How to Build the Backyard Bar of Your Dreams

Your big summer party is in full swing — and there’s a constant crowd around one cooler all day, reaching blindly into dirty ice to grab drinks. Man, you think. It’s time to put in a backyard bar.

Custom outdoor bar design makes outdoor living fun, relaxing and simple. Let your friends and loved ones spread out and sit at your new bar island. Install a draft system or wine fridge for easy access to fresh, cold drinks. Pop in a grill head for the ultimate outdoor party host station.

Your premium backyard bar options are endless with the right contractor. With over 20,000 backyard transformations under our belts, we’re your expert guides to building the outdoor bar of your dreams.

• Define your vision of the perfect backyard bar. Consider your functional needs, available space and your personal outdoor living style.
• Walk into home outdoor bar design with a plan. Durable hardscaping, shade structures, lighting and entertainment options are key considerations.
• Make smart, informed material and layout choices. Use materials with strength, heat and moisture resistance. Choose a layout that makes serving and interacting simple.
• Elevate your outdoor bar with premium appliances. Integrate an outdoor grill, wine fridge, draft system, ice maker and dishwasher for simple, efficient hosting.

Let’s Build Your Definition of the Perfect Backyard Bar

The definition of a “perfect outdoor bar” is what you want out of your space. Are you hosting large parties? Want to improve the functional experience of having a few drinks on the patio? Or simply looking for a spot to relax with a beer and enjoy the game?

Start your design-build journey with a focused look at your vision, needs, and available space. Then, tie your backyard bar concept into your overall outdoor living design — you’ll start to discover the right bar solutions for your lifestyle.

Define Your Vision

New bar construction or renovation comes in limitless layouts, styles and material options. But which ones do you envision in your backyard space? 

Close your eyes. Daydream about your outdoor bar as though it already exists. What are you doing there? Who’s with you? What does it look like? What’s the vibe?

Are you sitting at a rustic bar with treated lumber and weathered brick? Leaning on a modern bar with clean lines, steel and natural stone materials? Pouring a draft beer from the keg station next to your built-in grill head?

Consider Functional Needs

Now that you know what you want out of your backyard bar, let’s talk about what you need.

How many people need to fit in your bar space? Are you hosting a small neighborhood party, or a huge family gathering? Do you need a bar island for seating, or a lounge area with tables?

What kind of drinks do you regularly serve? Do you need a place to easily pour draft beers, an outdoor wine fridge with temperature controls, or island space to pour and blend cocktails?

Do you have dedicated outdoor dishes, glasses and barware? Will you benefit from a built-in sink and dishwasher (instead of toting all your dishes inside and back outside every day)?

Assess Your Space

A quality outdoor bar design can work in any size space. So how much square footage are you working with?

A freestanding bar island is a great solution for small spaces (like the photo above). Serve margaritas and grill burgers on a small island near the patio edge or on the pool deck.

Resist the temptation to fill every square inch of available space with bar elements. Leave room for you and your guests to walk, move and enjoy the space.

Integrate Your Outdoor Living Design

Approach your new bar like any new feature in your outdoor space — make sure it matches the style, feel and flow of what you already own.

How do you and your family already utilize your outdoor space? What’s your outdoor living personality? What aesthetic styles and materials already exist in and around your home?

Complement existing style and decor decisions. If you have an aluminum pergola roof on your flagstone pool deck, pull natural stone and metal into your bar design.

Planning Your Premium Outdoor Bar: Key Design Elements

You’re ready to put your vision, thoughts and ideals into a new outdoor bar design. 

An expert outdoor living designer specializes in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing outdoor spaces — trust our on-staff designers to guide your backyard bar creation process.

Here are the 4 most vital considerations when constructing your outdoor bar design.

Durable Hardscaping

Hardscape elements — especially foundation and flooring — are crucial to the stability and long-term structural integrity of your new bar.

If you live in areas with shifting soil (like our clients in Teas), use a concrete or modified concrete product like Carvestone to stabilize your bar’s foundation.

Use hardscape materials with high heat tolerance and moisture resistance throughout the space. They’ll create comfortable seating areas for guests and protect your bar surfaces from mold, mildew and burns.

Shade and Shelter

Ice cold drinks taste even better when you’re relaxing in the shade. Build an effective shade structure over your backyard bar to protect yourself and your guests from sunburn, summer heat and UV exposure.

We’ve built thousands of outdoor kitchen and bar spaces for homeowners under the protection of covered patios and pergolas with solid or slatted roofs.

Roofed bar structures aren’t just to escape to heat. They’re essential to protect your countertops, appliances and guests from heavy rain, snow and hail damage.

Lighting Design

You don’t want the party to stop when the sun goes down! Create an efficient, attractive lighting system that keeps your backyard bar bright, functional and fun at night.

Use lights that reflect your outdoor style — recessed lights in your patio ceiling, string lights on a party porch, or uplighting for dramatic landscape lighting. 

