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If you’re embarking on the journey of creating a custom bar for your home and find yourself lacking experience in this realm, it might be beneficial to separate the process into two parts: designing and planning, and the physical act of building. However, delving into the world of woodworking design can sometimes feel overwhelming. The key to getting started lies in a principle popularized by Stephen Covey: “Begin with the end in mind.” According to Covey, all things are created twice – there’s a mental or first creation, followed by a physical or second creation. Take a moment to ponder this concept. Essentially, any initial thought or idea for a project, no matter how fleeting, becomes a part of our personal reality upon conception. If we choose to actualize this mental creation, it has the potential to exist in the physical world and be shared with others. For instance, in the context of building a cabinet bar, this physical representation could take the form of plans for the project, be it sketches, printed designs, or digital versions displayed on a screen. These plans present the two-dimensional or artificial three-dimensional phase of physical creation. Sorry, I went off on a tangent there. Let’s get back to building your own cabinet bar.

Essentially, the first step is to envision what you want your finished cabinet bar or home bar to look like. This vision will serve as your end goal as you navigate the planning, designing, and building process. Do you have an idea in mind? If so, grab some paper and a pencil and quickly sketch out your concept to begin the process. Your sketch can be as simple as capturing the general shape or incorporating specific details such as shelving or the design of the bar top. Whatever ideas you have, it’s important to get them down on paper as soon as possible. What if you lack clear or structured ideas? In this case, I suggest looking at various examples, such as online pictures of home bars that catch your eye. Analyze what you like and dislike about these designs. After examining a dozen or so examples, you’re bound to have at least one idea that you want to incorporate into the design of your own custom cabinet bar, home bar, or home liquor cabinet.

Once you have some specific ideas and a rough sketch or two (don’t worry about artistic ability – the sketch only needs to make sense to you), it’s time to further develop your ideas. You may choose to start with one element that you know you want in the final piece, such as the bar top design, and build the rest of your plan around it. For example, if you desire the option of a liquor cabinet that can transform into a full home bar, you’ll need to incorporate some sort of expandable bar top. Look at various options available for purchase online or in stores to inspire your own unique bar top design. Perhaps your bar top folds in a particular way or features a sliding mechanism. Consider how the rest of the cabinet can complement the bar top.

If you plan on having a thick bar top, it’s advisable to have a fairly substantial base to maintain a balanced finished look. There are numerous intriguing design concepts, philosophies, and theories regarding creating furniture that is aesthetically pleasing and balanced to the human eye. However, as a beginner, it’s best to follow a simplistic approach. If you look at a piece of furniture and find its overall visual quality pleasing, it’s likely well balanced. What do I mean by “balanced”? Simply put, the dimensions of the legs, top, doors, trim, and other components should harmonize without any element overpowering the others. If you struggle to assess your own plans objectively or know someone with a better sense of style, don’t hesitate to seek input regarding your sketch or plans. Detach yourself from your initial ideas and be receptive to the input of others. Their ideas may be just what you need to elevate an okay sketch into a brilliant plan.

Once you have a couple of basic ideas on paper and feel satisfied with the overall appearance of your sketches (and perhaps the approval of others), it’s time to create plans that you can build from. You’ll need some basic dimensions and measurements to move forward with the construction. At this point, personality influences may come into play. Some may feel confident and capable enough to take a sketch and a few basic dimensions to their garage or workshop and start creating. Others may prefer taking more time to develop detailed plans, creating a shopping list for materials, and establishing a step-by-step plan. Personally, I tend to fall somewhere in the middle, depending on the project. Remember, there is no right or wrong approach. The most important thing is to ensure you feel comfortable as you approach your project. After all, this should be an enjoyable experience for you, right?

If you already have a few sketches, available materials, and feel mentally prepared to dive into the building phase, you can skip the next few paragraphs. Experienced readers may already be eager to get started. However, taking some time for planning can be advantageous, especially if you’re working on a budget and want to avoid wasteful spending or if you live far from stores and need to gather all necessary materials in one or two trips. If the idea of having a clearer plan appeals to you, don’t rush and keep reading.

Are you familiar with using a computer keyboard and mouse? I know, this may seem like a silly question since you’re currently reading online, but not everyone is adept at using computers regularly. If you can navigate basic functions using a computer mouse with a scroll wheel, you can utilize a free program called SketchUp, developed by Google, to create detailed plans to your heart’s desire. While you can use the program with a laptop touchpad, it can be frustrating, so acquiring a mouse will make the process much smoother.

Online tutorials are available for free and, with a few hours of dedicated time, can equip you with the basic skills to craft impressive 3D plans from your initial ideas. The program’s most convenient feature, “push/pull,” simplifies its usage. Imagine you want to create a 2″ x 4″ board that’s 6 feet long. Rather than drawing every line for every edge, all you need to do is make a rectangle measuring 2 inches by 4 inches, then click on it and “pull” it until it reaches a length of 6 feet. Voila! You now have a drawing of a board that is 2″ x 4″ and 6 feet long. Since most components of a cabinet bar will consist of squares or rectangles, you’ll find this function incredibly useful. So, take the time to create a detailed set of…
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Ihab Salloum