When people go to a cigar lounge, they aren’t just there to smoke a nice cigar — they want to socialize, have fun, and, maybe more than anything, soak up the atmosphere.
Your choice of cigar lounge decor is one of the ways you’ll define your brand and create a space that inspires people to come back again and again.
Many smaller elements go into creating the overall cigar lounge atmosphere. How you combine (or exclude) these various elements is what makes your cigar lounge unique.
Here are nine cigar lounge decor ideas to help you define your vibe, delight customers, and drive profits.
Wood bar tops and tables give a cigar lounge a more rustic and classic feeling — and when you’re asking people to spend good money on high-quality cigars, the space should feel worthy of the purchase.
If you use wood, use hardwood like oak or teak. Hardwoods are a must because they’re easy to clean and won’t absorb odors or moisture if appropriately treated. Just provide ample ashtrays to avoid customers inadvertently damaging the tables or bartops.
If you're starting a new cigar lounge, hardwood decor for the whole space might be out of your price range.
In that case, prioritize real wood for bar tops and areas near the register and use synthetics for your tables. They won’t look as nice as the real thing but are still fairly sturdy and much easier to replace in the long run.
Having TVs and good speakers might encourage customers to choose your cigar lounge as the venue to watch the next big game or to relax and listen to music.
The placement of your TVs and speakers, and how many of them you have, will change the atmosphere of your cigar lounge considerably. Think raucous sports bar vs. a quiet high-end hotel bar.
If your customers do enjoy watching a game or fight at your lounge, it’s not just about having more TVs but placing them strategically in the right spots so people can watch no matter where they sit.
If you want to maintain a more low-key and quiet atmosphere, consider limiting TVs to the corners of the bar or having none at all.
As for speakers, avoid mounting them too close to tables or at seat height. Otherwise, some areas will be drowned out by noise, and people won’t be able to have conversations.
Speakers come in many different styles, so choose something that sounds nice but also fits your aesthetic.
The goal of a cigar lounge is to provide a welcoming space for cigar enthusiasts to enjoy their hobby. The more comfortable they are, the longer they’ll stay and the more they’ll spend.
Even if your vibe is immaculate, no one will want to spend much time there, let alone come back, if there’s nowhere to sit or the seating is uncomfortable.
Invest in comfortable chairs, couches, and seating areas. Not only that, make sure there is ample seating for different types of groups. Have a mix of luxe leather chairs for single customers and large couches for groups.
If you’re starting a cigar lounge for the first time, visit a few competitors during peak hours and count the average number of customers to get an idea of how much seating you’ll need.
If you already own a cigar lounge or tobacco store, use your point of sale (POS) system to see how many customers you get during peak hours.
Cigar lounges aren’t just a place to enjoy fine cigars. They’re a place for adults to socialize and have fun. Having pool tables and other games is one way to keep people entertained while they smoke and relax.
Pool isn’t the only game you could have in a cigar lounge, but you need to choose games that fit the atmosphere you’re trying to create. The subtle crack of a pool ball in the corner is very different from the din of an arcade machine or the frantic wobble of foosball tables.
Games can be a source of additional revenue, so try to find ones that aren’t too disruptive but that your patrons enjoy.
Already own a cigar lounge and aren’t sure if adding games is a good fit? Why not ask your customers directly? Use your social media channels or newsletter to see what kinds of games customers would like (if any).
Related Read: Marketing for Smoke Shops: 5 Cigar Promotions To Boost Your Sales
We’ve talked a lot about wooden bars and leather couches — the classic cigar lounge. But classic isn’t the only aesthetic. If you want to stand out, you might go in a different direction.
You could opt for a bar top made of natural stone or porcelain to create a more modern but high-class feel for your cigar lounge. Or you could choose a minimalist, monochromatic approach using epoxy resin.
If you opt for a more minimalist look, match it with the rest of your decor, avoiding hanging too many decorations on the wall or having cluttered tables and counters.
Some people go to cigar lounges to socialize, but that doesn’t mean they’re ready to socialize with just anyone. Make sure to have booths or private tables away from the center of the room so groups of friends can talk and celebrate privately.
If you build booths, ensure they have lighting fixtures above them or on the tables themselves to avoid a private corner from turning into a dark one.
Try to have a healthy mix of private and public seating in your cigar lounge. The right mix may be impossible to nail down right at opening, so take note of the types of groups that regularly come into your cigar lounge and change things up as needed.
If you offer a cigar lounge loyalty program, you can also set up exclusive special areas for members.
A cigar lounge is, of course, all about the cigars, and how you display them is essential to instilling a sense of quality and expertise.
Humidor cases and cabinets are a practical and attractive way to show off your cigar selection. A handcrafted humidor case may be pricy, but investing in something that looks great and keeps cigars in peak condition is important.
Choose humidor cases that fit the rest of your aesthetic (e.g., rustic and cozy, modern and futuristic) and show off your merchandise well. Remember, their purpose isn’t just to be a nice piece of furniture, but to sell your cigars.
When people talk about bars, they often use words based on light to describe them. A bad bar might be described as “dingy and dark” or “too bright and sterile feeling.”
Lighting contributes a significant amount to the mood of a location. When we think of walking into a bar or a restaurant versus a supermarket or electronics store, one of the first differences we instinctively pick up on is the lighting.
Related Read: 4 Cigar Lounge Ideas To Maximize Your Space
Pick out light fixtures that fit your overall aesthetic, whether an iron chandelier or a modest embedded light behind the bar. Perhaps more importantly than the style of fixture, pay close attention to the color temperature of your lights.
Lighting goes a long way toward defining the atmosphere of a cigar lounge, even during the daytime. If you have a lot of wood bars and tables, choose warm lighting. If you want a more minimalist feel, choose cooler color tones or subtle highlights.
Regardless, choose lights that create good visibility without being blinding. Slight diffusion, either on the light itself or by bouncing it off a wall, will help avoid creating harsh shadows.
One final tip. If you’re hoping to become a popular cigar lounge, focusing on air quality is a must. Invest in high-quality ventilators and air purifiers that can handle a large space and many smoking customers at once.
Here are some quick tips:
Ventilation is vital to creating an inviting atmosphere that doesn’t feel (or smell) stale.
Remember, the decor you pick is just a small piece of the puzzle when creating your cigar lounge brand. However, the physical space isn’t everything you need to master to find success.
To run a profitable, popular cigar lounge, you’ll need:
Just like cigar lounge decor tells a story, so does your marketing. For more tips on telling your unique story to the world, check out our free guide to cigar lounge marketing.