This Ingenious DIY Bar Cabinet Flip Uses Pool Noodles For A Luxurious Look

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After a long day, the last thing you might feel like doing is going out on the town, but that doesn't necessarily mean you don't want to relax with a nice glass of wine or your favorite cocktail. Having a home bar allows you to have the best of both worlds. Now, we don't all have the space to transform a small closet into a stylish home bar, but with an old thrifted cabinet, pool noodles, some fabric, and a little bit of creativity, you can actually make a classy DIY version that looks like it's from a different era. Although pool noodles aren't elegant themselves, they work perfectly for giving a homemade bar an upgrade of sophistication with a classic fluted look when you combine them into panels and cover them in luxurious fabric. You just have to trust the process.

This project was shared by TikToker @jackkinsey_, who started a DIY bar cabinet flip with a wooden cabinet featuring a set of doors. As televisions have gotten less bulky, many people have traded in their TV armoires for sleeker pieces. You might notice this type of furniture at a garage sale, or it could be one of your "holy grail" thrift store finds. Regardless of its original purpose, the goal is to get your hands on a cabinet that has a large top portion and, ideally, a couple of drawers to store your drinks and bartending equipment. Measure the empty cabinet area, sizing the width and height of the back and side walls. From there, you can start laying out this pool noodle hack to set the stage for a stunning home bar.

Begin the update by fixing, staining, or painting the cabinet as desired. Then, turn your attention to the pool noodles. When covered with a swanky material like velvet, they'll form a gorgeous textured backdrop inside the bar. Measure and cut the pool noodles to fit vertically against the cabinet's interior wall. Slice the pool noodles along their lengths. Glue them side by side to thin boards that will fit on the cabinet's walls. Next, upholster the noodle-covered boards with the fabric. Spray the pool noodle surface with a spray adhesive, such as Gorilla Ultimate Contact Adhesive, and firmly press the fabric into the surface, laying it so it follows the rounded shapes. Wrap the excess fabric around the backing to hide it. Once it's secured in the cabinet, it should give off that classic speakeasy vibe.

You can also integrate other transformative home bar ideas, like adding shelves for bottles, glasses, and accessories and brightening it with soft lighting to highlight the backing. Just don't be surprised if your pool noodle wall really steals the show! Use rich, jewel colors for the fabric, like ruby red, emerald green, or royal blue. The pool noodles will give the wall texture, but no one will ever guess they're the source of it.

If the cabinet has large drawers, you can upgrade them with pool noodles as well. Cover a board that will fit inside the drawer with halved noodles (space them slightly). Then, upholster the piece with the same velvety fabric you used for the backdrop. Lay your wine bottles in the creases so they're cradled, and it'll look amazing anytime you open the drawers. And who knows? You may find yourself staying home more often.