Ideas for a Rustic Outdoor Bar Area

Image: Fantasy Brown Satin Marble Outdoor Bar Countertop, Pietra Italia White 24 x 48 R11 Patio Tile, & Reside Brown 12 x 24 Vertical Cladding from Arizona Tile

Creating a comfortable outdoor space can surround you with a sense of peace, as it is ideal for family gatherings or get-togethers with friends. Making the outdoor areas of your home aesthetically pleasing can be just as important as a wonderful home interior design, especially if you love being in the fresh air and sunshine.

When thinking about the centerpiece of your design, an outdoor bar and eating area adds a comfortable space by simply incorporating wood and similar components for a rustic charm. However, wood comes with maintenance, so this is a great example of where wood-look tile, metal-look tile, and brick-look tile can provide the right ambiance without the worry of laborious maintenance and day-to-day upkeep.

Outdoor Bar Tile

Regardless of your hang-out preferences, having an outdoor bar is a great place to socialize. Be it playing games and drinking lemonade with the kids, a quiet afternoon lunch with your partner, or a late-night party with friends, this amenity will provide endless opportunities to enjoy the good things in life. To begin, you’ll need to decide what type of bar you want – a wet bar vs. dry bar. The size and layout of the bar is also important depending on your desired use. So you aren’t hauling items out of the house, storage components under the bar surface are a smart addition. Also, it’s important to use durable, easily cleanable, long-lasting materials in the bar’s construction.

Porcelain tile, even marble tile, are all great options to use along the sides of the bar. While it may be common to visualize this area as wood, the placement of tile on the side and hidden surfaces will not only give that rustic look, it will make cleaning a breeze. With the bar’s exposure to the elements in the outdoor environment, you want to be sure wind, rain, dirt, and worse won’t hamper the appearance.

The front of the bar, the bar wall, is a space that will be “hit” by feet whether it’s an accidental tap or kids’ dirty feet rubbing against it. This is a major area where you’ll want to seek durability and ease of maintenance. If you like the look of wood, the More Wood series would be a great option. Appearing as natural wood, this porcelain tile will hold up to the typical wear and tear that an outdoor bar might encounter. Not only is More Wood good to use on the bar, but it also makes a wonderful exterior floor, featuring our R11 Anti-Slip Finish— it’s stylish and safe. For another fun option that would enhance your rustic bar ideas, the Reflexion series would add texture to your design and make the bar front and sides really stand out. This porcelain tile series has the shimmering look of metal and is suitable for dry, wet, or humid places, and high-traffic areas.

Image: Anthea Dark Stack Porcelain Outdoor Bar Tile, & Azul Platino Granite Bar top from Arizona Tile

Outdoor Bar Flooring

As briefly mentioned above, R11 Anti-Slip Finish is a unique finish that creates a gripping on the tile surface without altering its appearance. This is very important for areas that may be prone to dampness or spills. If you like the appearance of flooring carried through many spaces, tile with R11 Anti-Slip Finish can easily be installed from around the pool, to the patio, and then you can carry the standard finish of that same tile right into the interior of the house for a cohesive expanse. To emphasize this look even more, large-format tile enhances an outdoor layout. With stunning options to appeal to many design preferences, here are some great large-format tile choices to increase the functionality, practicality, and aesthetics of your outdoor rustic bar ideas:

• Anthea – This large-format porcelain series offers the R11 Anti-Slip option in four neutral colors and four sizes to complement many elements of your design. Anthea is a calibrated fusion of numerous natural stone materials, giving this product spectacular depth and color range.
• Reside USA – With large format and R11 Anti-Slip finish options, this porcelain tile appeals to those looking for a simplistic, modern look with potential outdoor applications. Offering a clean look in four neutral colors, this tile is inspired by the rich textures of commercial textiles.

Pietra Italia– Providing many options for indoor and outdoor use, flooring, or wall applications, the four color options and five size choices will perfectly integrate with other materials you are using to perfect your design. Created to emulate natural limestone, Pietra Italia porcelain provides a clean, natural stone look to any environment.

Image: Reside Beige 24 x 48 R11 Anti-Slip Porcelain Tile Outdoor Bar Floor from Arizona Tile

Bar Top Tile & Accents

Of course, there are often elements to incorporate for a more cohesive, finished look and that is where the backsplash comes into play if your rustic outdoor bar includes a wall. A backsplash is a place to showcase more of your style and protect the wall. Castle Brick porcelain will be sure to emphasize your rustic approach. In a traditional red color or more modern white, you will love the added texture of brick to really round off your outdoor rustic bar, while being super easy to clean and maintain. With five different colors, this tile backsplash is eye-catching while broadcasting a traditional feel.

To provide a different feel, Fantasy Brown marble tile offers linear movement that contrasts beautifully with warm white undertones. This warmth in color will seamlessly pair with other rustic elements you’ve opted to incorporate into your outdoor bar. Marble has a way of exuding a calming feeling through its stunning natural beauty while satisfying a variety of design preferences.

While countertop selection is paramount for a bar, it is not only about durability. Granite is a durable, natural stone surface that performs well in an outdoor environment. Azul Platino evokes an outdoor vibe because of its sand-like appearance. Offering a tight grain structure with the possibility of slight white or black veining and small black spots, your outdoor rustic bar will make you feel like you’re at the beach while being in the comforts of your own home. Check out our outdoor bar top ideas for some more inspiration.

Designing Your Rustic Outdoor Bar

Whether you live in a climate conducive to outdoor lounging all year round or somewhere with changing seasons, enjoying an outdoor rustic bar will provide a great space to take in the fresh air and relax. For help making your tile and slab selections, our Just Imagine Tile Visualizer will aid in the process, providing a great visual guide for your outdoor bar design.

Stop into an Arizona Tile store or slab yard to see the wide selection of tile and stone materials, colors, and designs in person. if you have questions as you work through the design phase, don’t hesitate to send us a message.