How to Set Up My Tiki Bar Lounge
Donn Beach opened the first American tiki bar in 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression. Decades later, and the tiki bar is making a comeback, according to the Wall Street Journal. Set up your own tiki bar lounge to serve up your own zombie punch or navy grog in style. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Brown paint
- Color scrapper
- Bamboo or rattan furniture
- Cocktail shaker
- Ice tub
- Alcohol
- Glasses
- Tiki masks and statues
- Bamboo or rattan window shutters
- Vintage Hawaiian posters
- Women mats
Instructions
-
-
1
Paint the walls of your lounge to look like wood paneling by using two shades of brown paint and a color scrapper. Visit your hardware store or look online to see how to achieve a fake wood-paneled look.
-
2
Purchase bamboo or rattan seats and tables at a furniture store that specializes in foreign pieces, such as Cost Plus World Market or a flea market. These tables can also be used as seating if necessary, so make sure they are stable.
-
-
3
Set up your bar by placing it 1 and 1/2 feet from one of the shorter walls in the room. Line up your glasses on one shelf under the bar, and set your ice tub on the top shelf. On top of the bar, display one bottle of each of the alcohols and juice mixers. Make a pyramid of limes with six on the base, three limes on the next level and one on top. Display the mint leaves in a glass.
-
4
Position the furniture along the walls, with a side table in between each seat and another in front of each seat. Lay the woven mats on the floor in the middle of the seating arrangements on both sides of the room.
-
5
Hang vintage prints, tiki masks and window shutters around the room. Choose a large, visually interesting piece to hang behind the bar.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Theaters will often have an abundance of this type of furniture in stock from past productions. Call local theaters to see if they have any furniture on sale.
Depending on the size of your space, you may only need one couch-sized and two chair-sized seating pieces. If you have a long, thin room to work with, choose long seating elements that will fit along the walls, leaving the center clear for walking, dancing or mingling.
Set a shelving unit under the bar to provide extra storage space.
References
- Photo Credit under the shade of a tiki hut image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
