Hints on Building a Proper Home Bar
If you are one of those people who have always dreamed about having a bar in their home and now you finally have the means to make it possible it was high time you finally did it. The technology and choice of cut-to-measure materials is so vast nowadays that doing almost any DIY home project is easier than ever before. That does not mean that you will not have to put some effort into it, especially if you wish to build a proper bar. In that spirit, here are several hints on how to do it well.
Pick a Spot
The first thing you need to do is find an ideal spot for your home bar. The most important feature is that you have enough space for unobstructed movement behind and in front of the counter. Bottom floor would be better since you will neither have to carry all the tools and materials upstairs during the building process nor drinks any time later. A spot next to a window would be another good choice; you can never get enough of fresh air when the atmosphere heats up.
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Dimensions
Start with providing sufficient room for normal operation behind the counter. You surely do not want to bump into things and spill drinks due to lack of space. Secondly, if you plan to use bar stools, make sure that the bar height and stool height are proportional. You should not have a 42 inch high bar and 26 inch high stool since they will be totally nonfunctional. When length is concerned, the bar can be as long as the space allows it.
Material
Wood is always a preferred choice since it is the easiest material to work with. If you are a DIY novice, the most practical choice would be to go with wooden frames made for all sides of the bar and cover them on both sides using pre-cut panels that you custom ordered from a local wood store. The choice of wood types, patterns and designs is so wide that you will have no trouble finding the one that suits your room design perfectly. When the counter-top is concerned, solid wood is the way to go.
Wood Protection
No matter how careful you are it is expected that there will be at least some drink spilling during the use of your home bar. The only way to make the bar durable is to use wood protection, especially when counter-top is concerned. Therefore, invest in high quality primer and waterproof lacquer and make sure the whole counter-top surface is thoroughly covered and dried out before you put it to use.
Spill Minimization
Apart from being careful, there are two ways to minimize the contact of counter-top and bar in general with spilled drinks. The first one would be a drip tray, a handy accessory that keeps the spills from touching the surface. The second one would be a bar molding that will prevent the spill to flow over the edge of a bar and spread over the front surface.
Glass and Bottle Storage
Any serious bar needs suitable storage for glasses and bottles, and having it installed under the counter-top is one possible solution. However, in a recent conversation with the people behind a Melbourne’s chain of bottle shops, it was brought to my attention that a hanging rack would be a more convenient solution. Under-counter storage requires you to bend over every time you need another bottle or glass or you are putting them away and this sequence of actions means a greater chance of breaking them.
Lighting
The amount of lighting you will need depends on the occasion. If you are having a party you will wish to have your bar illuminated to make it the center of action and to warm up the atmosphere. On the other hand, if you and your loved one wish to have a romantic evening drinking your favorite wine, the lighting setting needs to adjustment. Opting for dimmable lights would make both settings possible.
As you can see, any home bar can be highly customized and you have a wide variety of designs to choose from. The most important thing is to measure everything carefully, take your time and make sure you use quality material and protection to build a proper and durable bar.
Exclusively written for Homes Re-Imagined, LLC by Lillian Connors