Elevate Your Outdoor Space with a Backyard Bar—Here Are the Essentials You Need to Create One

One of the more fun aspects of home design—or improvement—is deciding how to creatively use whatever space is available to you. This should include your outdoor areas, too. One idea that has us clinking our glasses? Adding a backyard bar to your home. Whether you're someone who likes to gather the family outdoors or you enjoy relaxing with a glass of wine at home at the end of a long day, a backyard bar can elevate your experience. "Spending time outdoors is healthy and a mood booster," says interior designer Susanne Pumpluen of Scandi Bohemian Interiors. "A backyard bar can be a welcome escape after work without having to leave your home."

Transforming a backyard has always been important to most homeowners, but in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it takes on a whole new level importance. "Backyards have become even more of an extension of our living rooms, and are a safer place to socialize than indoors," Pumpluen says. Even if you're not having others over to your home right now, a backyard bar is one more place where you and your family can safely unwind while quarantining. And they're worth investing in right now for future gatherings—once it's safe to socialize with friends and extended family again, you'll be ready with a fresh setup.

Turning your dreams of backyard bar into a reality encourages lots of creativity: Whether you want to take on DIY projects and repurpose furniture from other parts of your home or work with a landscaper to come up with a new backyard design that'll complement the seating you plan to install, the options are only as limited as your imagination. Look at this as an opportunity to recreate everything you love and miss about your favorite bar while also improving upon what you aren't a fan of. And once the initial project is completed, know that kicking back at your outdoor bar will be a lot more affordable than going out for drinks every Saturday, too.

Whether your backyard is spacious or on the smaller side, you can create a refuge for yourself and show off your personality. The casual nature of a backyard bar means that chairs can be replaced with floor pillows, blankets can be used in place of central heating, wires can be hidden by plants, and string lights can provide all the light you need. However you choose to design decorate your backyard bar, you're adding an interesting and beautiful focal point to your outdoor living space.

Rugs made from recycled plastic bottles are especially useful for outdoor spaces since they're waterproof and fade resistant. Rebecca Dupere of Dupere Design suggests placing one of these rugs underneath a table or near your seating area.

Shop Now: Ruggable Outdoor Filifera Palm Rug in Green, 5' by 7', $219, ruggable.com.

On top of providing more light during evenings spent outdoors, candles also create a cozy and comfortable environment.

Shop Now: The White Company Small Fireside Lantern, $49, thewhitecompany.com.

Gilded bar tools add a decorative element to your outdoor bar. We like that this set is as functional as it is stylish.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Gold Tone Five-Piece Bar Tool Set, $75, macys.com.

Since you're creating this setup for the outdoors, you want to make sure the bar itself can handle the elements. Bhavna Bhatnagar of An Indian Summer suggests installing a bar constructed from natural materials like wood or stone.

Shop Now: Living Spaces "Amos" Bar, $695, livingspaces.com.

Turn your bar into a focal point by applying decorative tiles to your bar front. Stephanie Purcell of Redesigned Classics adds that tile is easy to spray down and clean, making it especially ideal for an outdoor space.

Shop Now: HexArt "Rose" Porcelain Matte Tile, 8'', $8.37 per square foot, tilebar.com.

Incorporating seats that serve multiple purposes can help you maximize space in a small backyard. Sustainable décor expert Shanelle Campbell recommends storage ottomans. Guests can sit on them, and you can store throw blankets, pillows, and more inside of them. Or opt for one that can be moved beneath a table to add more space when not in use. 

Shop Now: Annie Selke Braided Natural Indoor/Outdoor Pouf, $260, annieselke.com.

Floor pillows make for comfy outdoor seating while helping you create more space in your backyard. Campbell points out that you can easily stack floor pillows when they're not in use, allowing you to have plenty of walking room around your bar.

Shop Now: Cost Plus World Market Black and White Dhurrie Weave Floor Cushion, $44.99, worldmarket.com.

Simple glasses are especially striking in sunlight, so they're perfect for a toast at your backyard bar.

Shop Now: Martha Stewart Essentials Small Tumbler Set, $30 for 12, macys.com.

Grouping lanterns of different heights and sizes together will provide light and dimensions to your backyard. Dani Sandels of Dani's Domain often groups lanterns in threes, then hangs a few extras off tree branches.

