by greyeyesgabriel

Created on: July 01, 2008   Last Updated: July 16, 2008

Installation of a home bar is a large task to perform. There are many things to consider; such as location, specialized equipment, space needed, or whether to build it yourself or hire someone to do the construction. Before you get started; you should first consider your options and formulate a plan. Pick the location, know your needs, know your space and most certainly; know your budget.

First of all, you need to know where you want your bar to be located. There are various places that will work; the living room is the most popular place, however I have seen designs in the den, cabana, pool, and even the garage. It really depends on functionality and personal taste. Cost can also be a major factor in the location; for instance, the cost of building in your pool would be considerably higher than building in your garage. The most efficient way is to buy a prefabricated bar and placing it in your desired location, but for this example, the sky is the limit. then you need to decide how much space you are willing to dedicate to the project.

Now that you have covered location and space/size; you can focus on the more enjoyable side of the project; design. It is a place that your friends will want to hang out and get intoxicated so it would need to be functional, interesting, fun, and practical. I am sure that you had an idea of what you wanted when you first thought of building a bar; so, I won't spend too much time on the subject. A good practice is to write down your ideas so that you will have notes to refer to for the contractor or yourself if you decide to build yourself.

Building a bar from scratch, like we want to do here is a large task with lots of money, time and skill involved. If you are not a carpenter or enjoy woodworking as a hobby then I would suggest either going prefabricated or hiring a professional. There are many reputable professionals that specialize in the area of detailed trim work. look on the internet, in the paper, on the bulletin board in your local home improvement store. Remember, there are several aspects of storage and cleanliness to consider.

Face it, intoxicated people are messy and you don't want to have to spend hours cleaning after a night of entertaining. Consider the location of a sink or a fresh supply of bar rags. You will need several types of supplies for your new bar. Did you remember to supply some kind of refrigeration for the types of alcohol that you will be supplying? Beer needs to be cooled, and you will need ice, glasses of all types, and of course the all important bar key to open those imported beers, a corkscrew for the wine drinkers, and most definitely, bar stools. Did you include entertainment; such as a juke box, pool table, dartboard?

Now that you have found a location, space/size, design, and supply for you new bar, all that is left is stocking it. Make sure to provide a variety of liquors, beer and wine. Just because they are your friends doesn't mean they have the same tastes. Having trouble deciding what to stock? Ask around, I'm sure that you won't have any problem finding answers. Now that you have stocked your bar; invite some friends over; and start your new career as a bartender. Don't forget the tip glass. Don't have any friends to invite? Why not, you have a fully stocked bar?

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