Although summer is speeding by, there's still plenty of time to celebrate it.
Depending on where you live, a trip to the beach or the ocean might not be in the cards for you this year. But that doesn't mean you can't have a little bit of tropical fun in your life.
Plenty of DIY-ers are coming up with unique ideas for sprucing up their homes for summer, and one very talented 18-year-old has come up with a truly impressive way to do just that.
He cleverly created his very own tiki bar, transforming his backyard into a summer paradise. Now, he can throw a tropical-themed party and bring the fun of the beach to his own backyard.
Scroll down to find out how he brought a little bit of the tropics to his own home with a one-of-a-kind tiki bar, and let us know what you think in the comments!
[H/T: Instructables]
ChristopherJ71, the Instructables DIY-er, began by collecting all the supplies he would need for his backyard tiki bar.
Of course, bamboo fencing and a thatched roof were on the list!
He started the fun project by building up the four sides of the frame flat on the ground and lifting them up into place. He also attached the support for the roof.
Next, ChristopherJ71 built in angled supports to make sure this tiki bar remained stable.
He admits he should have included the supports before lifting the frame into place!
Using a 20-foot roll of thatch he purchased from a specialty bamboo store, the DIY-er hung the roof in place.
Originally, ChristopherJ71 lined the outside of the bar with individual sticks of bamboo.
It didn't look great, so he decided to swap those out with a bamboo fence that came pre-strung.
Eventually, he plans on wrapping a deck around both sides of the tiki bar, but for the sake of time, he put a partial deck down to hold the bamboo in place.
It will also be a perfect spot to put a bar stool or two!
The counter went in next. He simply used 3/4-inch plywood with a finished surface and screwed it into place.
To add a nice finishing touch, he lightly sanded and stained the counter tops.
He also added a protective glossy coat to help it last against the elements.
It wouldn't be a tiki bar without a place to store some fun drinks!
ChristopherJ71 finished up the project by adding some stained and lacquered shelves.
He made a few improvements by stringing Christmas lights and tiki torches to set the beachy mood for partygoers.
Eventually, he plans on adding a fridge and some cupboards below the bar.
Could you see yourself enjoying some fruity drinks at the end of the workday sitting at your own tiki bar?
Let us know in the comments, and don't forget to SHARE this clever project with the beach lovers in your life!
