How to Choose Lighting for a Bar?

Setting the perfect ambiance in a bar requires a good lighting design. The right lighting can transform a dimly lit space into a lively and inviting atmosphere, setting the mood for patrons and enhancing the overall experience.

In this article, we delve into the science of lighting design and teach you how to choose the right lighting for a bar.

Let’s get started.

Importance of Proper Lighting in Bars

Lighting plays a crucial part in the promotion and success of a business, and Bars are no different. Catchy outdoor lighting entices customers to step into the establishment, and comforting mood lighting encourages them to stay and grab a drink.

A bar should have a unique character and style that sets it apart from the competition. Luckily, a good lighting setup is exactly what bar owners need to redefine their space and create the desired ambiance.

We cannot understate the role good lighting plays in the success of a bar. It accomplishes two of the most important tasks for any business. Attract new customers and encourage old ones to become regulars.

Understanding Bar Lighting Basics

Bar lighting is essentially your bar’s personality expressed as illumination. It can be layered and complex, with small design choices that add to the overall picture.

Here are three aspects of bar lighting that are a must for bar owners.

Ambient, Accent, and Task Lighting

There are three basic categories of lighting design.

• Ambient lighting is the process of fully illuminating a space to improve visibility. The goal here is to ensure there is always enough light in all corners of the desired area.
• Accent lighting is improving visual interest in space through strategic lighting ideas. LED lights on the ceiling, decorative wall sconces, and overhead pool table lights are some of the most popular accent lighting ideas.
• Task lighting is the process of illuminating a workspace to improve the productivity of the task. This can include lighting fixtures over the bar counters so bartenders can more easily pour drinks or manage the cash register.

Lighting Design Elements

Let’s break down our three basic lighting design elements into more manageable bite-sized pieces.

Ambient Lighting for Bars

Ambient lighting uses large lights to fill the bar interior with visible light. There should be enough light inside a bar that everything is visible, and no one accidentally stubs their foot against a table.

Task Lighting for Bar Counters and Work Areas

Tasking lighting is simple, add narrow beam angle light fixtures to important bar sections. These areas include staff-only spaces like the bar counter, staff office, kitchen, cash register, and customer interaction areas like a dining or game area (darts, pool, etc.)

Accent Lighting to Highlight Bar Features

Everything that doesn’t fall under ambient or task lighting is accent lighting. Accent lighting should be visually appealing, something that engages customers.

Wall accent lights highlight the texture and architecture of the wall and any wall hangings like paintings, signs, or decorations. A great use case for accent lights is to accentuate architectural features, like liquor displays, interior aquariums, furnishings, etc.

Using Layered Lighting for Bars

The concept of layered lighting is simple, combining different lighting ideas into the ultimate bar lighting setup.

The background layer of bar lighting is your ambient lighting. Select the right brightness, color temperature, and placements for light fixtures.

Next, add accent lighting to the surroundings. You can use accent lights to add more light to the bar, some color for an aesthetic appeal, and direct customers toward the pool tables, bar counter, or live performances.

Finally, you can use small decorative lights to further enhance the bar design. Popular bar lighting ideas. Include LED strip lights around the bar counter, small spotlights for wall art, neon signs, and stained glass lamps on dining tables.

Color Temperature and Mood Lighting

Color temperature refers to the hue of artificial lighting fixtures. Cool temperature LED lights have a bluish tone and help improve focus. Contrarily, warm LED lights with their yellow tones create a comforting and relaxing space.

A traditional bar serving as a gathering and leisure place after work hours benefits from warm tones. Transforming your bar into an after-work hangout space for decompressing after a tough nine to five.

Meanwhile, open bars at weddings or fancy hotels will benefit from a brighter neutral white color temperature. Such bars can also opt for natural light illumination as they are active during the daytime.

How To Choose a Lighting Design for a Bar?

Now that we have discussed the basic principles of bar lighting. We can get started on a practical lighting design.

1. Theme and Décor of the Bar

A good bar lighting design requires a distinct vision of the bad theme and aesthetic. Popular bar themes include karaoke, trivia, music, 80s retro, sports, and the like.

