Creating or renovating your own house—be it bedrooms or kitchen—is already difficult. It is even more difficult to build commercial buildings like restaurants or bar fitouts. Before hiring a contractor, you have to prepare your budget and expect that you’ll spend more than you think. As such, it is vital to minimise the cost while maximising your resources.
It is also necessary to think of other aspects before starting your fitout project. However, you may not know where to start, especially if this is your first time owning a bar.
The Ultimate Checklist in Creating Your First Bar Fit-Out
Working in a bar means you’re ready to work long hours and all night. You expect to deal with alcohol and its inevitable effects, which can be a headache for you as the owner. But here are a few things you can do to help you in managing your bar fit-out better.
Target market
The location where you set up your bar is very important. Building your bar in a city or urban area with a high population and income rate is recommended. Otherwise, only a few people will appreciate your spot. You have to think about what your target market is.
Seat Types
There are tables in a bar, but not as many as those in restaurants. If you prefer a pure bar, your customers would probably appreciate stools better. Besides, who parties while sitting, anyway?
If you intend to put couches, tables and chairs, make sure to place them in corners or spots where people would less likely go. But what’s important is that you put high stools near bar counters.
Interior Design
Since you’re building a commercial establishment, it would be best to consult a professional architect and interior designer to advise you on the quality and creative layouts of your bar fitout. You can also hire a professional contractor and engineer to ensure that your establishment is built with strong and durable materials.
You might hesitate to consult these professionals because you think they’ll only add up to the cost, but you’ll save a lot more than when you try to do things by yourself. So would you rather buy cheap and poor-quality materials or consult professionals for the best materials in the market that can help you save more in the long run?
Lighting
Your bar would never be complete without lighting. After all, it is one of the room’s highlights, especially during the night. It creates a big impact on your customers and leaves a good first impression. It could be the one thing your customers would instantly remember.
Thus, good lighting is crucial. You have to install different sets of lighting for different moods. For example, you can set playful and colourful lights during party time or dim and romantic lighting for a more relaxed and intimate mood.
Your Team
You can’t possibly set up bar fitouts alone without help from anyone. You’re going to need a lot of advice and ideas from your team. Therefore, it is important to work with people you trust and believe in.
They shall help plan the costs, evaluate your business’s strengths and weaknesses, provide insights to make the process easier, etc. Your bar fit-out contractors should also be reliable and credible. Without them, building your bar won’t be easy.
Setting up a business always has accompanying risks, and the same goes for bar fitouts. However, having clear goals and objectives, such as your bar’s location, seat types, design, lighting, and team members, would make it much easier and better.
