How to Turn a DIY Shed Kit into a Beautiful Backyard Bar and Hangout Space

Learn how to turn a DIY shed kit into a beautiful backyard bar and hangout space with creative design ideas, smart layouts, and functional upgrades.

Why Your Next Bar Should Be in the Backyard

A dedicated backyard bar has everything a good bar needs and none of what makes running one commercially difficult. There is no foot traffic to manage, no closing time, no music ordinance until someone in the neighborhood complains, and the commute is about thirty seconds from your back door. What it needs, though, is a real space: not a patio table with a cooler beside it, and not a corner of the garage that smells like motor oil.

That space is where a DIY shed kit comes in. A Best Barns shed kit from Wild Oak Trail gives you a purpose-built wood structure with proper walls, a real roof, and an interior you can finish and design exactly the way you want. For a backyard bar build, it is the single most cost-effective starting point available. A 12x20 shed kit that becomes a fully designed bar shed with a counter, bar stools, a mini fridge, and layered lighting costs a fraction of what any contractor would charge to build the same thing from the ground up.

This guide is for anyone who takes entertaining seriously and wants a backyard space that reflects that. We will cover which kit makes the best base for a bar build, how to design the interior layout, what goes into creating the right atmosphere, and how to finish the exterior so the whole thing looks like it was always meant to be there.

Choosing the Right Kit for a Backyard Bar Shed

The right kit for a bar hangout is not the same as the right kit for garden storage. You want enough floor space to move around comfortably with a few guests, enough ceiling height that the room does not feel like a basement, and ideally some architectural detail on the exterior that gives the space its own identity in the yard.

All Best Barns kits arrive precision pre-cut and labeled, built with SecureTruss™ framing, TimberPrestige™ Eurowood, and LP® SmartSide® siding that comes primed and ready for your exterior paint choice. Assembly takes one to three days with two people and basic tools. Here are the models that work best for a bar build.

Best Barns Overhang Oasis (10x10 to 10x14): The Intimate Bar

The Overhang Oasis is the most character-rich shed in the lineup for a bar build, specifically because of the front overhang. That extended roof overhang above the barn doors is not just a design detail: it creates a covered outdoor threshold that is perfect for a small bar cart, a couple of stools, and the kind of ambient lighting setup you see at every well-designed outdoor bar. String lights hung from the overhang, a drink in hand, and a fold-out table underneath. That is the atmosphere the Overhang Oasis creates before you even open the doors.

Inside, the 10x14 version gives you 140 square feet of main floor space with a split loft above for storing bottles, glassware, and anything else you want off the floor. The 6'4" sidewall height and 6/12 roof pitch give you good standing room throughout. Barn doors are 5'4" wide by 5'11" tall, wide enough to open the whole front of the space when the weather is right and give the inside that indoor-outdoor flow that works so well for a casual bar setup.

This is the right kit for a solo bar room or an intimate setup for four to six people. Start at $2,845.

Best Barns Crafter's Connection (12x16): The Proper Bar Room

The Crafter's Connection at 12x16 gives you 192 square feet and the tallest walls in the standard lineup at 8'1". That ceiling height is the detail that matters most for a bar build. It is the difference between a room that feels designed and a room that feels like a shed with furniture in it. At 8'1", you have room for a proper back bar with overhead shelving for bottles, a mounted television at a comfortable viewing height, a ceiling fan, and pendant lights over the bar counter without anything feeling cramped.

The truss system is rated for 50 lbs snow load and 150 mph wind, which matters when you are using this space year-round through every season. For a serious bar room that can seat eight to ten people with a bar counter along one wall, a seating area in the middle, and a bar fridge and small sink setup at the back, this is the kit to build around. Starts at $3,449.

Best Barns Shedquarters (12x20): The Full Entertainment Shed

At 240 square feet, the Shedquarters is large enough to zone properly: a full bar counter with stools along one wall, a lounge seating area with low tables in the center, and a TV or projector screen at the far end. Three door configurations are available. For a bar build, the walk-in door model on the eave side is the right choice: a normal door for everyday access, plus the option to open up the gable end for warm weather flow-through.

This is the shed that can realistically host a group for a game night, a fight night, a birthday party, or a regular Friday. It is not a storage shed with a bar cart. It is a bar with a building around it. Starts at $3,720.

Browse all models, sizes, and current sale pricing in the full DIY shed kits collection. All kits include free freight shipping to the lower 48 states with curbside liftgate delivery within 5 to 7 business days.

Designing the Bar Layout

The bar counter is the anchor of the whole space and where you should start the interior design process. Everything else organizes around it.

For a 10x14 Overhang Oasis build, a 6 to 8 foot bar counter along the back wall with three bar stools in front of it leaves enough floor space between the counter and the door for comfortable movement. The split loft overhead stores bottles, extra glassware, and seasonal items out of sight.

