How Do I Make My Pub Shed Look Good

Once a pub shed is built and the bar and seating added, it is time to kit it out. However this can be the tricky part, where do you start? The simple thought that comes to mind is how do I make my pub shed look good?

Making a pub shed look good is really quite simple, it’s the real fun part of the whole project. But not one to be rushed, take your time and enjoy the process. The starting point is to decide on a pub shed theme. Then it is just a matter of searching and keeping an eye out for items that compliment that theme.

My aim in this article is to give you some great ideas to decorate your pub shed to make it look the best it can. As well as some great places to get inspiration.

This goes for any home bar, whether it is inside the home or outside in a separate building. Large or small the same applies, we want to make it look good.

Table Of Contents

How To Make A Pub Shed Look Good

Like I said it is pretty simple to make a pub shed or home bar look good. However don’t try to do it all in one weekend.

The best way for a pub shed to become authentic and personal is to let it develop over time. By doing this it really becomes a unique space.

Adding things slowly inspires new ideas, rather than just buying a shed load of stuff up front and putting it up in one go.

So what kind of things can I add to my pub shed or home bar?

Decorating A Pub Shed/Home Bar

In a bar you can literally decorate the walls, ceiling, doors and windows, as well as the bar itself. The possibilities are endless, that is why it is so much fun.

Draw it out and enjoy that fun over time. Every new thing you add will make you smile with joy. I hope to inspire with my suggestions, but you will definitely come up with your own unique ideas over time.

The obvious things that add to the overall look of a bar is the bar itself, plan this well for the best results. The there is the seating, whether it is fixed seating or loose, it all adds to the look of a bar.

Stools are another big factor in the look of a bar, choose stools that go with the theme of the bar.

Now for the real fun stuff.

Wall Art

I am not talking about a Monet or Van Gogh, unless that is what floats your boat and fits your theme. Wall art can consist of many things’ all of which you will see in many pubs and bars.

• Paintings or posters, classic/sports/music/funny/beer/cocktails
• Funny and bar related wall plaques
• Music and bands wall plaques
• Sports Wall Plaques
• Sign Posts
• Beer Mats
• Business cards

All these things can be added to the walls in a pub shed or home bar. I have a poster of one hundred craft beers wish list. Although I haven’t made great progress with ticking them off yet, but I will persist.

I also have funny bar related plaques as well as music related plaques. Beer mats are a great way to decorate around doors and windows, as well as beams too.

Collect business cards and tickets from pubs, restaurants and famous tourist attractions, theatre shows and gigs.

Decorate With Mirrors

Mirrors are a great way to decorate a bar as well as enhance any space by making it look more spacious.

• Large frame mirror
• Pub style mirror
• Back drop mirror

Just hang a large mirror in a frame at one end of a bar to create a more spacious area. Pub style mirrors are great for the same thing, but add more decorative value.

This could be beer or cocktail slogans, brewery mirrors, or just any themed mirror that interest you.

Back drop mirrors are also great, many bars will have them behind their drinks display. It gives the impression there are more bottles than there actually is.

I am building a bottle display unit at the moment and I intend to add a mirror to the back of it to get the same effect.

The Effect Of Lighting In A Bar

Lighting not only adds ambience to any space, but can also look amazing too. There are so many types of lighting now with so many options and colours you can get carried away with it.

• Main decorative light fittings
• Wall lights
• Spotlights
• LED Strip lights
• String lights
• Neon lights

Main decorative lights can add a big statement to a bar, with so many to choose from that will suit any bar theme. Wall lights can match the main lights and add a little warmth.

LED strip lights are great fun, they come with many functions. Many colour options, flashing, strobe or work to the beat of music. They are simple to fit and inexpensive too.

Neon lights are also great fun and add a little pizzazz to a pub shed or home bar. Many come as slogans like Bar, cocktails or happy hour, they look great too.

Pub Ornaments

Use shelves to display ornaments or a collection of your favourite figures or toys.

• Classic Ornaments
• Animal Ornaments
• Music Ornaments
• Sports Ornaments
• Toby Jugs
• Sci Fi Ornaments
• Bottles and cans
• Cars and/or motorbikes

The list could go on because there are so many types of ornaments. Toby Jugs always look the part in a pub and they are very collectable.

