Having a place to enjoy drinks with friends and family is a great goal for many homeowners. Whether it’s in your basement, garage, spare room, or patio, building a home bar can be a fun DIY project.

There’s no better place to entertain friends and family than around a home bar. They are pretty straight forward to build with a little planning.

Design your bar with lots of storage for drinks, glassware and a place for empties. Use ready-made kitchen cabinetry with clever storage solutions to utilize the entire space. Include plenty of countertop space to mix drinks and serve your guests.

Keep drinks cold with either a full size fridge, a smaller bar fridge or with a dedicated wine or drinks fridge. Decide if you want a wet bar with a sink and running water. There will be a cost to run plumbing to your bar area but you will appreciate the convenience of having running water close at hand.

Your bar should be wired for electrical outlets and lighting. A common style detail is to showcase liquor bottles and glassware with distinctive lighting. The finishes you choose will depend on your budget and what look you are going for. You can choose a fun sports theme or go for major drama with bold colour choices.

If space is an issue, build a walk-up bar

A walk-up bar utilizes a single wall and doesn’t have bar seating. This is a great solution for smaller spaces and is easier to fit into existing floor plans. A walk-up bar has all the function of a full bar but on a smaller scale and with a smaller budget. This type of bar can easily transition into a coffee bar if liquor isn’t important to you.

Whether you want to build a full bar or a minimalist walk-up bar, your local TIMBER MART has the quality tools and materials to turn your vision into a reality.