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How to Build an Outdoor Murphy Bar

July 8, 2015 Rachel 19 Comments

I’m very proud of my latest build for an addition to our patio: the Outdoor Murphy Bar made from cedar!

This murphy bar was inspired by the murphy desk designed by the talented duo of Shanty 2 Chic. I made it a taller, changed some of the board widths, and did my shelves differently, to accommodate drinks, cups, cutting boards, and added the sides on the top shelf for plants.

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar

Because it is taller, (32″ off the ground), it now accommodates a couple of industrial barstools comfortably!

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar

I’m not a drinker, but I wanted to show versatility and style it with a masculine appeal… and I seriously love the way this looks…

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar

DIY Outdoor Murphy Bar

Full downloadable build plans are HERE

Design, eHow, Furniture Building, Gallery, garden, patio love, Photography and Staging, Tutorials

Comments

  1. Paige says

    July 8, 2015 at 7:19 am

    This is a great idea! I may have to try this! Thanks for sharing it.

    Reply
  2. Alaina {Fabtastic Life} says

    July 8, 2015 at 11:07 am

    This is beyond cool! My husband would love to have this, and he’d have just as much fun building it! Thank you for these plans!

    Reply
  3. Rebecca says

    July 8, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    I love how this looks when it’s closed too! With everything handy, this just begs to be used– great design. Thanks for the thorough parts list!

    Reply
  4. Heather says

    April 15, 2016 at 10:52 pm

    I’m in the process of making this as an art table/cabinet for my daughter’s room! She’s an art student and this is perfect. Once she’s moved out, I figure we can save it for the future grandchildren!

    Reply
  5. Pete Bonicker says

    May 17, 2016 at 8:36 am

    I’d like one of these how can I buy one

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      May 17, 2016 at 11:17 am

      Pete, unfortunately/fortunately this post is about how you can build one yourself! So much cheaper and gratifying than buying one. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Paul V. says

    June 28, 2016 at 10:22 pm

    I completed this project as Mother’s Day gift for my wife at her request. I think it was more of a gift to me in the enjoyment I had in building it! Everyone loves it! I have received so many compliments and I give everyone the plans. It helps to have a small hand planner to adjust for any small tight fits.
    Without question, this is a big winner! I coated mine using an outdoor polyurethane coating with a satin finish. Keeps the natural cedar look and protects it against the elements. i plan to recoat every year if I leave it attached. Secondly, since my mounting surface was vinyl siding, I chose to provide a backing of cedar fencing boards. This is a nice look and completes the bar. All I get is Wow! And I love love it.

    Reply
    • Charo says

      July 2, 2017 at 11:47 am

      how did you attach it to your siding? I would live to have my husband build this but we have vinyl siding.

      Thanks!

      Reply
  7. Steve Thomas says

    July 20, 2016 at 8:44 pm

    Can you advise how the sash lock is supposed to be attached? I have mine looking just like the pic you have however it really doesn’t “lock” anything so wondering if I have something wrong. Other than that I love it and have used it multiple times by the pool already – thank you!!

    Steve

    Reply
  8. Deutch Deko says

    February 12, 2017 at 4:02 am

    I love how this looks when it’s closed too!

    Reply
  9. Ann BERRETT says

    April 2, 2017 at 3:47 pm

    Hi I would like to build one of these with my 15 years old daughter, for my husbands birthday.
    Could you send us the plans and any more photos and tips.

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      April 2, 2017 at 6:35 pm

      Ann, if you read the last line in the blog post, it says, “Full tutorial plus free plans is on eHow HERE” and if you click on the word HERE it will take you to the tutorial and everything you need to build one.

      Reply
  10. Rosalita says

    January 9, 2018 at 9:08 pm

    How long and wide is the table end up being?

    Reply
  11. Marsha McConnell says

    April 1, 2018 at 2:07 pm

    Wonderful Idea. Think I will try to build one and make a potting stand out of it and put it by my garden hose. Thanks

    Reply
  12. Marilyn M says

    April 29, 2020 at 1:48 am

    What is the finished size of this project – Wall section and table dimensions please. Thanks – I need to get someone to building this for me!

    Reply
  13. David Alexander says

    May 7, 2020 at 1:18 pm

    Hi can you send instructions for this project thank you

    Reply
    • Rachel says

      May 9, 2020 at 12:11 am

      Its in the Ehow link.

      Reply
  14. Kim says

    July 28, 2020 at 10:42 am

    I love this and want to make one to use in my small laundry room for storage & a laundry folding table. I need the table to be about 36-38″ high when folded down – any simple suggestions for making those adjustments?

    Reply
  15. Evie says

    October 3, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    Hi Rachel
    I love all you have done it’s so beautiful. I wanted to know how I can get the tutorial for the Murphy bar.

    Reply

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