For a 12x16 Crafter's Connection build, run the bar counter along one of the 16-foot walls. At 8 feet long with a 12-inch overhang for the bar top, you get four to five bar stools with elbow room. Build a back bar shelf system on the opposite wall at three heights: a work surface at counter height for mixing, a mid shelf at eye level for everyday bottles, and a top shelf for display bottles and glassware. This is the layout of every well-functioning bar in a compact footprint, and it translates directly to a shed build.

For a 12x20 Shedquarters, the bar counter goes on one of the short walls. Use the full 12-foot width for an L-shaped or straight bar counter that seats five to six. The remaining 12 to 14 feet of depth becomes your lounge zone. Two sofas facing each other across a low coffee table, or four club chairs in a conversation grouping, fill this space naturally.

Setting the Atmosphere: Lighting

Lighting is what separates a bar from a lit room. It is the most impactful design decision in a backyard bar build and also one of the least expensive to get right. The approach is the same whether you are designing a speakeasy or a neighborhood pub: layer the lighting so that no single source dominates.

• Ambient light comes from a ceiling fan with a light kit or a central pendant. This is the light that is off when the bar is open and everything else is on. In the Crafter's Connection with 8'1" walls, a statement pendant over the bar counter (Edison bulb globe, rattan shade, or an industrial cage fitting) does serious work for the overall atmosphere.

• Bar counter lighting is where you spend your budget. Under-shelf LED strip lighting in warm white (2700K to 3000K) illuminates the back bar and highlights the bottles from below. This is the signature look of every well-lit bar and costs very little to install once the back bar shelving is in.

• Accent lighting fills the rest of the room. String lights along the ceiling perimeter or wound through a wooden overhead grid are the backyard bar standard for good reason: they work in every aesthetic from rustic to modern and cost almost nothing. A neon sign with a short phrase or your bar's name on the back wall adds a focal point that photographs well and immediately tells guests what kind of space they are in.

• Exterior lighting sets expectations before anyone opens the door. Uplights on either side of the door, a sconce above the entry, and string lights under the Overhang Oasis's front overhang signal that the space is open and ready. Good exterior lighting makes the shed look like an intentional destination from across the yard.

The Bar Counter Build

The bar counter is the most custom element in a shed bar build, and it is also one of the most satisfying things to make yourself. A simple bar counter is a base of 2x4 framing (or kitchen base cabinets from a home improvement store) topped with your surface material of choice, with a bartop overhang of 10 to 12 inches on the guest-facing side for bar stools.

Surface materials that work well for a bar counter in a shed environment:

• Butcher block is the most popular choice for a warm, natural look. It accepts stain well, can be refinished if it gets damaged, and feels right in a wood-framed shed. Seal with food-safe mineral oil for a matte finish or a polyurethane topcoat for more durability against spills.

• Poured concrete is heavier and more involved to build but produces a modern, professional bar look that is genuinely distinctive. A 1.5-inch poured concrete top with a smooth or slightly textured finish and an integrated drip edge is the approach most bar designers would recognize immediately.

• Epoxy resin over a plywood substrate allows for embedded designs (bottle caps, coins, logos, wood slices) and produces a glass-smooth surface that is extremely durable against spills and heat. This is the most popular DIY bar top option specifically because the creativity ceiling is unlimited.

• Reclaimed wood planks give the fastest rustic result and pair naturally with the LP® SmartSide® wood construction of the shed itself. Run 2 to 3 inch planks across the full bar top length, sand smooth, and apply three coats of polyurethane.

Building the Foundation and Interior Properly

A bar shed needs a solid, level foundation more than a storage shed does, because uneven floors are uncomfortable for bar stools and make bar carts roll on their own. A gravel pad of 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed gravel is the standard approach: level, well-draining, and stable for the kit's floor system. Add the optional FortressFloor™ upgrade when ordering the kit. This commercial-grade system uses 3/4" plywood panels on 16-inch on-center spacing and gives you a solid base that any finish flooring can go directly over.

For interior finish, 1/2" drywall is the most versatile wall material because it accepts paint, wallpaper, tile, and picture hooks equally well. Tongue-and-groove pine paneling gives a cabin or tavern aesthetic that suits a rustic bar theme. Shiplap in a dark stain reads as modern and clean. The choice depends on the bar concept you are building.

Insulate the walls (the 2x4 stud cavities at 24 inches on center accept standard R-13 batt insulation) and the ceiling if you plan to use the space year-round. A properly insulated shed bar is comfortable from early spring through late fall in most US climates without active heating or cooling. For a genuinely year-round setup, a small ductless mini split handles both heating and cooling from a single wall-mounted unit and does not take up floor or counter space.

Personalizing the Exterior

The LP® SmartSide® siding on every Best Barns kit arrives factory-primed, which means the exterior look is entirely your decision. This is a significant advantage over vinyl or metal sheds, which lock you into the manufacturer's color and finish permanently.

For a bar shed specifically, the exterior needs to signal atmosphere before anyone walks in. A few approaches that work:

• Dark body, bright door. A near-black or deep forest green body with a red, yellow, or cobalt door is the most common combination for a bar-themed exterior because it reads as intentional and slightly dramatic. Add a small neon-style sign or a chalkboard menu board beside the door and the concept is clear.

