Custom Bar design ideas
The single most important step in building a custom bar is the vision. What will it look like when its done. The first question I ask a client is what style they are looking for. Sometimes, i get the shoulder shrug. Style could be anywhere from a rustic bar, Irish Pub, Speakeasy with a hidden door, a bar that has a little bit of everything that makes it look like, well, a sports bar.
Our website has pictures of our projects with all, and I mean all, different styles. https://thebarmaker.com/custom-bar-pictures/ also, feel free to reach out to us 330-760-7046 we would be more than happy to assist you in the design ideas, the design, and even specs for building it. Don’t get hung up on the fine details right now, and I’ll tell you why, shortly.
Custom Bar Layout
This is a really important step. Layout needs to be done properly for many reasons. The bar has to be proportionate to the space, for example;
1. Is the bar too big or too small?
Often times, people build bars that are just too big. The space is crowded and so, even though you have enough seats for that once or twice a year party, nobody can fit anyways. There are also times where the bar ends up being too small and looks out of place. My advice is use masking tape and lay it out on the floor. Leave it for a few days.
2. Did I allocate enough space for appliances?
You are more than likely going to want a beverage cooler and even a kegerator. If you have the cooler from college you can’t let go of, at least make the space it’s going into, big enough for a full size cooler if you ever have to replace it. I would also suggest making cabinet space that can easily…key word being easily, be replaced with a kegerator.
3. Did you make that dimensions behind the bar, and the entrance the right size?
Believe it or not, there could be too much room behind the bar. It could lose it’s intimacy and ends up looking more like a kitchenette. Another downside is if there is too much space, guests feel the need to join you behind the bar. …the ole “I was a bartender for 4 months at Applebees.”
4. Of course, the structural dimensions are always important, such as, bar top overhang, bar height, and so on.
Again, feel free to reach out to us for some guidance with these aspects as they are very important to get right.
The fine details I spoke of earlier, these come next. When I am designing a custom bar, the fine details come AFTER the layout. The reason for this is because the layout, along with the building specs, will in fact determine the fine details. They actually create and become them.
All of these things will fall into place. It’s better to pre-plan them on paper ahead of time. It’s not important to have expensive design hardware because that will, in itself, requires hours and hours of learning. Just sketch it out on paper with a straight edge and pencil.
Custom Bar Do’s & Don’ts
When you build a custom bar, what it looks like and functions is in your hands. Having hindsight can be a real bummer but also expensive if you choose to fix or replace whatever didn’t work out the first time.
Going into our 19th year of being in the business of making bars has earned us the experience of not making those mistakes (frequently) but we have also learned how to identify them before they happen.
Mistakes usually start with decisions way back in the beginning, the planning part that you may not have thought was a big deal or you wanted to save yourself some money. Here are some things we would definitely or definitely not do. If nothing else, reading this will help you at least, consider them.
1. Lighting is everything. use accent lighting as often as you can. Try and put them on their own switch so that you can turn off or dim the general lighting and use the accent lighting to create the ambiance. I prefer color changing lights that will also dim. Bright lights at the bar can change the mood.
2. Use elements that reflect light such as backsplash, mirror, glass, or even metal.
3. Use quality materials because this shows through even more than the design itself. You’ll be happier five, ten, or more years down the road when the bar you built is still standing the test of time. This is specifically true when it comes to the bartops and countertops.
4. Don’t design the trends because I promise you, in five years you will be remodeling it. Again, I promise you.
5. Don’t disregard the flooring so often people will say “it’s fine for now” but what will happen is, you will build a custom bar you are proud of and it will make the flooring you left behind, look really outdated and probably worn out. Under no circumstance, should you build a custom bar over top of carpet. You can get thrown in jail for that.
- Lighting
There are so many layers and potential ideas that make building a custom bar so much fun. Remember, that’s the important part, have fun. It takes years upon years to master working with these elements. Again, always feel free to reach out.
