Restaurants
Bar Colour Palette for Restaurants
Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
- Compare
- Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
- Before buying
- Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.
Worked example
A living room has a patterned rug, colorful art, and an existing wood floor that all need to remain.
Use the rug and floor as fixed samples; select a restrained wall field and draw one accent from the artwork. View large samples beside each element in both daylight and evening light.
How to test it
Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Place the bar along a perimeter with a defined standing zone and a separate bartender work aisle.
- Detail
- Use a foot rail, spill-tolerant counter surface, and focused task light on the work side.
- Trade-off
- A prominent bar can energize the room but dominate its sound and visual character.
- Check stool pullback and passing clearance
- Test bartender reach across the full counter
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