Lounge and Club Furniture for Bars, Lounges and VIP Areas

Lounge furniture for bars and clubs has a double job. It has to carry a mood that keeps guests in their seats for another round, and it has to survive night after night of spilled drinks, friction, smoke and constant turnover. Casa Padrino, founded in 2007 in Essen, Germany, supplies lounge sofas, club chairs, Chesterfield pieces, velvet sofas, coffee and side tables, bar stools, chandeliers, mirrors and sculptures, as single statement pieces or as a matching series.

This page is written for operators of lounges, cocktail bars, clubs and nightclubs, shisha bars, cigar lounges, members' clubs and hotel bars, and for the interior designers who plan them. It collects the dimensions and rules of thumb that matter: zoning, seat heights, upholstery, table surfaces, lighting, space per guest, and how to get the same finish in quantity, delivered in time for opening night.

Modular velvet lounge sofa in dark brown, 385 x 175 cm, for lounges, clubs and VIP areas, by Casa Padrino

A modular lounge sofa of 385 x 175 cm in fabric or velvet, which can be arranged as islands, corners or niches. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Sofa 385 x 175 cm, Modular Lounge Sofa in Fabric or Velvet

Planning the zones: bar, lounge, VIP and smoking area

A well planned venue is a sequence of zones, each with its own pace. At the bar, guests stand, order and perch for a short while, so bar stools, counter length and places to set down a glass matter most. The lounge zone is made for staying: deep sofas, club chairs, low tables, soft light. The VIP area needs distance, a protected back and a furniture picture of its own, often marked by a platform, a curtain or a niche. A smoking or shisha area calls for wipeable surfaces, heat resistant tables and ventilation, which the operator plans according to local requirements.

Draw the zones on the floor plan first and only then assign furniture. This gives a clear route from entrance to bar to lounge, and staff can reach every table without cutting through seating groups. Room dividers, planters, sofa backs or a change of floor finish separate the zones without walls.

Lounge sofas, club chairs and Chesterfield

Lounge seating sits lower and deeper than restaurant chairs. A seat height of 40 to 45 cm and a seat depth of 55 to 65 cm invite guests to lean back; go much deeper and getting up becomes awkward while the floor space disappears. Modular sofas can be set as islands, L shapes or wall benches and rearranged later for events. Club chairs are the flexible partner: two chairs facing a sofa make the classic group for four to six guests. Browse the armchairs collection for club chairs in leather and fabric.

Chesterfield pieces with deep buttoning and rolled arms define cigar lounges, whisky bars and members' clubs. Leather ages gracefully there, while velvet Chesterfields bring warmth and colour to cocktail bars. See the Chesterfield furniture category and the project page on Chesterfield furniture for projects; velvet in many colours is shown on the velvet sofa page.

For the seat of honour, some clubs place a single throne chair in the VIP area as a focal point. One piece is enough; more on the throne chair page.

Upholstery that survives late nights

The cover decides what a lounge looks like after a year. High quality faux leather is easy to maintain, forgives spilled drinks and wipes clean with a mild cleaner, which makes it a sound choice for busy bars and smoking areas. Genuine leather develops a patina but needs regular care with a leather conditioner and should not sit right next to heaters. Velvet looks the most refined and absorbs sound, yet it is more sensitive to stains: ask for contract grade velvet and for the abrasion rating of each fabric.

Some practical rules: dark or patterned colours at the bar and in shisha areas, lighter tones only where fewer drinks are served. Removable cushions make cleaning easier. Keep a reserve of every cover material so that a damaged seat can be reupholstered later in exactly the same colour.

Coffee tables, side tables and drink protection

In a lounge, glasses almost always end up on low tables. A coffee table at 40 to 45 cm sits roughly at seat height and stands 40 to 45 cm from the front edge of the sofa. Side tables next to armchairs match the armrest, usually 50 to 60 cm. See the coffee tables; consoles and side tables for hospitality have their own page: hotel console and side tables.

The surface is where drink protection matters. Glass and sealed metal tops are unaffected, lacquered wood holds up when well sealed, open pore wood shows water rings. Marble looks superb but reacts to acids from citrus, wine and cocktails; it needs an impregnating sealer that is renewed regularly, plus coasters in daily service. In a shisha area, tops should be heat resistant: metal, stone or glass rather than plastic or delicate veneer.