Choose a bar theme that speaks to you, select the matching décor, and invest in the appropriate lighting scheme.

2. Bar Size and Layout

Take a good look at your bar space. Smaller spaces are actually easier to design and light. Add a few recessed lighting fixtures in the ceiling, pendant lights over the counter, and some nice wall sconces. Your diverse liquor offerings and good customer service should cover the rest.

Contrarily, larger spaces are more difficult to illuminate. You have a lot of empty spaces between tables that need to be filled with décor or games.

3. Intended Customer Experience

Finally, think long and hard about the kind of customer experience you want to offer. Do you want your bar to become a party house with a dance floor and laser lights or a relaxing space with warm lights and cold drinks?

Defining your intended customer experience will help you select the right type of lighting style.

Choosing the Right Types of Lighting Fixtures

With your lighting design finalized, we can finally select the right lighting fixtures for your bar.

Modern LED lights come in different shapes and sizes for all lighting solutions.

1. Track Lighting

Track lighting fixtures are mounted to a rod attached to the ceiling. Lights attached to the track can be moved around to point the light source in any desired direction.

Point the light heads to different wall sections and highlight their architecture, or let them point downwards for ambient lighting.

2. Up-Lighting

Up-lighting is a unique lighting design that enhances the look of a structure by providing light from the bottom. A common practice involves adding colored LED lights to the bottom of the bar counter for a distinct glow.

3. Wall & Table Lamps

Wall lamps help cover up the empty spaces in your bar interior and provide additional mounting areas for accent light. A well-placed wall sconce can completely change the look of a brick wall.

Likewise, table lamps are another great way to decorate and illuminate your bar’s dining area.

4. LED Strip Lighting

Bars often lack the option to install large light fixtures like chandeliers. The best solution here is to use LED strip lights. With their extremely small footprint, they can be installed anywhere without a hitch.

Edge lighting is a fun option where you add recessed LED strips to the edges of the bar counter for a subtle neon glow.

5. Spot Lights

Spotlights are small fixtures illuminating a small section in front of them. They can help draw attention toward art pieces or liquor displays.

6. String Lights

String lights are a series of LED bulbs attached together and hung from the ceiling. Adding string lights to your lounge area will give the illusion of small lights floating about guests.

For outdoor spaces, string lights are a great way to add ambient lighting, as there is no ceiling for traditional downlighting.

7. Neon Signs

Call them gaudy, or call them a classic. There is no denying that neon signs and bars go hand in hand.

Neon lights are an excellent way of attracting customers. As the sun drops and light starts to fade, your neon bar signs become a beacon for passersby.

8. Laser Lights

Laser lights help set the mood of your bar. This lighting design is not for everyone but works shockingly well for a music-oriented bar.

Considerations for Outdoor Bar Lighting

Lighting conditions vary slightly for an outdoor bar area. Certain factors should be considered for outdoor bar lighting.

IP Rating

IP rating measures the water and dustproof capabilities of a light fixture. Outdoor lighting should be IP65 or higher for protection against harsh weather and heavy rain.

Color Temperature

Outdoor spaces benefit from warm lights at night. Cool lights are better suited for security applications.

Light Fixture Position

Light fixture positions become important as outdoor spaces lack proper mounting points. You must mount lights over trees or erect posts specifically for light fixtures.

Decorative Lighting

Choices for outdoor decorations are a lot more limited. Thus, combining your lighting and decorations into a single unit fixture is a good idea.

Conclusion

Lighting is as important to a bar as the drinks it serves. People come for the drinks but stay for the intimate atmosphere. Good lighting can help improve the look and ambiance of your establishment and encourage customers to stay longer and become regulars.

Define your bar theme and aesthetic and choose appropriate lighting fixtures that best suit your vision.

Re-Invent Your Bar with RC Lighting

RC Lighting is an LED lighting solutions manufacturer and supplier with over a decade of industrial experience. We have a diverse catalog of the best indoor and outdoor lighting fixtures on the market.

Our products undergo rigorous testing and come with a standard five-year warranty. We also offer OEM services with low MOQs, fast delivery times, and competitive rates.

Your business needs are our top priority. So let’s take your business to the next level.

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