One you come to the realization that you could own your own little tiki bar, it can be tempting to jump right in and let the bamboo fly.  However, the most impressive home bar setups require detailed planning before building begins.

If you are thinking about building your own tiki bar at home, there are a few things to consider before you get started.

Where to build – chances are, you’ve already decided where to construct your home bar.  Whether you have an unfinished basement, vacant dining room, or poolside patio to work with, get your available dimensions in order so you can plan properly.

Materials to use – are you looking for a bamboo tiki bar?  Two by fours?  Railroad ties?  Consider the types of materials you have available, the space you’ll be working in, and how you’d like the finished product to look.

Bar kit or custom build – Depending on how much time and money you are looking to spend on your tiki bar, you will need to decide between a tiki bar kit or custom build.  If you opt to build it yourself, there are some excellent tiki bar plans available.

Cool bar mods – You may want to modify your design to work in nifty features.  A tiki god, cool lighting, flatscreen television, or a kegerator can all add a defining touch to your home bar and make it worth adjusting your design.

Photo by spudz64.