Vintage brown leather club chair with aviator style aluminium armrests for bars and lounges, by Casa Padrino

A vintage leather club chair with aluminium armrests, 94 x 74.5 x H. 78 cm, for a whisky bar, cigar lounge or hotel bar. Pictured: Casa Padrino Luxury Vintage Leather Armchair Brown / Silver 94 x 74.5 x H. 78 cm

The bar and its stools

At the counter, the counter height sets every other figure. For a 105 to 110 cm counter the stool seat sits at 75 to 80 cm; for a 90 to 95 cm counter at 63 to 68 cm. Keep 25 to 30 cm between seat and counter top and allow about 60 cm of counter length per guest. A footrest is essential. Stools with backs and arms keep guests at the bar longer, backless stools suit bars with fast turnover. Models are shown under bar stools.

Lighting, chandeliers, mirrors and sculpture

In a lounge, light does more than any single piece of furniture. Warm white light around 2,200 to 2,700 kelvin, dimmable in several circuits, carries the room from early evening to late night. A large chandelier over the lounge or the VIP table sets the centre, while table and wall lights keep the glow at eye level. Hang fittings high enough for tall guests to stand beneath them. See lamps and chandeliers.

Mirrors make small bars feel larger and multiply the light, but they should not reflect glare or the service door. A sculpture or a large wall piece in the line of sight from the entrance gives the room a theme. In dark interiors, a few large pieces work harder than many small ones.

Space per guest and fire safety

As a planning guide, a lounge with sofas, armchairs and low tables needs about 1.5 to 2 m² of guest area per seat, a VIP area with generous groups 2.5 to 3 m². Main aisles are planned at 120 cm, service routes at a minimum of 90 cm, and 80 to 100 cm between seating groups means nobody has to climb over knees. These figures are planning aids; the permitted occupancy is set by your licence.

A clear note for the operator on fire safety: depending on country, use and building, there are requirements for the fire behaviour of upholstery, covers and curtains and for escape routes. Clarify these with your fire safety consultant or the local authority before ordering. On request, we provide the material information available for the models you select.

A matching series for the whole floor

A lounge depends on a consistent picture: twenty club chairs in the same leather, ten sofas in the same velvet, every table with the same top. State quantities in your first enquiry and we clarify availability, lead times and possible adaptations in one step. Order a few spare pieces from the start and ask in the quotation how the same finish can be reordered later. Made to measure sofas, banquettes and covers are available on request. For venues that combine a bar with a dining room, the bar stools project page gives further detail on counter seating.

For architects and interior designers

For interior designers and specifiers we work from your floor plans, furniture schedules and elevations. You receive dimensions for every model, technical information and, on request, samples of leather, velvet, fabrics and finishes, as well as sample pieces so that comfort and colour can be approved before the series is ordered. Quantities, variants and special sizes are combined in one quotation, and delivery is timed to your site programme, in several deliveries if needed.

You have one contact from the first layout to delivery. How we work with designers is explained on the page for architects and dealers; examples of furnished properties are on the hotel references page.

How a project runs, in five steps

Enquiry: you send the floor plan, zones, number of seats, style and opening date.
Selection and samples: we propose suitable models and send cover samples and sample pieces on request.
Quotation: you receive a quotation per item with quantities, finishes and lead times.
Production: the furniture is produced to the approved finish, with the schedule monitored throughout.
Delivery: shipped worldwide by freight forwarder, coordinated with the progress of your site.

Frequently asked questions about lounge and club furniture

Which upholstery works for a busy bar?

High quality faux leather or leather in dark tones is the easiest to maintain. Velvet looks more refined but needs a contract grade and more care.

How high should a lounge table be?

A coffee table matches the seat height of the sofa, around 40 to 45 cm. Side tables next to armchairs sit at armrest height, usually 50 to 60 cm.

Which table top stands up to drinks?

Glass, metal and well sealed lacquer. Marble is possible but needs a sealer and coasters, because acids in wine and cocktails etch the surface.

How many seats fit into a lounge?

As a guide, 1.5 to 2 m² of guest area per seat in the lounge and 2.5 to 3 m² in the VIP area. The permitted occupancy is set by your licence.

Can you supply the same model in larger quantities?

Yes. Models are available as a series for the whole venue in the same finish. Availability and lead times are stated in the quotation.

Are special sizes and custom covers possible?

Yes, on request: dimensions, covers and finishes can be adapted to the project. Samples and sample pieces are available on request.

What about fire safety?

Requirements for upholstery and covers depend on country and building. Clarify them with your fire safety consultant or the authority; we provide the material information available.