You too can create a Tiki bar atmosphere in your own home

We’ve all heard of the classic basement bar, a few stools, a keg or two, some neon lights for drinks and you’re in business. However, since basement bars are often found in cooler climates, if you live in a warmer region, what’s your alternative? The alternative would probably be a tiki bar, an island counterpart to a basement bar; it’s just that these bars aren’t usually indoors and, for all intents and purposes, are much more festive than your average basement bar. However, if all you know about home bars is the basement bar, then creating a tiki bar environment will have to change your whole mindset.

While a basement bar usually has a roof, a tiki bar is usually a freestanding unit with a roof that is more decorative than necessary and will be located somewhere outdoors. To build tiki bar roofs, you’ll need cedar for the frame and saber palm fronds for covering, as well as thin protective netting to prevent wind damage and roof crushing.

In a typical basement bar, you have the luxury of buying a pre-existing bar, perhaps for a bar that is no longer in business, or you can build one out of whatever wood or materials you see fit. However, to build tiki bar tops and the bar itself, you’ll need particular woods that take well to the elements. One particular type of wood that is typically recommended is Douglas Fir. While Douglas Fir is primarily a Christmas tree, this particular wood is very well suited to the unpredictable weather of warmer climates. To help this wood last for many years to come, the application of nearly nine coats of marine-grade varnish is recommended for the bar tops and cabinets.

To build tiki bar stools, if you really do it yourself, you can buy books on the subject or download online tutorials on how to build the seats. If you are not that ambitious, you can easily find more than enough resources to choose from and buy the right stools for your tiki bar.

Buying or building a tiki bar isn’t difficult and can actually be fun, especially when it comes to decorating your bar. From lighting to music to tiki-inspired bar accessories, all of this can be as fun to put together as pulling up a stool and enjoying a cold, refreshing adult beverage.