Shop Now: TRNK NYC "Bell" Lantern, $175, trnk-nyc.com.

Don't worry about electrical outlets and extension cords if you don't have to! When shopping for lanterns, Pumpluen suggests going solar-powered.

Shop Now: XMCOSY+Store Solar Pathway Lights, $50.99 for four pack, amazon.com.

Want to easily and quickly create more storage space in your backyard for barware and bottles? Pumpluen recommends stacking several crates on top of each other to create makeshift shelves.

Shop Now: Vintiquewise Wooden Decorative Old Colorate Crates, $48.99 for three, homedepot.com.

A metal firepit not only keeps you warm while you sip wine on a chilly night, but it also creates an area where your guests can gather and chat.

Shop Now: AMAGABELI Firepit, $149.99, amazon.com.

You can keep more than drinks and glasses on your bartop. Dupere suggests decorating it with ceramic or metal sculptures to bring personality to the space.

 Shop Now: Karen Jai Home "Suwon" Tray, 12.5'', $46, karenjaihome.com.

A distinct wine rack showcases your beverage collection to guests while helping keep your bar organized and interesting to look at.

Shop Now: Crate & Barrel 11-Bottle Graphite Wine Rack, $49.95, crateandbarrel.com.

A colorful umbrella functions both as décor and important sun protection. Be sure to choose one that's large enough to shade your seating area.

Shop Now: Pottery Barn Round Outdoor Umbrella with FSC Eucalyptus Frame in Natural, $249, potterybarn.com.

Enjoy tabletop decor and accessible cocktail ingredients at the same time with potted herbs. Susan Goerg of happyhomes recommends fresh herbs for the aroma and atmosphere they provide—and for all the flavor they'll add to your cocktails.

Shop Now: Bloomscape Cocktail Collection, $70 for three, bloomscape.com.

Set a festive, whimsical mood by decorating multiple areas with string lights. Wrap them around the bar itself, off of backyard awnings, or even around any trees nearby, Sandals suggests.

Shop Now: Crate & Barrel Globe String Lights, $34.95, crateandbarrel.com.

Easy to move around, potted plants are a great addition to backyard bar décor. Plus, you can add pops of color to the space with colored pots or specific flowers

Shop Now: Jungalow Black Painted Clay Planter, $119, jungalow.com.

You can enjoy a cool evening for a longer amount of time when your backyard bar area includes a heat lamp. If you want to avoid the look of an industrial heat lamp, Purcell recommends purchasing a chimenea instead.

Shop Now: Hampton Bay Stainless Steel Patio Heater, $179, homedepot.com.

If you're working with a small outdoor space, fun bistro chairs and tables offer a place to sit and rest your drink without taking up too much room.

 Shop Now: Latitude Run "Leen" Three-Piece Bistro Set, $134.99, wayfair.com.

Setting up a bar in your backyard may require lots of wires and extension cords, which will certainly distract from your curated décor. The team at Dowsing & Reynolds suggests using faux foliage, like artificial ivy, to easily hide equipment.

Shop Now: 1800Flowers English Ivy Hanging Plant, $44.99, 1800flowers.com.

Beer and pizza is a timeless pairing, after all. Plus, Purcell emphasizes, a pizza oven will feel rustic while being very useful.

Shop Now: Erommy Outdoor Pizza Oven with Pizza Stone, $219.99, erommy.com.

Since they can be easily stored behind the bar or hung up on walls, having a few folding chairs on hand ensures that no one will ever be without a seat (and you won't be inconvenienced).

Shop Now: Safavieh "Laguna" Teak and Green Folding Directors Chair Set, $86.83, homedepot.com.

While bar carts are typically used to store bottles of liquor, you can use yours to hold whatever you need: napkins, supplies, snacks, and so forth. Pumpluen adds that a bar cart can also be used in place of a table to set down plates and glasses.

Shop Now: West Elm Rattan Bar Cart, $598, westelm.com.

Recreate the lively ambience (and busy dance floor) of your favorite bar with a speaker system you can set up outdoors.

Shop Now: Polk Audio "Atrium 4" Outdoor Speakers, $119, amazon.com.