When it comes to designing a successful bar, coffee shop or eatery, creating an interior experience that sits seamlessly within the brand’s ethos and concept is crucial.
And not only because every interior element - from spacing and lighting to comfort and ambience - has a pivotal part to play in crafting a memorable and authentic journey.
The tangible look and feel of the space goes beyond just aesthetics.
Capturing those senses not yet roused by food or drink, design creates a guests’ first impression.
It helps to set and maintain the tone from their very first step through the door, shaping the narrative of their entire experience with you.
Done right, it charms and thrills, excites and delights.
Here, we thought we’d plumb the expertise of our talented DesignTonic team to reveal the essential design concepts for our bar, coffee Shop and eatery clients - the ones we employ to elevate guest experiences and create an unforgettable vibe.
DesignTonic X Pink Door Coffee Shop
Comfort + Connection
The cornerstone of a great bar, coffee shop or eatery design is twofold - smart spacing and clever comfort.
When it comes to spacing, balancing people’s need for intimacy with their desire for connection is an art.
Versatility is key. Movable furniture allows layouts to be easily customised, adapting to different preferences and party sizes.
In a coffee shop or eatery setting, thoughtfully planned seating arrangements must cater both for diners seeking solitude with groups looking to create memories together.
At Pink Door Coffee Shop in Harrogate, DesignTonic were thrilled to help transform this empty shell into a warm, inviting and contemporary social space at the heart of the community.
Here, the vibe is fresh and fun, driven by the use of an on-brand colour scheme featuring a custom-built sugar-pink counter, plush blush velvets, playful pink marble tables and contrasting black accents - all stylishly and warmly offset by the timber panelling.
Meanwhile, in a bar or bar area, connectivity is often more of a driving force.
DesignTonic X North Bar + Amity Brewpub
At North Bar, a wall of squishy banquette seating is fronted with small tables and individual chairs and paired with high stools and wall tables, making it as easy for a small group to band together as it is for a larger gathering to enjoy everyone’s company and creating the perfect craft ambience for this legendary City Centre hangout.
Meanwhile, Amity Brewpub’s ethos of “community, friendship and good beer” is well served by its close groupings of comfortable leather sofas and chairs, making it the perfect spot for Farsley-based fans of Amity’s ales to hunker down and sup up.
The Magic of Lighting
Aside from the obvious:
- Warm, dim lighting is good for cosy, intimate settings
- Bar and social areas benefit from brighter, more energetic illumination
- Natural light = a good thing (officially)
There are some deeper psychological strategies we can tap into when it comes to effectively lighting a bar or restaurant space.
Not only does lighting have an uncanny ability to shape mood and atmosphere - it also gives, in the words of Le Corbusier, “the expression of a structure”.
Having a direct effect on how we react, you can use lighting to direct traffic around your space.
For example, we’re naturally drawn to follow the brightest path, so marking out your key features with good lighting is a great way to help guests feel at ease - after all, no one wants to feel lost, unsure or simply unable to see as they move around your space.
At Leeds sandwich mecca, Things in Bread (above), we brought the power of lighting to bear in a big way, with a bespoke illuminated counter that draws the eye as you enter, and fridges and counter seating clearly marked with illuminated signage, feature and task lighting - all designed to gently tap into a customers’ subconscious and guide them to where they need to be.
And let’s not overlook the visual appeal of lighting, with fixtures that can be as subtle or as showy as you like!
DesignTonic X Springwell Leeds + LUFC Heineken Bar
Crafting an Authentic Experience
Authenticity is the heart and soul of a memorable bar or restaurant - your design should resonate with the identity and story of your establishment, not just in terms of visual branding, but also in its feel and vibe.
How do we achieve this at DesignTonic?
More intangible than other interior elements, how we create an authentic design for your bar or restaurant comes down to any number of factors, each one of which may be different from client to client.
Ultimately, the elusive “vibe” of a bar or restaurant is the result of meticulous design decisions that work together to create an energy that fills the room and sets the tone for the entire experience.
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand”
Paul Rand
From the choice of colour palette to the materials used, the style of furniture to the layout and lighting, every one of these elements stacks together for the perfect end result.
For example, the interior we designed for Springwell Leeds (HQ of North Brewing Co) has a very different feel to our bar design for Heineken at Leeds United, despite having similar purposes as spaces.
What’s the key difference between the two?
It’s in the authentic brand experience we’ve created for each.
At Springwell Leeds, the craft community spirit lives large, represented by North Brewing Co’s trademark insouciant cool, industrial edginess and open-armed welcomes.
At the Heineken bar, #brandinggoals are the name of the game (discover more about this design here).
In this fortifying matchday hospitality space, excited fans are treated to Heineken’s vibrancy and verve alongside their pints, a bold and refreshing vibe to transport to the terraces - and a space where there’s no mistaking who the sponsor is!
Harmony is your secret weapon
Whether you’re aiming for a cosy and intimate setting (like the elegant bar we designed for Masons Gin, above) or a vibrant and energetic atmosphere, every design choice you make for your bar or restaurant space should harmonise with the intended vibe for an unparalleled guest experience.
Through strategic spacing, thoughtfully crafted lighting, unmatched comfort and authentic design, you can foster genuine connections, transport guests to new realms and etch memories that endure.
And by blending good looks with good design choices and functionality with emotion, you'll create a destination venue that your guests will remember for all the right reasons.
