It’s 1:30 a.m. You have waited in line outside, met up with all your friends and finally sifted your way through the mob surrounding the bar to order a drink. The fun has just started when the bartender yells two little words — “Last call.” You order one drink, then head home to your lousy six-pack of cheap beer, cursing the bouncer who wouldn’t let you take your Sea Breeze in a to-go cup.

Kent Domas, San Antonio senior, doesn’t skip a beat after last call. He goes home to his own bar and mixes a drink for after hours. Sometimes he even leaves the bars early to drink at home. He appreciates his home bar because it’s cheaper and more laid back than going out, Domas says. “You don’t have to wait in line, don’t have to deal with people that are really annoying and way too drunk — just the people you want to hang out with,” he says. He also uses his bar for tailgating before football games and hosting parties with a wider assortment of drink options than the traditional kegger.

A home bar is convenient, alluring for friends, can bring the party to the next level with fun shots and fancy cocktails or keep the spirits flowing after the dreaded “last call.”

How to build It

To construct a basic bar the materials you need are two-inch-by-three-inch pine boards for the frame, oak plywood for the outside, screws, wood glue, a biscuit joiner and L-brackets, says Freddie Rice, Jr., Lawrence contractor. You can get most of the materials you need at a hardware store and have the wood cut for you too.

To start, measure the boards for the framework to fit the size of bar that you want to make. You’ll need a frame for each the top and bottom and three smaller frames for the sides and middle. Put the frames together in the shape of your bar using the wood glue and screws.

To attach the oak boards, use a biscuit joiner and glue. The biscuit joiner will cut crescent-shaped holes in the pieces of wood to be joined. Then insert a small piece of wood covered with glue into the holes to hold the boards together. If you want to use trim, nail oak molding onto the sides. Oak trim isn’t the only option. Some people also use carpet or tile, Rice says. Finally, sand the bar down and put as many coats of polyurethane on the outside as it says on the can, he says.

Be creative when building your bar, and make it your own. Domas’s bar has a personalized touch with a Jayhawk and a “KU” hidden in the tile pattern on the countertop.

Stocking your bar

Chad Landis, bartender and manager at Astros, 601 Kasold Drive, has served drinks in Lawrence for 10 years. He recommends always having the four basics on-hand: vodka, whiskey, rum and gin. Keep the generic liquors stocked underneath the bar and set up an old book self behind the bar to store premium liquors for people you really like, Landis says. Shots should be made with good tequilas and vodkas, like Patron or Greygoose. These are the best choices if you choose to splurge on premiums, he says.

The basic mixers for most cocktails are triple sec, canned juices (they don’t expire as fast), tonic water and canned Coca-cola and Sprite. Pour spouts on top of the bottles help control the liquor when pouring a drink, so it’s just the right strength. Also, cocktail shakers stir the mixer and liquor together so it tastes even.

Paul Karrer, Omaha senior, plans to have a party in the next few weeks with his home bar. When throwing a party, it’s necessary to have a bartender’s guide, which lists recipes for an assortment of cocktails, he says. With the guide, “you can make fun stuff like a slippery nipple or screaming orgasm,” he says.

If you plan to have a party with more alcohol than a mini-fridge can handle, leave room behind your bar for a cooler to stack drinks on ice. