DIY Apartment Bar

by | Dec 22, 2023 | Lifestyle

Picture this: after coming home from a long day of work, you see your handcrafted apartment bar stocked full of your favourite drinks. Creating DIY projects that you can admire and utilize in your home can be such a rewarding experience. If you’re looking to mix your passions of crafts and cocktails, creating your own bar should be your next project. So, grab a glass and pour a drink as we discuss the logistics of creating a bar in your apartment and how it can transform your space.

 

Define Your Style

Before you begin the bar-making process, it’s important to determine what your aesthetic is. This will help your bar match the rest of your home. To help with this vision, create a vision board. This could be on websites like Pinterest or printing photos and putting them in a book or on a piece of bristol board.

 

Measure Your Space

Next, you need to decide where you will put your bar. Where is the ideal location for it? Consider what space is available, the traffic in that area and if it would be used effectively. Take some measurements and determine the ideal size for the bar. Draw up a sketch – this will act as your blueprint moving forward. Take into consideration if you want shelves, drawers, cabinets or other additional features.

 

From here, there are two ways that you can approach crafting your bar:

 

1. Repurpose Old Furniture

Old cabinets and dressers are perfect for a bar makeover. Check out your local thrift stores, antique shops or websites like Facebook Marketplace or eBay. From here, you can reconfigure the piece by adding and removing features as needed. Using some tools, you can create new shelves, holders, brackets and more. If this feels daunting, enlist a professional or a friend to help you take on the task. Finish it off with a coat of paint, wallpaper and/or some new hardware. Creating your dream DIY apartment bar doesn’t have to be complicated and having a starting foundation is a good first step.

 

2. Build Your Own Bar

If you feel you’re a handy person and want to take on the task, you can build your own bar. If you want it to attach to the wall, make sure to get approval from your landlord or property manager first.

 

Gathering materials and tools are easy as not a lot are needed. The more you can repurpose and upcycle, the more cost-effective this project will be. Assemble a frame and create a customized bar top. Put on some paint and any additional fixtures to finish up this build. There are many guides online that can aid you through this process. While it may feel intimidating, it can be fun for those who love a challenge.

 

Finishing Touches

Whether you built your bar from scratch or an old piece of furniture, now comes the best part – stocking it up. Add some staple liquors – like vodka, rum, tequila, gin, whiskey and rye – along with extra liqueurs and some mixers like pops, juices, simple syrup and bitters. You’ll need something to drink out of, so grab your favourite glasses and keep them handy for when you’re ready to channel your inner mixologist. Finish off the space with some final details like plants, personal effects, hooks, LED lighting and more.

 

Now you’re ready to host the next party with your friends or pour yourself a drink after a long day of work. If you do decide to partake in drinking, make sure you are of legal age and you drink responsibly. Cheers!