DYI: a Simple Balcony Bar

Marieke
Jan 16, 2022
3 min read

Updated: Apr 15

One of the fabulous features of our home in Vilamarxant is the view. Nothing beats watching the sunset over the mountains and orange fields, with a glass of wine, on our covered patio.

From the moment we bought the house, I knew I wanted to build a balcony bar there. Something simple, to enjoy those moments even more. And so I did.

Getting parts

The design I had in mind was super simple. Our patio railing is the same used everywhere on the property, so I wanted something portable. Because in summer, at dusk, the pool deck is excellent for a bar too. So I wanted it to be portable.

I set off to the local hardware store and got myself two planks of wood, some decent shelf supports, and some hooks. And that was quite a challenge in our rented Fiat 500, let me tell you! I went for 2 m-long planks, one with a width of 40cm (the bar part) and one with a width of 30cm (the support part).

Person wearing a striped mask and glasses gives thumbs up inside a white car. They wear a tiger-patterned top and hold shopping bags.

Black and blue metal brackets, measuring tape, and tape roll on a granite countertop. Packaging and tools scattered around, creating a busy scene.

A wooden plank rests on a metal ladder and a stone staircase. Red railing and trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

Staining the wood

The first job was giving the pine a stain. The area is undercover but still exposed to the elements so the planks needed to be suitably protected.

Plus, I didn't love the light colour of the wood. I picked a stain that would give it a little more weathered, grey-wash look.

Two kids work outdoors on a ladder setup in a sunny yard. Red railing and trees in the background, with a pink house nearby.

Before you stain, you sand the planks, a job my kids loved to do in the sunshine. Winning!

Assembly

Then the fun part. Putting the bar together! It couldn't be easier really. My son loves helping me out with these types of things, so together we screwed the planks together with the help of shelf supports.

A clever person would do this with an electric screwdriver, but I didn't have one at my disposal, sadly. I found a hammer drill in the shed however this was way too powerful for screws. As it wasn't a massive job, we did it all by hand.

I should have walked over to the neighbour's home and borrowed an electric screwdriver to avoid the massive blister in the palm of my hand (rookie mistake!).

We used 2 nice shelf supports for the outer parts of the bar (as they're in clear view), and then 2 simple ones for the middle.

Note how these don't have a triangular shape. I don't want to bump my knees when I am enjoying my glass of wine.

Boy in yellow assembling a wooden table on a sunlit porch with stone pillars. Art on walls, lush greenery outside, tools on granite table.

A hand with a small blister is held open against a sunlit, tiled floor and metal chair. The scene suggests a calm, casual setting.

Attaching the hooks

It's a bit of a search to find the right hooks to hang your balcony bar. It all depends on how wide your railing is. I found mine in the bike section of the hardware store, as these are normally used to hang bikes.

I have a dislike for primary colours, so the blue had to go. Easy solution, I simply used black tape to turn them into black hooks.

Hand holding a blue tube and roll of black tape in a sunlit room with tiled floor. Chair and tools visible in background.

We attached them to the back of the balcony bar. I made sure that the screws were positioned (and long enough) to go through both planks, for extra support.

Wooden shelf with black metal brackets attached to a red railing, outdoors on a sunny day. Trees and clear blue sky in the background.

Depending on your railing, you might find that the top is wider than the fencing (as was the case at my place). I added an extra bit of wood to the back of the bar to level the bar and make sure my glass of wine wouldn't slide into my lap.

Done!

All that was left was hanging my DIY balcony bar and enjoying the sunshine! It turned out to be a great sunny home office as well. All I need now are some funky bar stools.

I am stoked with how this turned out, and it couldn't be easier, really! Will you have a go at your own balcony bar?