The right combination of landscaping and hardscaping can make your backyard a functional outdoor extension of your home. Whether you like to entertain friends, family, and neighbors or want a place to just relax by yourself, creative designs for outdoor bars give you a place to enjoy being outside throughout the entire year.
We’re sharing different types of outdoor bar designs for Upstate NY homes that will change the way you experience being outdoors. Get ready to be inspired and start planning your own outdoor bar design!
Do I Have Space for an Outdoor Bar Design?
When you’re thinking about how to design a backyard for summer entertaining (or all year round), you may start worrying if you’ve got the space for it. Outdoor bar design ideas take up a lot of room, right? Wrong! Sure, there are designs for outdoor bars that take up lots of space, but there are also endless possibilities for small backyard hardscape designs without sacrificing functionality or aesthetics.
Considerations for Outdoor Bar Design Ideas
Before you start planning your outdoor bar designs, it’s important to take into account factors that impact how and when you’ll be able to use it such as weather, season changes, storage needs, and more. By carefully considering these factors, you can add an outdoor bar design that is both practical and inviting, no matter the time of year!
Some outdoor bar design ideas to consider for your backyard include:
Creating a covered area: Whether it’s a gazebo-style covering, an awning, or any other kind of solid structure, covered outdoor bar designs protect you from the elements. Enjoy your outdoor space rain or shine.
Use waterproof materials: Using durable, waterproof materials to construct your outdoor bar design will keep it from being damaged as the seasons and weather change throughout the year. Granite, teak or cedar woods, aluminum, and stainless steel are all great materials for Upstate NY outdoor bar designs.
Weather-resistant furniture: Outdoor bar designs are about more than just landscaping and hardscaping services. Choose weather-resistant furniture that will withstand sun, rain, and snow to keep them in great shape all year round.
Outdoor bar storage: Don’t force yourself to go inside every time you need a glass, ice, or a dish towel to clean up that little spill. Having smart outdoor bar storage solutions in place allows it to become a true extension of your home. Keep glassware, dishes, cleaning supplies, and anything else you need handy at all times.
Heating and cooling: To use your space year-round, heating and cooling features are essential to outdoor bar designs. Since it’s an outdoor space, cooling is most easily achieved with fans. Incorporating a water feature into your design may also help keep the space cool. Outdoor fire pit ideas are stunning and versatile ways to heat your backyard bar to enjoy cool evenings.
Water Feature Tip: NVS Waterscapes, a division of NVS Landscapes, will build you the water feature installation of your dreams. From pondless waterfalls to beautiful fountains, we’ll give you the perfect water feature installation to enjoy your outdoor bar design to its fullest and raise your property value!
Inspirational Outdoor Bar Designs for Your Backyard
You’ve learned about choosing the right materials, now let’s kick off some design inspiration! When it comes to outdoor bar designs, the sky’s the limit. From traditional to modern and everything in between, professional landscaping and hardscaping teams like ours know how to bring your vision to life.
To help you get the creative juices flowing, check out some of these fun outdoor bar design ideas and themes:
Tropical Oasis Bar Theme
You can transport yourself to a lush, exotic paradise without ever leaving home with a tropical oasis outdoor bar design. A tiki bar vibe provides plenty of shade and will have you feeling like you’re on vacation every time you step outside.
To really knock this outdoor bar design idea out of the park, consider using weather-resistant bamboo, rattan barstools with vibrant cushions, and finish the look with tropical-inspired landscaping. Twinkling string lights mixed in with the foliage makes it a perfect spot to enjoy even after the sun goes down.
These kinds of outdoor bar designs are great for homeowners who enjoy entertaining and having a great time.
Rustic Wine Bar
Interested in refined, relaxing outdoor bar designs? Consider going for a rustic and charming wine bar! Using reclaimed wood with a distressed finish will give your outdoor bar design a distinguished, classic look that is weather-resistant and versatile for casual nights or fancy dinner parties. Bar stools or other chairs with leather-style outdoor upholstery and metal accents ground the space without overpowering it.
Outdoor wine bars with a built-in wine rack provide storage for your wine collection, while a small wine fridge will keep bottles at the perfect temperature so you’ve got them on hand without needing to go back inside. For lighting, consider a simple outdoor chandelier or casual wood-toned fan to complement the look of your bartop.
This design is perfect for enjoying a great bottle of wine with friends or as a treat for yourself.
Modern Minimalist Bars
For homeowners who enjoy the sleek lines and minimalist approach of contemporary design, a chic modern outdoor bar is perfect. These types of outdoor bar designs pair well with concrete and glass fire pit designs, modern water features, and minimalist landscaping to complete the look.
Consider creating these kinds of designs for outdoor bars with a monochromatic color palette, outfitted, modern seating with clean lines, a polished concrete countertop, and LED lighting to keep the party going after dark.
Modern minimalist bars set the vibe for a great time and give your home the ideal spot to create lasting memories.
Coastal Beach Bar Designs
You might be in Upstate NY but you can still embrace coastal vibes with the right outdoor bar design ideas! These outdoor bar types give your backyard a relaxed and beachy atmosphere.
Using weather-resistant teak wood, seating options with coastal-themed upholstery, and a big outdoor umbrella to guard you against the elements creates a relaxing space you’ll love to enjoy year-round. Simple decor accents like shells, driftwood, and tropical-style plants finish the look. The beauty is in the details! You can extend the enjoyment into the evening with simple lantern lights designed for outdoor use.
This type of outdoor bar will add a little seaside charm to your Capital Region landscaping ideas and designs.
Ready to get started on your outdoor bar design ideas you can use all year long? Head over to the NVS Project Planner to start designing and budgeting your dream space. Save them or submit the plans to us and let’s get started bringing your outdoor bar designs to life!
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