Are you planning to entertain some friends with an island-themed party? If so, then setting up a Tiki bar should be one of your top priorities in preparing for this party. A Tiki bar can set just the right mood for a tropical island party, especially if you have a backyard swimming pool. The bar can transform your backyard into a tropical paradise, with the pool serving as your own little piece of the sea. You don't even have to build your own bar; the atmosphere you want to project can be easily achieved by purchasing a Tiki bar set. Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect Tiki bar for your backyard.

An authentic-looking Tiki bar is one that sports a thatched roof and a basic structure made from bamboo or other natural wood materials. The bar top should also be made of bamboo mats for a truly tropical appearance. You may then choose several bamboo stools to match the bar, or to give the place a more mysterious aura, you may purchase a few medium-sized Tiki totem poles and use them as bar stools.

A Tiki bar set can vary in style, size, and shape. Your choice of bar size depends, of course, on the amount of space that you have. Another consideration is whether you plan to have the bar as a permanent fixture in your backyard or if you would prefer to have a portable structure that you can move in and out of the house at your convenience. Smaller bars are naturally better choices for portability, whereas larger structures are advisable for setting up a permanent fixture in a spacious backyard.

If you plan to use your Tiki bar mostly for evening get-togethers, then lighting is another major concern. While you may already have some lighting set up in your backyard, a string of colored lights, a few paper lanterns, or several well-placed Tiki torches will effectively give your space a more relaxing ambiance. Just remember to place your torches at a safe distance from the thatched roofing of the Tiki bar for safety purposes. While you do want to entertain your guests with a bang, you certainly don't want your party to go up in flames!

Accessorizing your Tiki bar can be a lot of fun. You can play with as many colors and designs as you want. You can even make use of souvenirs from your previous visits to tropical resorts. Use masks as wall decor and artificial flowers as table centerpieces. Displaying toy starfish around the pool and throwing in a few toy fishes into the water may also be a good idea. Even a fake parrot hanging from a piece of string can add a certain magic to the place. Don't be afraid to go overboard with your Tiki decor. After all, you wouldn't want your Tiki bar set to simply stand as a boring structure in your backyard. It should beckon and lull your guests into partying the night away.