Tips for Designing a Bar
So you’ve made the plunge! You’ve decided to go ahead and open your own venue. You’ve signed the papers, worked out your finances, and you’re ready to start the best part: designing your space.
But hold on!
While it’s super easy to get carried away and go with the first design you like, it’s important to make sure your bar, restaurant or hotel is fit for purpose, has longevity in its design, and is something you’re sure your customers will love.
Not sure where to start?
Luckily for you, we’ve rounded up our top tips for designing a bar so you can be on your way to designing the perfect space in no time!
Make Sure Your Space Is Fit for Purpose
Although this tip may seem obvious, making sure your venue space is fit for purpose isn’t always as simple as it may sound.
Before you make any other key decisions regarding your new business, it’s important to define how you’d like your space to be used.
For example, are you planning on offering a restaurant and bar counter separate from each other where customers can pop in for drinks without dining? Or are you planning on offering drinks from the bar exclusively for customers who dine with you?
Making this distinction early in the process means you’ll be able to design a space that’s fit for purpose, both in atmosphere and structural layout.
Design for Growth
One of the most important factors within any business is the scope for scale. As profits and customers grow, you’ll want to make sure you’re able to grow your business.
In regard to your bar, restaurant or hotel business, this means ensuring your design allows for expansion, whether that’s more customers, an additional cocktail bar, or the ability to host events.
Let’s face it, it would feel like a total waste of money, time, and effort if you design your hospitality business to be pretty one-dimensional, with no room for growth or expansion when you need it!
Don’t Underestimate Lighting
Now we know this sounds like a finishing touch that you can think about last minute, but trust us, thinking about lighting at the beginning of your design process can make the world of difference to your bar-restaurant.
In fact, the right lighting can truly make or break the atmosphere of your venue. After all, no one wants to go out for a relaxing date night under the oh-so-romantic…. fluorescent lighting.
Planning your lighting designs in advance will ensure you set the right tone for your business from the very beginning. Harsh fluorescent lighting might have a place in office buildings and industrial kitchens, but it’s perhaps not the best choice for a hospitality venue.
Define Your Target Audience
Defining your target audience is one of the first things you should do when starting any business. This gives you a clear idea of who you’re targeting and what your audience would and wouldn’t want from your business.
For example, your venue will likely look a lot different if your target audience is aged 60+ compared to if your target audience is aged between 18 and 30.
If you’re struggling to define your target audience, try thinking about who your ‘ideal customer’ would be.
- How old are they?
- What is their gender?
- What’s their occupation?
- What are their likes and dislikes?
By thinking about your ideal customer, you’ll be well on your way to defining your wider target audience, allowing you to design your bar or restaurant in the best way possible!
The Conclusion
Ultimately, designing your own venue isn’t as easy as it may first appear. However, following our tips and tricks, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and you’ll be one step closer to running your dream venue.
If you would like to take advantage of our complimentary Bar Planning service or would like more information about our products, contact us today to speak to our friendly team.
