This summer the main project we tackled was our deck and getting it all set up. We set up a dining area and a seating area along with a little picnic table set up for our boys. We still had a good amount of open space on the deck and I knew just I wanted for to use it for! A bar set up! I loved the idea of having an area where guests could help themselves to drinks and when my husband told me he could add a cooler into it I was in heaven.

Here is how you can tackle it yourself.

Supplies:

-Qty 7: 2″x 3″x 8’douglas fir
-Qty 1: 1″x 4″x 10’common pine board
-Qty 2: 1″x 12″x 12’common pine board
-Qty 4: 1″x 12″x 8’common pine board
-Qty 1: 72″ x 25″ x 3/4″ pressure treated plywood
-Qty 1: 48 quart cooler
-Qty 1: Quart of outdoor wood stain

STEP 1:

Take two 8 foot sections of 2″x3″‘s and cut them down to 56 1/2″ and from the remaining wood cut two 38 1/2″ sections.

Take another two 8 foot sections of 2″ x 3″‘s and cut two more 38 1/2″ sections and from the remaining wood cut four 20″ sections.

Screw sections of wood at 90 degree angles per photo below:

STEP 2: Turn the frame around so that you are now working “behind the bar”. From the remaining wood left in step 1 cut a 15″ section and a 16″ section. Use three more of the 2″ x 3″ 8 foot sections and cut them all down to 53 1/2″.

Take one 53 1/2″ section and mount it in front of the rear 38 1/2″ vertical sections from Step 1. 14″ down from the top of the 53 1/2″ section you just screwed into place affix another 53 1/2″ section to the front of the same 38 1/2″ vertical sections. Repeat this step to affix the remaining 53 1/2″ section to the front 38 1/2″ vertical sections from Step 1.

27 1/4″ from the left side of the frame, mount the 16″ section of 2″ x 3″ in between the front and the back top cross bars.

The remaining 15″ section needs to be mounted directly below the 16″ section therefore vertically connecting the upper 53 1/2″ cross bar to the lower 53 1/2″ cross bar.

STEP 3: Take the two 1″x 12″x 12’common pine boards and one of the 1″x 12″x 8’common pine boards and cut them into 9 sections of 39 1/4″.

Lay the frame down on it’s back and wrap your frame with the 9 sections. You should have 5 going across the front and 2 on each side.

Make sure that the bottom of these panels is flush. The top should over hang 3/4″.

STEP 4: Use the remaining 1″ x 12″ wood to cut into 21 1/2″ sections for shelf.

STEP 5: Building framework around cooler door. You will need to cut out 4 sections of wood from a piece of 1″ x 12″ with the following dimensions:

A: 14 1/2″ x 2 1/2″
B: 26 1/2″ x 3″
C: 30 1/4″ x 11 1/4″
D: See photo below for measurements

STEP 6: Building the bar top and finishing trim

Because you will have a cooler on one side of the bar that can be accessed from the top of the bar you will have one side of the top on hinges that opens up to the cooler and the other side will be a solid section.

Make sure you unscrew cooler top so that it be screwed in place to the underside of your finished bar top.

Below are your measurements for cutting. You will be using your 72″ x 25″ x 3/4″ pressure treated plywood here.

For the trim you will use 1″ x 4″ x 10′ and cut two pieces 22 1/2″ long (for the sides) and a 59 1/2″ piece (for the front).

Your cooler will slide in thru the top of this opening:

STEP 7: Staining the bar. If stain isn’t your thing you can always just paint your bar. We decided to use some left over outdoor deck stain on the bar. It worked perfectly and was easily applied with a paint sprayer and paint brush for the tiny nooks.

FRONT:

BACK:

STEP 8: Invite guests over and enjoy your new bar!

It’s 5 o’clock somewhere, right?

I was one of the bloggers selected by True Value to work on the DIY Squad. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program as well as writing about my experience. I have also been compensated for the materials needed for my DIY project. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.