The Barfender decoration score measures the interior appeal of your tavern, acting as a mandatory milestone for leveling up your venue in the in-game My Bar mobile app. Individual seating choices and decor pieces directly increase or penalize this counter, meaning low-cost fixtures can drag your establishment into negative values. Raising your score to required thresholds—such as 20 decoration points—enables you to claim higher star ratings, negotiate bank loans, and unlock advanced beverage licenses.
How the Decoration Score Works in Barfender
In Barfender: CO-OP Bar Simulator, your bar's reputation is driven through the virtual smartphone interface. Opening the My Bar app displays your current star tier alongside your live decoration score and operational metrics.
Following early game updates by developer Proto Division, furniture placement directly modifies this value. Tables and chairs carry intrinsic point weights that update immediately upon placing or removing the item on your bar floor.
Key progression rules confirmed by official patch notes include:
- Star-Based Unlocks: Beverage permits—such as the Whiskey License—now unlock through overall Star Ratings rather than purely linear quest completions.
- Permanent Unlocks: Once you achieve a Star Rating and unlock associated licenses, those permits remain unlocked even if your decoration score drops below the threshold later.
- Reduced Point Barriers: Early development patches reduced the total decoration points required to advance through star tiers to streamline early-game progression.
Furniture Point Values and Score Penalties
Not all furniture contributes equally, and budget shortcuts actively penalize your bar's aesthetic standing. In-game catalog browsing and player testing show distinct point values across different seating tiers.
| Furniture / Event Item | Decoration Score Impact | Cost & Sourcing Details |
|---|---|---|
| Metal Folding Chair | +2 Points | Standard seating from the furniture catalog |
| Diner Stool | +1 Point | Countertop seating option |
| Wooden Chair | Positive Points | Costs $40 in the furnishings store |
| Basic Cheap Chair | 0 Points | Low-cost seating with neutral visual value |
| Lawn Chair | -2 Points | Budget chair that imposes a direct point penalty |
| Wall Painting (Roller) | 0 Points | Grants character XP, but zero decoration score |
Placing lawn chairs applies an immediate -2 point penalty per chair. Players who rely on lawn chairs to seat early patrons frequently drop to negative ratings (such as -1/20), completely blocking bar advancement until those chairs are removed or sold off at Yousef's pawn shop.
Common Mistakes That Stall Decoration Progress
Several early-game actions drain your funds without advancing your decoration tally:
Assuming Wall Paint Increases Decoration Points
Purchasing paint and loaded paint rollers from the town hardware store allows you to repaint walls in styles such as dark brick or striped panels. However, testing shows that painting surfaces only rewards character experience (XP). It contributes zero points toward the decoration score objective.
Ignoring Seat Density Rules
Counter bar stools only accommodate one patron per counter segment. Crowding stools without proper spacing or placing seating where patrons or waitstaff constantly collide can cause chairs to flip over. Flipped chairs prevent customers from sitting down and stall your service flow.
Overspending on Luxury Items Too Early
Certain catalog items, such as standalone plants priced around $300, offer visual upgrades but quickly exhaust your operating capital. In early shifts, purchasing $40 Wooden Chairs or +2 Metal Folding Chairs delivers the necessary score without bankrupting your inventory restocks.
Unlocking Bar Star Ratings and Upgrades
To claim your first official Star Rating in the My Bar app, your bar must fulfill a bundle of baseline management targets observed across operating shifts:
- Reach 20 Decoration Points
- Earn $200 from customer orders
- Convince 5 customer groups using promotional flyers
- Collect 8 tips from satisfied patrons
Once all requirements turn green, open your phone, select My Bar, and confirm the star claim. Achieving this rating unlocks major logistical options:
- Bank Financing: The bank representative will approve substantial business loans (such as a $1,360 loan carrying a $1,400 repayment liability).
- Facility Expansion: You gain the right to purchase the vacant commercial space next door for $650, significantly widening your floor plan.
- Drink Permits: Star milestones clear the way to purchase higher-margin inventory permits, including the $30 Whiskey License and the $60 Cocktails License.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does painting the walls increase your decoration score in Barfender?
No. Using a loaded paint roller from the hardware shop to repaint your interior awards player experience points, but it does not add points to the decoration score tracker.
Can furniture give you a negative decoration score?
Yes. Low-grade patio items, specifically lawn chairs, deduct 2 decoration points each upon placement. If you place lawn chairs without offsetting them with positive furniture, your decoration score will fall into negative numbers.
Do you lose unlocked beverage licenses if your decoration score drops?
No. Under official progression rules, once a Star Rating unlocks a specific license tier, that license remains accessible for the rest of your playthrough even if furniture changes subsequently lower your decoration points.
