Enjoying Your Tiki Bar - The Essentials

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If you can't afford to go to an exotic far away place for a vacation, you do have another option! You can build your own Tiki Bar in your yard. It does not take a lot of hard work, you will just need some carpentry skills, and, of course, your imagination.

Ever wonder how the whole Tiki Bar craze started? A gentleman by the name of Victor Bergen, also know as "Trader Vic" opened his first Tiki style restaurant modeled after the whole Polynesian culture in the late 1950s. Ever since that time, people have been drawn to the whole Tiki Bar phenomenon.

Plans to build your own Tiki Bar are readily available online. The build is simple, and once you have completed it, you can accessorize to make it truly fabulous. What sort of things will you need to complete the whole environment? Here is a short list:

o Tiki torches - fairly cheap, you can pick these up at most hardware stores, don't forget to purchase extra fuel for the canisters!
o Decorations - you can spend as little or as much as you like here. Start with carved polynesian mugs, masks, pots, totems, tropical items, patio umbrellas, let your imagination run wild! Pretty much anything in the Polynesian style will work.
o Bar accessories - various sized glasses for tropical drinks, all of the various spirits for your wild concoctions, fresh tropical fruit, limes, ice, a beverage shaker and, of course, a blender.
o Couple of small bistro tables and chairs;
o Stools for your bar area;
o Small grill or barbecue for whipping up exciting appetizers and snacks for your friends.
o Coconut shells with floating tealights
o Table accessories like straw mats, raffia table skirts;
o Small seating accents that are unique - i.e. surfboard chairs.

Before you know it, all of your friends will be flocking to your house to enjoy the whole Tiki theme. You can plan weekly parties, or have a big annual event. These fabulous environments are easily maintained and just look great. If you want to really set the mood, you can add potted palms around the entire perimeter and patio lanterns. Add some bamboo fencing. Wicker style furniture is relatively inexpensive and can really add a great accent to your entire theme. With each item or piece that you add, you will be adding to the ambience of your special outdoor entertainment getaway.

Lisa Jordan
http://www.tikibaraccessories.net