Warmer weather means more opportunities to enjoy your outside, and outdoor bars are the ultimate backyard accouterment and the center of any summer soirée. Here are some fun ideas to help get your party started.
Gazebo Bar
Similar to a pergola, a gazebo can be used to create a stylish outdoor bar space. This freestanding, roof-covered garden structure has more columns than a pergola due to its typically hexagonal or octagonal shape. A gazebo’s ceiling and columns lend themselves well to decorating and personalization.
Pergola Bar
It’s easy to create a designated bar space with a pergola—a structure usually consisting of four columns and an open raftered roof. A pergola gives the impression of an airy outdoor room, which you can fill with patio furniture and fit out with a bar counter. Some pergolas even come with a bar top built into one of the sides.
Kitchen Window Bar
Installing a counter outside a backyard-facing kitchen window is a brilliantly simple way to create a bar top. The beauty of this idea is that it takes up very little space and works for any size yard. You’ll just need a window designed to open easily for pass-through convenience—plus the countertop (barstools are optional). Your kitchen sink doubles as the bar sink, and both prep and cleanup are as easy as reaching out the window.
Pushcart Bar
If you’re looking for a less permanent outdoor bar option, consider serving your drinks from a push cart. Designs and styles vary—you can repurpose a simple metal shelf on casters or use a poolside wicker storage cabinet. Alternatively, you can purchase a sleek teak-wood cart built just for this purpose. Or, if you’re feeling handy, consider building your own wooden pushcart or turning an old sink into an outdoor bar.
Murphy Bar
Another space-saving idea is to install a “murphy bar” onto a backyard-facing exterior wall . The concept is similar to the murphy bed—when the bar’s not in use, simply fold it against the wall to hide it away. Not only is a murphy bar easy to store, it’s also bound to be a conversation piece!
Bar Shed
People have been finding all sorts of interesting ways to repurpose their gardening sheds, so the advent of the “pub shed” was perhaps inevitable. You can kit the shed out as a bar and consider cutting out a window and adding a bar top to take advantage of the adjacent outdoor space.
No matter what type of outdoor bar you go with, don’t forget to include some fun, personalized décor. Whether you’re partial to casual tiki, rustic farmhouse, or industrial chic, a theme or distinctive style will make your bar space all the more memorable. Cheers!