Saturday, April 25, 2009

Build a tiki bar: Thoughts on Tiki Bar Designs

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Tiki Bar DesignsAuthor: James Coetzee

For that real Polynesian feel, add a Tiki bar to your backyard. You will love it and your friends will love your for having it! A Tiki bar is a symbol of care-free and relaxing times, making it the perfect place to entertain your friends.

A Tiki bar can transform your poolside, patio or deck into a tropical paradise, enhancing the party atmosphere.

Tiki Bar designs may differ in many ways but the main theme that is central to all authentic Tiki Bars is that of carefree island parties. To endure not only all weather conditions but all kinds of party animals your Tiki Bar designs must make allowance for the wear and tear associated with the occasional booze-up that could get out of hand.

It is recommended that durable materials are used when building your own Tiki Bar - it is after all supposed to be a long term investment and not something you would consider replacing after every major storm or raucous get together.

Tiki bars come in many different shapes and sizes. Your choice of design will depend on your personal preferences, the purpose of the Tiki bar and the space you have available for your bar. Another factor determining the design you choose for your Tiki bar, is your budget. The bigger the Tiki bar, the more expensive it will be.

If you are on a tight budget you can design and build your Tiki bar around an old table using re-claimed wood for the frame work and roof.

Tiki bars originate form tropical regions and the thatch roofs are designed to endure tropical rain- and wind storms. During the hot summer months the roof offers a refreshingly cool shade.

Although there is such a wide variety in Tiki bar designs available you will always find the basic elements of the traditional Tiki bar present. These features include a thatched roof, bamboo finishing and a bar top.

Basically there are two major Tiki bar designs:

The "portable" Tiki Bar: This design is often smaller and works well in areas where space is limited. It has shelves under the bar top and not more than three bar stools.

The Tiki hut: This is the ultimate Tiki bar. The Tiki hut is fitted with an extensive bar, seating area, tables and decking. The Tiki hut is almost like a little house because it is fitted with side panels

All other Tiki bar designs are variations of these two designs.

As long as you follow the basic design of the Tiki bar you are free to fit your Tiki bar with all sorts of accessories such as fans, a bar sinks, lights, glass holders and a bar fridge to keep the well deserved drinks cold.

Decorating your Tiki bar is the fun part because anything tropical goes! Add shells, coconuts, frangipanis, Tiki statues and sand to create that tropical atmosphere.

When landscaping your garden make sure you work hand-in-hand with the tropical theme of your backyard to enhance your Tiki bar's features.

About the Author:
The author gives advice on tiki bar designs. To get your own tiki bar design, visit buildingatikibar.comArticle Source: ArticlesBase.com - Tiki Bar Designs

Decorating Your Tiki Bar, Ideas and thoughts.


Check out our other free tiki articles. Under labels or blog history.


Here is a nice article i found that will give you some good ideas for just starting out on designing a tiki bar. It's fairly basic, but good info all the same.

Decorating Your Tiki Bar

Author: Lee Dobbins
The tiki bar is a wonderful place to hang out, relax, or go all out and party. There's nothing quite like a tiki bar to take you away from the everyday mundane life, transferring you to a tropical vacation atmosphere, all without the need to travel to expensive resorts. Providing that unique island charm that feels like something straight from the Caribbean, tiki bars can recreate the setting of island paradise just about anywhere.

Those interested in the wonders of tiki culture should considering owning their own tiki bar. Whether for commercial or for private use, building and owning a tiki bar can be a fun and rewarding experience. It can also fill one with a great sense of pride and is a wonderful conversation topic.

Tiki bars can come in different shapes and sizes. The traditional tiki bar is based on the tiki hut which are found on islands. They are usually made of wood or bamboo, and the trademark thatched grass roofing. A full sized tiki bar can be quite an affair, emulating an environment of an island getaway resort.

Private tiki bars can be more variable depending on the requirements and budget of the owner. Poolside tiki bars are very popular, as well as backyard patio bars. Tiki bars can even be built indoors such as basement tiki bars- a pretty good source of awe and amusement for visiting relatives.

Wherever one wants to build their tiki bar, whatever size it is- the secret to having an exceptional and authentic tiki bar is in the decor one chooses to adorn their home-away-from home with. Nothing can better encapsulate the magic of the tropics quite like a well decorated tiki bar.

There are many types of tiki bar decor. They can range from the small to the enormous, the simple to the outrageous, and the cute to the downright freaky!

A good tiki bar should have some tiki totems, tiki masks and other such decorative items to give that distinctive native atmosphere. There are so many varieties of tiki decor to choose from. One can include anything they want. It's all good as long as it adds to the mood and party atmosphere.

One of the staples of a good tiki bar are funky tiki signs. There's no better way to declare your presence than a huge, flamboyant tiki sign hovering over the bar entrance to welcome your patrons. Tiki signs aren't limited to the bar entrance though, and should be placed anywhere and everywhere, including the restrooms, to mark restricted areas, or just to let people know how proud you are of your cool, vintage surfboard.

Even better is to have your tiki sign actually be your cool, vintage surfboard. Tiki signs can be made from a variety of different materials such as driftwood, surfboards or even canoe paddles. Carvings of fish or other aquatic life also make wonderful signs and ooze style. Just be sure to hang a "gone surfing" sign to let people know when your away.

A hallmark of the tiki culture is the moai. Moai are the famous monolithic statues found on Easter Island. These moai take the shape of giant heads, and according to legend, are said to hold the mystic powers of deceased clan chiefs.

They can also make really cool decorative items! Some people might find some difficulty finding space for a 50 foot monolith moai in their tiki bars; though thankfully moai decorations come in many different shapes and sizes to work with.

Miniature moai carvings are very popular. They work nicely as wall hangings or table pieces. You can even put them in the restrooms for a unique decoration.

One of the most important items in a tiki bar are the special tiki mugs to serve those groovy drinks in. Serve your wicked concoctions in mugs shaped like totem poles of ancient gods or with the somewhat less creepy glasses printed with dancing hula girls in grass skirts.

These are just a few examples of tiki bar decor. There are many more special tiki items available. The best thing about starting a tiki bar now is that these, sometimes difficult to find specialty items can be easily acquired via the internet!

Just remember that the proper decorations can really make or brake a tiki bar. So don't be afraid to go all out. Be creative and remember to have fun!

About the Author:
Lee Dobbins writes for http://tiki.subjectwise.com where you can learn more about creating your own tiki bar and having a smashing tiki party.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Decorating Your Tiki Bar.

Learn to decorate your tiki bar, tiki hut, or tiki lounge.

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