I have seen the complete range of bars in homes. There are very dynamic home bars that look better than some of the actual bars I have frequented. There are also the most simplistic bars that serve the purpose, nothing more, nothing less. Can’t complain about that!

Do they have beer? No argument here. But, it does come down to personal preference. What kind of bar goes best with your personality, your home, your style?

Buy It

You can purchase bars of all sorts. Leather bars with two stools are sort of common. They have a little bit of space for storage. But, you would still have to keep your beer in the refrigerator.

There are fold up bars that can be stored in the garage. They are great for indoors and outdoors. Simple carry it to the pool and pop it open. If you want it in the living room for a party, by all means carry it in there and set it up.

There are more dynamic bars that you can buy though. There are bars so huge that you need a truck to haul them. They can arrive in pieces and light assembly is required. But, they are beautiful and the beginning of an amazing bar. You just have to shop around when you are ready to have a bar in your home.

Build It

There are two ways to build a bar and they are DIY or Hire a Contractor. DIY can range anywhere from a closet door on a stack of milk crates like we did in college or it can take up the entire room with lighting, fixtures and even its own brewery depending on your imagination and wallet.

You can download plans and go to town. From Tiki Bars in the yard to basement bars where the boys go to play, there are plans of all shapes and sizes. Just like buying a bar, shop around for the plans of your choice and have fun building. It’s fun to me!

I’ve built seventeen bars in my lifetime and that does not include the makeshift bars we put together in college or afterwards when my friends and I were still all single. Those seventeen bars include front porch bars, patio bars, spare bedroom bars and backroom bars along with the basement and the Tiki bars I’ve already mentioned.

But, once in awhile I’ll get a friend who wants a bar that even I find a little too complex. That’s about the time you call a contractor. Of all the choices, calling a contractor can be the most expensive. So, sometimes it might be best to compartmentalize the work that you can do and what you need a contractor to do.

Notice I said that the contractor can be the most expensive. That is if you don’t make additional cuts and put your bar together with the wrong material like a friend of mine did. I was part of the team who built the second bar for him. He would have been better off calling the contractor from the get go. But, that’s just not my friend’s style.

Having a bar is a symbol of beer enthusiasm. It’s our way of life even though we don’t make it our life. Public Service Announcement to those of you who don’t understand the beer enthusiast culture. We don’t promote over indulgence in drinking. We don’t promote an unhealthy lifestyle that comes from drinking too much.

We promote a healthy devotion to beer that involves enjoying our favorite drink and drinking responsibly. So if you are that type of beer enthusiast, welcome to the community. Now, get yourself a bar.

You homeowners out there will know how big a task it can be when trying to maintain and improve the appeal and comfort of your home. You may be looking to do this as your house is up for sale and you want to get a good price, or you may just be holding a dinner party and want to impress all your friends and guests. This task is made bigger by the fact that you have so many rooms and places throughout your home which you need to keep an eye on such as your living room, dining room, kitchen and even your bathroom. So here are some easy tips which can help create this comforting appeal:

1. Lighting- The lighting in your house can go a long way in determining the ambiance and atmosphere it generates. In the daytime you will want to emit as much natural light as possible, so making sure your curtains are drawn right back is a must. If you are redeveloping your home or having a building extension, then look into the possibility of getting a skylight installed so that when the sun is out, the rays will be beaming down on you from above.

In the evening it’s a whole different story, as you have to rely on your electrical lighting to create a relaxed atmosphere, and one of the most successful and popular solutions, is the installation of a dimmer switch. If you are looking to stay in and relax for the evening, then a dimmer switch can generate a candle lit appeal so you can relax, unwind and put your feet up in front of the television.

2. De-Clutter- Many find it so hard to throw away belongings that they never use. They will simply store it away and before you know it, you’ve got too many belongings and not enough space. So every once in a while you need to go through all your cupboards and drawers and decide on what clothes, books, CD’s or belongings you no longer need. This will enable you to better store the things you do need, and you will be amazed at how much extra room you will find throughout your house.

3. Gardening- Your front garden will create the first impression for any visitors you are expecting, and if you are looking to sell, you really want this to be a positive one. The first simple step is to get the garden gloves out and do the weeding, which includes throughout the flowerbeds, and through any cracks in your front drive. Also, make sure you get rid of or store anything that is just lying about in your back garden, such as brooms, rakes or any of your children’s toys. You should also look to fix any broken fences, brickwork, patios, just anything in your garden that will need mending.

4. Ornaments- Throughout the whole of your house, you should look to implement features such as flowers, candles or pictures. It just has to be anything that you like the look of, which will improve the look of your house. Flowers and candles look great throughout your home, and they come in such a variety of colours which means they will look great in to any room. You can also have pictures of family and relatives to create a cosy feel, or if you like your art then you may want to buy some framed paintings to showcase in your living room.