Outdoor Bar Ideas: For Your Entertaining Patio
An outdoor bar can be the peak of your patio entertaining. It’s a place to share conversation and laughs over drinks. Think about backyard summer parties, take some time to observe how people use the outdoor bar, and what it can add to your outdoor space. These observations will come in handy when you are designing your outdoor entertaining space. That’s why we’re here to help you make the most of it with our outdoor bar ideas.
How’s the service? It is important to first think about how you like to serve your drinks. Do you typically have a bartender (maybe that is you) or do you let your guests serve themselves? A typical sit-and-be-served bar with stools will be about 40” – 42” tall. If you are planning more of a counter space where guests serve themselves, you might want to be slightly lower, say 36” – 40”. You can “test drive” an outdoor bar and other outdoor living elements, including furniture, at Eichenlaub’s Outdoor Living Studio.
Plenty of leg room. If you are going to have seating around your bar, you will need to have an overhang so your guests’ knees are not crammed against the front of the bar. This is painfully uncomfortable to watch! A good overhang distance is 12” – 18” from the face of the bar.
Get that foot up. It is impossible to enjoy a drink and good conversation without having a foot slightly up on a foot rest along the bottom of a bar. The bottom line- any good bar should have a foot rest or “rail”. A good foot rest height is 6” – 8”, and it should be 9” or so out from the face of the bar. Your stools should have footrests as well.
Permanent, movable, or one of each? If you do a lot of entertaining, a good custom solid stone or other quality material bar is ideal. If you are an occasional entertainer or you are not sure where or how large you want your bar, you may want to consider starting with a movable bar. There are many small, lightweight options available. It is not uncommon to have a nice permanent bar that is used for most smaller get-togethers, with a movable bar waiting in the wings for larger gatherings. We can help you make the best choice for your lifestyle.
How crowded is it? No one has ever told me we made their bar too big. At your next party, be cognizant of how many people are around the bar and how full the bar surface is. Keep that information in mind when designing your bar.
Storage. It is nice to have what you need on hand during your parties. Think about what you will want on hand, cups, snacks, trays, etc., and plan for enough storage. Be sure to include a discrete place for garbage.
Ready to transform your patio into the ultimate entertaining destination? Don’t let another summer slip by without the outdoor bar of your dreams. At Eichenlaub, we’ll help you design and build a custom outdoor bar that perfectly fits your space, style, and entertaining needs, whether you’re hosting intimate gatherings or large celebrations. From determining the ideal height and storage solutions to selecting materials that will stand the test of time, our expert team will guide you through every decision. Visit our Outdoor Living Studio to experience different bar configurations firsthand, or contact us today to schedule your consultation. Your guests are already looking forward to your next backyard party. Make sure you’re ready to impress them.