• Whitewash or light neutral with dark trim. This reads as a coastal or wine bar aesthetic. Pair with natural wood accents at the entry, planters with trailing greenery, and warm Edison bulb exterior lighting.

• Weathered wood stain. A cedar or driftwood-toned stain over the LP® SmartSide® panels gives a gastropub or whiskey bar feel without the maintenance issues of actual weathered wood. Pair with black metal hardware on the doors and black exterior light fixtures.

The Overhang Oasis's front overhang is the best architectural feature in the lineup for a bar build because it creates a covered entry that works like a small covered patio. Under that overhang: two bar stools, a narrow shelf for drinks, string lights overhead, and a small chalkboard sign with the day's special. That is a bar entrance that sets the tone before the door is open.

What the Whole Build Actually Costs

These estimates are based on the Overhang Oasis 10x14 as the base. The Crafter's Connection and Shedquarters builds are proportionally more on materials and interior finish due to the larger footprint.

• Kit (Overhang Oasis 10x14): from $2,845

• Foundation (gravel pad, DIY): $200 to $800

• Insulation: $150 to $400

• Interior sheathing and finish: $300 to $1,200

• Flooring: $100 to $800

• Electrical (licensed): $600 to $2,000

• Bar counter build (materials): $150 to $600

• Back bar shelving and storage: $100 to $400

• Mini fridge or kegerator: $200 to $800

• Lighting (all layers): $150 to $500

• Exterior paint and landscaping: $150 to $600

• Furniture (bar stools, seating): $300 to $1,500

Total range: roughly $5,000 to $10,000 for a well-finished backyard bar shed using the Overhang Oasis or Crafter's Connection as the base. The Shedquarters build with full finish runs $8,000 to $14,000. Compare that to the cost of any contractor-built outdoor structure or a home addition and the math is straightforward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best DIY shed kit for a backyard bar?

The Best Barns Crafter's Connection 12x16 is the strongest all-around choice for a dedicated bar room. Its 8'1" sidewalls give you room for back bar shelving, a ceiling fan, and pendant lighting without the space feeling low. For a more intimate setup with great exterior character, the Overhang Oasis 10x14 is the standout because of its front overhang, which creates a natural covered bar entry. For a large group entertainment space, the Shedquarters 12x20 at 240 square feet handles a full bar counter and a separate lounge zone simultaneously.

Do I need a permit to build a backyard bar shed?

Permit requirements vary by jurisdiction. Most areas have a size threshold below which a shed does not require a building permit, often between 100 and 200 square feet. Adding electrical service almost always requires a permit and inspection regardless of the structure's size. Check with your local building department before starting. If you plan to add plumbing for a small sink behind the bar, that will also require a permit in most locations.

Can I add a sink to a shed bar?

Yes. A small bar sink can be plumbed into a shed build using either a connection to your home's water supply (requires running supply and drain lines underground, which needs a permit) or a self-contained countertop system with a fresh water tank and a small grey water tank that you empty manually. The self-contained option is simpler and permit-free, works well for a bar sink used primarily for rinsing glasses, and can be added at any point after the shed is built.

How do I keep a bar shed warm in winter?

Insulate the walls and ceiling first. The 2x4 stud cavities at 24 inches on center accept standard R-13 batt insulation. A properly insulated shed stays comfortable through shoulder seasons with minimal heating. For year-round use in colder climates, a small ductless mini split (9,000 BTU handles 100 to 200 square feet) provides both heating and cooling from a single wall-mounted unit with no floor space required. Wild Oak Trail carries MrCool DIY mini splits designed for homeowner installation if you want to bundle that with your kit order.

How long does a Best Barns shed kit take to assemble?

Most kits assemble in one to three days with two people using standard tools. The pre-cut and labeled components eliminate measuring and cutting entirely. A 10x14 Overhang Oasis typically goes up in a single full day for two people with basic carpentry experience. A 12x20 Shedquarters takes a full weekend. Interior finishing, the bar counter build, electrical, and atmosphere elements follow assembly at whatever pace your schedule allows.

Conclusion

The best backyard bar is not a folding table and a cooler. It is a dedicated space with the right lighting, the right counter height, the right seats, and enough room that people settle in and stay a while rather than drifting back inside after twenty minutes. A DIY shed kit is how you build that space without a contractor and without a budget that only makes sense for a commercial venue.

The Overhang Oasis, Crafter's Connection, and Shedquarters give you three different scales to work from, all built with the same quality materials and the same pre-cut assembly approach. Pick the footprint that matches how you entertain, finish the interior to match how you want it to feel, and the backyard bar you have been designing in your head becomes a structure in your yard.

Browse the full DIY shed kits collection at Wild Oak Trail to compare models, sizes, and current pricing. For questions about which model fits your yard or build goals, call 1-844-945-3625, Monday through Friday, 10am to 5pm CST.