How about your favourite sci fi figurines, or your favourite animals displayed as a collection. For me, I am collecting beer bottles and cans and plan to display them on a shelf.

Whatever your passion collect ornaments to compliment it.

Pub Games Add Fun

Pub games not only add fun to any pub shed or home bar, but also add to the look of them too. Obviously some bar games are large items, so it will depend on the size of a bar as to what games are suitable.

• Snooker table
• Pool tables
• Ping Pong
• Table Football
• Dartboard
• Fruit Machine
• Games Machine
• Card Table
• Bar Skittles
• Ring Toss
• Beer Pong

So many of these are large items, but a full size snooker table is pure luxury if you have the space. The most obvious to have and the one I have myself is a dartboard.

Fruit and game machines don’t take up too much room, and apart from being fun lend a pub feel. Bar games have always been a part of pub and bars, so whatever the game it will add something special to a pub shed or home bar.

Beer Pumps For Authentic Display

Beer pumps are a big part of any pub, so fitting one or two or more to a pub really adds to the look of a pub shed.

It is nice to add a real working pump, but can be costly as well as the maintenance of the pump itself and the beer lines.

However fake pumps are an alternative that might not work, but do add to the whole pub aesthetics. There are plenty pre used bar taps and pumps to be found, so if its just for looks then it will not be expensive.

A Spirited Display

A nice display of spirit bottles behind a bar always looks great. Just a simple shelf unit can hold many bottles of Liquor. As I mentioned earlier a mirror back drop will only add to the look.

Also adding lighting to a bottle shelf unit will add even more to the look. A simple but great way to add to the authentic pub look.

What Time Is It Bartender?

No matter what pub you visit, there will always be a clock present. I have never seen the same clock in two pubs, they all seem to be unique.

This is your chance to add not only a unique touch, but also the pub look. On top of that, a clock is handy, you know for telling the time.

There are plenty of clock types, traditional, oversized, themed clocks and of course digital style clocks. A clock has its place in any pub shed and home bar.

Bar Snack Card

A pub card of your favourite snacks is a must have for any home bar or pub shed. They not only look great, but they are handy when you fancy a little snack with your beer.

Nuts, pork scratchings, mini cheddars, bacon fries and scampi fries, the list goes on. You can get a snack card with all of one snack, or get a mixture on one card. They hold 12 packets of your favourite snack, and they are great.

More Cool Pub Stuff

So there are many ideas we have already covered, but here are a few more to consider.

A glass front drinks fridge on display adds a nice touch and lets you know what you have in the fridge without opening it.

How about a jukebox, they look cool and obviously play music too. Modern ones play the radio as well as CD’s and have blue tooth connectivity.

Brass trinkets make nice decor addons, whether it be horse brasses or brass signs and plaques. They add a little old world style.

Add a photo wall to your home bar, its a great way to include family and friends to your bar. As well as remembering and looking back at funs times.

Sources Of Inspiration

If I haven’t inspired you enough, then let me give you some ideas of where to grab some more.

The most obvious resource is social media, especially Pinterest, there are literally thousands of images of peoples pub sheds and home bars. It’s a great place for pub inspiration.

Other socials are Facebook, Twitter (or X), Instagram, Tik Tok Youtube and many more. Just search for pub sheds and home bars on these platforms and become inspired.

Blogs and websites just like this one are good places to get some decor inspiration. Again just search and you will find.

However one of the best places to find inspiration for the pub look is the pub itself. Next time you visit the local really look around and you will notice things that you never have before.

Keep your eyes peeled when you visit any pub, bar or restaurant, they are great places to get ideas for your own pub/bar.

Final Thoughts

There are so many things we can add to our pub sheds and home bars to make them look good.

I am in the process of decorating my pub shed. And although I have made good progress, there is still a long way to go and a lot of bare wall. But like I said the journey is all part of the fun.

The project in progress at the moment is a bottle display shelf. I have built the simple structure, but need to face the front with a border, then add a mirror background and paint.

I will be implementing most of the ideas I have listed in this article. So I hope I have inspired you with some great ideas for your own pub shed/home bar.

If you have additional ideas, then do share your thoughts below in the comments area. But remember to enjoy your pub shed decorating journey. It’s all about the fun of it, while having a cheeky beer along the way 😉