Bar counter in the interior of the living room

As an independent element of the interior, the bar appeared a long time ago. But in the interior of residential premises to install it in droves has become fashionable relatively recently. What is this piece of furniture, what options exist - we will talk about this in more detail.

The very concept of "bar counter" comes from the English word "bar", which in translation means "partition". It is generally accepted that bar counters first appeared in North America in the 18th century. However, the first prototypes of bar counters were back in antiquity in the most enlightened state at that time - Ancient Rome. They were called "thermopoly", installed in taverns and other drinking establishments and were intended for heating and serving food.

The first bar counters were a cross between the oven where the food was prepared and the trading counter where this food was displayed. Later the Greeks picked up this idea, and even later the thermopoly went down in history, and the idea of ​​the counter remained. They were still installed in places where food is served. Bar counters consisted of roughly knocked-down tables on legs, which at the same time served for cooking and eating food.

Still later in the days of the Wild West, when it became necessary to defend against the raging visitors to establishments that often clutched their weapons, bar counters began to be made in America. They changed somewhat - they became higher, one side began to be boarded up with boards, high bar stools appeared. Over time, various devices began to add to the rack - shelves, hooks and other accessories.The tabletop itself expanded and became a full-time job for the bartender, whose duties included pouring and serving alcoholic beverages.

The idea of ​​the bar was so successful that it was picked up in other countries. It began to be installed in catering establishments, and over time, this piece of furniture also migrated to private homes. Recently, the fashion for home bar counters has become ubiquitous, and modern furniture studios vying with each other offer a variety of options for bar counters for home decor.

The bar counter in the interior of the living room can perform several functions at once. Its design can be very diverse depending on the size of the room and its purpose. This is a universal solution for a small studio apartment, and for a luxurious living room of a fashionable mansion. In the hall of the apartment or in the living room of a private house, the rack can be installed instead of the interior partition, that is, to perform the function of zoning the space. Also, this detail can act as a chopping and dining table at the same time. The bar counter can take a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

Consider the most common options.

• Straight. This classic form, just such a stand existed originally. The rectangular design fits absolutely any interior, fits into a room of any size.

• Corner the rack is usually designed to separate the eating area and the living room itself. It can be an independent piece of furniture or a continuation of the kitchen.

• Rounded - semicircular or round. Both options look very interesting and unbeaten, but their installation also requires a certain amount of free square meters.

• Retractable a bar counter will be appropriate in case of space deficit - in a small living room or studio. If necessary, it can easily be lifted and fixed, and after lunch or dinner it also folds easily, freeing the room.

• Folding the countertop performs similar functions with a retractable stand. The only difference is the folding mechanism. Such a rack can be mounted directly to the wall or to the kitchen cabinet and, if necessary, can easily be transformed from a table, for example, into a decorative interior detail or into the door of a nightstand.

• Two-level. This option is not too common, but it is no less attractive. Such a countertop has two panels located one above the other, one of which acts as a work surface, and the other as a dining area itself.

• Open the bar counter assumes the presence of the actual countertops and legs. Sometimes below are several shelves for small items without any covers and doors.

• Closed the rack is more like a bedside table or wall. Shelves for storing kitchen utensils can also be located below, some of which or all of them can be closed with doors.

Any bar suggests the presence of chairs. They can also be completely different - with or without a back, with soft seats, with legs or with a swivel stand - the final version depends on the style of the rack itself and the personal preferences of the owners.

The bar counter was originally designed for a more functional use of space, so it should be installed so that it does not interfere with the passage. The most common accommodation options are:

• Behind the back of a sofa or chairwhen the person sitting at the counter will be behind the person sitting on the couch. This option is convenient in the room, which is also a home theater. A TV or screen is usually opposite the seated.

• Between the kitchen and the living room. This location is often used in apartments with a free layout or where these 2 rooms are combined into a single space.

• Between the room and the balcony (loggia). Often owners of small apartments increase the usable area by joining a loggia or balcony to the room. In this case, the bar counter can be both a table, and a cabinet, and a flower stand, and a study, and also perform many different functions.

• Near the window. If it is located high from the floor, the countertop can be a continuation of the windowsill, but if low, it can be conveniently located not only with a glass of champagne, but also with a laptop.

• Wall-mounted rack especially relevant in a narrow living room, where there is no way to put a full kitchen or desk.

• In the center of the living room. Such accommodation takes place only in large halls. This is very convenient, since you can approach the counter from any part of the room, and a large number of people can be accommodated behind it.

The bar counter should not be a foreign body in the hall, it should harmoniously fit into the surroundings. Depending on the style of the interior, the following areas can be distinguished.

This style is characterized by the use of valuable wood - an array for the main parts and veneer for decoration. In a more budgetary version, MDF or particleboard is allowed. Such furniture fits easily into almost any interior. There are elegantly shaped chairs, often with soft seats.

This style is an echo of those distant times, when cowboys established a showdown between themselves, and the rack served as a kind of shield. A country-style stand is also made from natural materials: wood or stone. For decorative finishes, you can use natural fabrics with natural patterns. Chairs or stools are solid, simple, rough shape, preferably made of wood.

Here, the abundance of bright plastic parts, shiny metal, artificial leather is appropriate. Solid additions are plastic chairs with a spinning leg, neon lights and a sparkling mirror ball above the bar.

This style is characterized by deliberate roughness, rough surfaces and moderate colors. The bar counter resembles a bench machine rather than a table for eating. To achieve the desired effect, surfaces are sometimes artificially aged. The chairs are tall, knocked together as if in haste. The material of manufacture is usually wood, chrome and nickel. Wooden parts must be pre-saturated with stain and covered with several layers of varnish, as they will have contact with water.

This option is somewhat reminiscent of the disco style, but more elegant and practical. All the details of the modern bar rack should be extremely practical and functional. The frame is rigid, regular in shape, with clear lines.

This trend in the interior is sometimes called rustic. Plastic and other artificial materials are expressly excluded here. The support for the rack can be made of wood, the countertop made of stone, and the handles and other accessories made of ceramic or metal alloys. As decoration, you can use linen napkins, straw cup holders and other cute things for the eye. Soulness and simplicity are the main foundations of this style.

The opposite of the previous direction. This is the realm of plastic, glass and metal, acid colors, chrome parts. The stand can be supplemented with a visor with fluorescent backlight or a metal stand for glasses.

Whatever style of bar you choose for your living room, it can be a great alternative to a banal dining table.

You can find out how to make a bar counter with your own hands by watching the video below.