Select light fixtures with smart app integration to remotely control brightness, color and on/off schedule.

Entertainment Features

What features will turn your bar into an outdoor entertainment center?

Do you need TVs and built-in speakers to watch the game? Want an outdoor fireplace or custom fire feature for year-round warmth? 

Select Your Outdoor Bar Materials: Pros and Cons

The right bar countertop, base and structure materials create long-lasting, durable solutions with built-in resistance to heat, moisture and pests.

Let’s look at the most popular countertop and bar structure materials, as well as their advantages and drawbacks for use. 

Countertop Material Pros and Cons

Concrete is an excellent countertop material due to its versatile customization options, durability and heat resistance. Make sure it’s sealed properly as instructed (for example, seal Carvestone every 2 years).

Granite and quartz are extremely scratch and stain resistant but come with a higher price tag. Tile is budget-friendly, but is prone to staining and impact damage.

Bar Structure Material Pros and Cons

Natural stone is a popular bar structure material for its aesthetic appeal and durability. Use local stone to reduce delivery and sourcing costs, and be sure it’s installed by a qualified mason.

Composite offers strong rot and pest resistance, but it can look more artificial than desired. Steel and aluminum are strong, modern-looking materials that offer great corrosion resistance when treated. They do conduct heat in direct sunlight, and rust when left untreated.

Treated lumber is affordable and offers gorgeous, rustic style. But it offers lower resistance to moisture, requires regular maintenance and its chemical treatment may leach into your soil.

Moisture and Heat Resistance Options

Moisture barriers include sealants, coatings and membranes applied to your countertop and bar materials to resist mold, mildew and rot. 

Ask your installer about their stone and concrete sealer products.

Heat-resistant finishes protect your bar’s surfaces from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and damage from grills, outdoor stoves and hot plates.

Concrete sealers, steel powder coating, ceramic coatings and epoxy paints all improve heat resistance on select bar materials. Ask your contractor which is right for you.

Outdoor Bar Layout and Flow: Maximize Your Available Space

A premium outdoor bar doesn’t take a ton of square footage — it just takes a thoughtful design approach.

Make the most of the available space you have with the right layout. Create distinct spaces to work, serve, relax and enjoy your bar area. 

4 Popular Backyard Bar Layout Options

The shape and layout of your backyard bar informs its function and personality.

Do you need to maximize small space, or provide greater interaction for large groups of guests? 

Here are 4 popular layout options for backyard bar design.

Linear Bar

Highly efficient shape and structure for serving drinks. Works well in smaller spaces.

L-Shaped Bar

L-shaped outdoor bars create instant social hubs, direct sight lines and communication between all guests. Maximizes your counter space.

U-Shaped Bar

Elevate the potential for conversation for large gatherings and backyard parties. U-shaped bars are a good option to serve 10-12+ guests, especially under a poolside pergola.

Learn about the purpose-driven design of a U-shaped outdoor kitchen or bar space:

Island Bar (Freestanding)

Create a focal design point on your pool deck or smaller patio with a freestanding island bar. 

5 Key Considerations When Selecting a Bar Layout

Having trouble deciding between a freestanding bar island or linear bar? Wondering how to lay out your appliances properly? 

Take these 5 key considerations into account when choosing your bar’s layout.

1. Workspace. How much room do you need to pour, serve, grill and clean?
2. Guest seating. How many people need direct bar island seating? Do you need additional seating in patio chairs, stools, benches and sofas?
3. Storage. Will you build cabinets and refrigerators into your bar? Are you storing your glassware and dishware outside?
4. Appliance space. How much space do your desired appliances take up? Will their doors open and close without knocking into each other (or you)? Where are you washing your glasses and dishes?
5. Plumbing and wiring. Do you need space to plumb and wire your bar design features and appliances?

Elevate Your Backyard Bar With 5 Convenient Appliances

Your outdoor bar plans are beautiful and functional. Now, let’s make them as efficient as possible.

Install these 5 appliances to elevate your backyard bar area. 

1. Built-in ice maker: Essential to any outdoor bar. Keep ice ready, on-hand and available.
2. Integrated outdoor grill: Build in a grill or install a grill head to create a full “bar and barbecue” experience on your patio.
3. Wine fridge: Store wine at precise temperatures within arm’s reach.
4. Draft beer system: Pour fresh draft beer from right behind the bar.
5. Dishwasher and sink: No running in and out of the house to wash, clean and retrieve dishes.

Stop Dreaming and Start Building: Your Backyard Bar Awaits

Premium backyard bar installation isn’t a dream — it’s incredibly realistic with an expert outdoor living design and construction team. 

We should know — we’ve installed thousands of outdoor kitchen and bar areas throughout Texas. We’ve maintained an A+ rating with the BBB and thousands of 5-star reviews along the way.

‍Let’s start a conversation — what do you want, need, and dream about in your new outdoor bar design? Our experts will tell you exactly what it takes to bring your vision to life.