Decorating a bar: choosing the right pictures and images for your venue

Running a successful bar with a solid base of loyal customers is harder than it might seem. Today's customers are more sophisticated and demanding than in the past, and winning them over against today's fierce competition means taking care of lots of different elements.

What makes a customer come back to a bar? What makes them remember its name and recommend it to someone else? From the moment they first walk in, a first impression takes shape in their mind, made up mainly of three elements: friendly staff, tied to everyone's wish to feel welcome; cleanliness and hygiene, since this is, after all, a place where food and drink are served; and the bar's décor, which helps create a welcoming and distinctive atmosphere. Unfortunately, customers tend to remember very clearly the bad feeling left by a table sticky with sugar or a toilet that hasn't been properly cleaned, or a venue beautifully kept inside but with a faded sign outside. When we decorate our venue, we must always look after the whole picture without neglecting any element: it really doesn't take much for customers to leave with a negative impression!

Originality and creativity in the design of our venue are therefore key to leaving a positive impression. In this guide we'll give you some tips on how to decorate your bar with taste and elegance and create that unique atmosphere that will make your bar special in your customers' eyes.

To help you with this personal touch, the text is accompanied by a selection of modern wall art pieces that you can buy directly online from our Gallery.

Laying out the space inside your venue

Ideally, it's best to divide your bar into three areas: the counter area, where customers go for a quick coffee; the table area, for those who want to sit down and enjoy breakfast at a more leisurely pace; and a third area with spaces that give your venue a distinctive identity, such as a small bookcase with books to borrow or read on the spot, a few sofas to create the feel of a comfortable living room where people can sit and chat, or a “places of the world” corner filled with postcards and objects that spark customers' curiosity and might even get them involved in building it.

In general, remember to arrange the space so that customers and staff can move around easily throughout the venue and reach the counter and tables without difficulty.

The counter is the centrepiece of a bar: the first thing customers see when they walk in and the place where the human relationship with the staff is built. It's very important, therefore, that it is attractive and clean. There's nothing worse for a customer than leaning on a counter and finding it sticky!

How to choose the right style for your bar

When defining the atmosphere of your bar, the first thing to decide is its style. From the outset, it's important to ensure consistency between the décor and the service you offer: a warm, cosy setting would clash with cold, formal staff, just as a modern, refined setting would be at odds with an overly familiar welcome. Always remember that the atmosphere customers feel as soon as they walk into your bar plays a decisive part in shaping their opinion.

A good way to decorate the walls of your venue without leaning too heavily on a specific style is to use classic bar imagery, such as coffee or scenes from inside a café. Below are some images of this kind.

It's important to bear in mind that your bar's décor should be in harmony with its surroundings: the style you choose should take into account whether the bar is in a city, in the mountains or by the sea.

To design your bar's interior with elegance and consistency while keeping things quick and easy, the best approach is to draw on well-defined styles, such as Shabby Chic décor, Romantic Provençal décor, Ethnic-style décor or modern style. By following the rules and principles of these décor styles, you'll find it easier to create an elegant space whose elements work together and, at the same time, give it personality, avoiding the feel of an anonymous venue.

In any case, it's worth remembering that the décor you choose depends on the type of customers you want to serve. It's important, therefore, to decide from the start what kind of customers you want to attract and what they come to your bar for: playing cards, grabbing lunch on their break, a quick coffee on the go, sitting at a table chatting with friends, holding business meetings, and so on. Choose your ideal target audience and avoid the mistake of looking for a style that pleases everyone: it's the surest way to please no one!

The lounge bar: how to decorate with sophistication

If you want to decorate your venue as a lounge bar, it's especially important to create a refined, sophisticated setting that offers customers a relaxing, immersive atmosphere, perhaps helped along by some good lounge music. The right pictures and prints can be a great help here. Here are some suggestions of artwork suited to a lounge bar.

Some ideas for personalising your bar

To put the finishing touch to your space and create a lasting impression in your customers' minds, lighting certainly plays a key role. Use it to create plays of light and work with colour contrasts, directing it towards specific points such as the counter or the tables to give a sense of energy and movement.

Another way to make your space original is to host temporary exhibitions by artists or photographers looking for exposure for their work. In general, any distinctive element that catches customers' attention and makes your venue memorable is an excellent candidate for your bar's décor.

Using original pictures and prints is another way to add personality to a space that risks becoming too anonymous. Below we suggest some distinctive images to use for this purpose.

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Don't forget that in our Gallery you'll find the modern prints and wall art featured in this article.

If you have any questions, get in touch and we'll be happy to answer.