper will give your home cafe a more legitimate feel.

Create a cafe-inspired playlist

Background music is another key essential in creating a cozy home cafe. There are hundreds of cafe-inspired playlists out there—ranging from jazz to French pop—just make sure to choose (or curate) a playlist that’ll last a few hours to ensure you don’t have to fiddle with your music while you’re with your guests.

Personalized stickers or branding

If you feel like going the extra mile, one of the cutest parts of the home cafe trend is definitely personalized stickers or branding. Choose a name for your home cafe, print your stickers, and apply them to things like pastry bags or napkins for an extra adorable touch. Some creators even had paper cups made with their cafe branding printed on them—but that might not be the most sustainable option.

The post What is the Home Cafe TikTok Trend—And How You Can Create Your Own appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.

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