A Guide to Designing a Commercial Bar Interior

Comprehensive Guide to Designing a Commercial Bar Interior



Creating a distinctive and functional commercial bar interior requires careful planning and a deep understanding of the business’s unique needs. This guide offers insights into designing an inviting and efficient bar space that aligns with your brand’s identity and attracts your target customer base.

Key Considerations

When envisaging your bar, whether a cosy neighbourhood venue or an upscale cocktail lounge, numerous factors come into play. Each bar has its own identity, influencing the choice of equipment, kitchen setup, and seating arrangement. These elements are dictated by the type of beverages offered, food service, target audience, and venue size.

Who’s My Target Audience?

To kick off our first commercial bar design tip, you need to ask yourself, what kind of bar design would work for you? First, determine your target audience—the typical customer you’d like to see in your venue. Consider the location of your bar, the spirits and food you serve. Your audience could be business professionals, tourists, music lovers, parents, society elites, or millennials.

For example, you may be targeting a student demographic, so therefore locating near an educational institution will be beneficial. Conversely, if you are focusing on an affluent business market you'll locate your venure near a business district. The design should reflect the preferences of your main customer base. A bar for students will have a different vibe compared to one for working professionals.

What Theme Should I Choose?

One of our principal commercial bar design tips is to work on a theme or concept before delving into the design process. A cohesive theme helps organise your efforts and align them with your target audience’s expectations, available space, and budget.

For instance, a beachfront bar might adopt a tropical, outdoor theme with a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse cocktail menu. A lounge could be more formal with tasteful music, warm lighting, and an elegant ambiance.

Don’t feel restricted to traditional themes. Modern bar owners are exploring unique ideas like comic book themes, circus themes, or styles based on films or music genres. Choose a theme that will attract your customers and help your bar stand out.

Designing for Success

Functionality is crucial for a successful bar design. Efficient space usage positively impacts staff productivity and customer satisfaction. Here’s how to approach the design:

1. General Arrangement: Create a detailed layout to define spaces for dining, the bar, workstations, restrooms, and staff areas. This helps optimise flow and efficiency.

2. Test Arrangements: Experiment with different layouts to find the best balance between customer experience and staff convenience. Testing in the actual space can provide valuable insights.

Standing Out

To make your bar unique, focus on a strong brand identity that permeates every aspect of the design. Consider the following elements:

1. Lighting: Use a mix of task, ambient, and accent lighting to create the desired atmosphere.

2. Music: Select music that aligns with your brand ethos to enhance the overall experience.

3. Furniture: Choose seating that matches the bar’s style—benches for a social vibe or booths for a cosy feel.

4. Art and Decor: Use imagery, colours, and materials that tell your brand story.

5. Staff: Hire employees who embody your brand’s values to create a cohesive and welcoming environment.

6. Menu: Ensure your drink and food offerings reflect your brand’s vision and complement each other.

Developing a Bar Concept

Start with a clear vision of your brand and the experience you want to offer. Define your brand’s purpose and values, then build a narrative around these elements. This foundation will guide the design of your bar’s interior, creating a space that resonates with your target audience.

1. Brand Strategy: Use your brand strategy to drive the design process, ensuring that every element, from materials to music, aligns with your brand.

2. Atmosphere: Pay attention to how lighting, music, furniture, and decor contribute to the overall atmosphere.

3. Consistency: Ensure a consistent brand experience across all touch points, from the physical space to the menu and staff interactions.

Your brand strategy should drive the design process, ensuring that every element, from materials to music, aligns with your brand. Focus on creating a consistent brand experience across all touchpoints, including the physical space, menu, and staff interactions.

Choosing the Appropriate Bar Top

A bar top or countertop is a crucial element that can define the entire look of the bar. It must be both stunning and durable. Popular materials include glass, wood, stone, marble, brass, and copper.

Glass countertops are visually appealing but fragile. Stone and marble are attractive but lack flexibility, making them prone to damage from heavy use. Wooden bar tops, especially from high-quality woods like oak, mahogany, and maple, offer durability and warmth. Brass and copper require regular maintenance but add a unique aesthetic. Laminates, Corian, and granite are other durable options.

Prioritise Cocktail and Drink Stations

A common mistake in bar design is overlooking the importance of sinks. Bar sinks allow bartenders to reset the cocktail and drink station quickly. Place ice bins and sinks at the front of the bar for easy access. This setup improves the efficiency of drink preparation and cleanup, ultimately boosting revenue.

Consider installing a small wash sink at the bar to clean glasses quickly, saving time from sending them to the kitchen. You'll also need to install a hand wash basin to conform with EHO. Purchase bar appliances and sinks, including ice bins and wash stations, ahead of construction to ensure proper space allocation.

Where Will the Other Bar Equipment Go?

Furnishing your bar with proper tools and equipment is essential. Common equipment includes:

• Spirits storage
• Ice bins
• Dump sink and hand sink
• Glassware storage
• Glass washing station
• Refrigeration
• Garnishing station
• Point of sale station
• Cleaning supplies
• Speed rail

Design the layout with your employees in mind. Organise equipment systematically to ensure staff efficiency and a clean, well-organised bar. Keep noisy equipment away from customers to maintain a pleasant atmosphere.

What Spirits Storage Options Do You Have?

A well-designed Spirit storage cabinet or wall display is a centerpiece of your bar. It showcases your spirits collection and enhances the bar’s aesthetic. Options include cabinets, shelves, or wooden racks. Consider the size of your display and choose storage that aligns with your bar’s theme. Popular choices include hardwood cabinets, metallic, or glass shelves.

How to Make the Bartender’s Life Easier?

Bartenders are the backbone of your business. Their efficiency directly impacts your revenue. Engage bartenders in the design process to gather insights on optimal layouts and equipment placement.

Aim to finalise your drinks menu before renovations to determine the necessary tools and equipment. Ensure that over 80% of the items bartenders need are within arm’s reach to reduce unnecessary movements and speed up service.

By focusing on these principles, you can create a commercial bar that not only meets functional requirements but also offers a memorable and engaging experience for your customers. With a well-thought-out design that reflects your brand’s identity, your bar can stand out in a competitive market and build a loyal customer base.

Are you about to embark on a bar project? if so, why not give Urbandog Interior Design a call, we'll help you take your brand from concept to completion.

Best

Marcus Johnson

Urbandog Interior Design