A Log Bar Idea

Walls and Floor

• Designing your home bar is not just about the style of the actual bar itself, but the whole room that it's situated in. For an authentic log cabin vibe, use a log effect cladding on the walls. This will create the feeling of relaxing in your very own log cabin. Wood paneling on the walls is another option that's equally natural looking but slightly less rustic than log-effect cladding. Wood flooring adds to the rustic atmosphere, but stone is another option. In a basement with a concrete floor, painting the concrete creates a floor that complements the rustic log decor.

The Bar

• The options are endless when it comes to designing or choosing a log bar, and your choice depends on the finished effect you wish to create. In a room where the bar is simply a place to pour drinks and the comfy seating is the main gathering place, then something as simple as two or three sturdy logs supporting a slab of wood is perfectly sufficient. A more solid-looking bar can be made completely from logs, a combination of wood panels and logs, or money-saving medium density fiberboard (MDF) covered in halved logs.

Other Furniture

• Not only is there a huge range of rustic log furniture available, it's also the simplest form of furniture to make yourself and a great project for a beginner to try his hand at furniture making. Log bar stools make a funky and unusual addition to a rustic bar. Log coffee tables and accent tables can be as simple as a large chunk of log. An accent piece, such as a whiskey barrel cooler or wagon wheel wine rack, adds a touch of flair to the basic features of the rustic items and creates a fascinating focal point.

Accessories

• The accessories you add to the finished bar help shape the theme. A faux mounted animal head, mounted antlers, and artwork featuring hunting scenes lends a hunting lodge vibe to the log bar. Stetsons, rope, spurs, and an old bridle hanging on the wall gives the room a cowboy or Wild West feel. To avoid adding another theme to the existing log theme, simply add items such as carved wooden figurines, rustic wood photo frames, a pile of ready-cut logs -- even if there is no fire -- and finish with roughly woven fabrics in the form of rugs and cushions.