How to Make a Home Bar Out of Wood
Be the envy of all your friends with your very own home bar. Wooden bars are durable and never go out of style. A home bar is the perfect solution if you are bored with your regular watering hole. It also offers a great place to showcase your style and gives you the opportunity to play Tom Cruise in the movie cocktail, all while enjoying the company of your friends in a comfortable environment. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Graph paper
- Pencil
- Wood
- Nails
- Drill
- Hammer
- Pine boards
- Exterior wood
- Glue
- Finishing nails
- Countertop
- Bar supplies
Instructions
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Choose a location. According to askmen.com, the basement or game room make the ideal location for a home bar. If you chose a more subtle theme for your bar, the study or living room might be a better location.
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Set a budget. Before you start building, make sure you have budgeted for all your materials and decide on what you can afford. If you budget all materials, you'll avoid unexpected expenses later in the project.
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Decide on design. Measure, and using the graph paper and a pencil, create scaled blueprints of what you want your bar to look like from all angles.
"Measuring is fundamental. Spending three hours measuring will save you three hours of rebuilding, so make sure it fits like a glove," says Steve Richer, askmen.com writer.
Consult a professional to look over your blueprints if you are unsure.
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Build a base. Steve Richer recommends using two by fours to outline the base of your bar.
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Construct skeleton. Outline the walls of the bar and the desired height. Richer says to use pine boards for the skeleton because they are cheaper and won't be seen. Secure the boards with angle bars and lay the other two by fours to lock them in place.
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Cover your bar. Paint or stain exterior wood to cover skeleton if needed. Mount the exterior wood to the skeleton with glue and finishing nails. Add overhanging trim to cover joints with glue and finishing nails.
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Install bar top. Install counters to the top of the bar. Marble and granite are the most popular materials. Finish counters with clear/glass-like polymer coating.
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Stock bar. Fully stock your bar with popular liquors, bar tools such as opener, cork screw, ice tray, bartending books, glassware, garnishes, paring knife and personal styling tools like posters or signs to make your bar unique.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure to plan for extras when you do your initial budget, whether it be for mini fridges, a keg, draft taps, sink and running water. According to askmen.com prices can range from $1,500 to $4,000 for extras.
Remember when you're building your bar, if you are planning for plumbing and electricity keep in mind you may have to open up the floor or the walls.
References
- Photo Credit the blue bar image by Paul Hill from Fotolia.com
