Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Designing Your Bar
Designing a bar isn’t just about aesthetics or equipment—it’s about creating a space that flows, serves efficiently, and supports your staff. At Bargonomic, we’ve worked with bars across the country and have seen what works—and what holds teams back. If you’re opening a new space or upgrading your current setup, here are five mistakes to avoid:
- Prioritizing Looks Over Function
A beautiful bar might catch eyes, but if it slows your team down, it costs you. Bars that focus solely on aesthetics often end up with awkward workflows, poor storage, and constant bottlenecks. Design should serve the operation first—and great design does both. - Overlooking Ergonomics
Bars are high-pressure environments where every second counts. Ignoring ergonomic layout leads to fatigue, injuries, and slower service. Strategic placement of sinks, ice, tools, and stations helps reduce movement and keeps bartenders efficient and safe. - Wasting Valuable Space
Whether you’re working with 8 feet or 18, space matters. We’ve seen bars with underused corners, oversized equipment, or layouts that create dead zones. Smart design means using every inch to its full potential—without overcrowding.
- Choosing One-Size-Fits-All Equipment
Not all stations are created equal. What works for one venue might not work for another. Choosing standardized equipment without considering your volume, service style, or team leads to inefficiencies. Customization isn’t luxury—it’s strategy.
- Leaving It to the Last Minute
Bar design isn’t something to “figure out later.” Leaving it until construction is already underway leads to compromises, retrofits, and frustration. The earlier you start planning your layout, the smoother the entire project will be.Your Bar Deserves Better!
At Bargonomic, we specialize in ergonomic, efficient, and custom bar station design—built around how you work. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter layouts. We believe in bars that feel as good as they look, and perform even better.
Ready to design smarter? Contact us today and let’s build a bar that works.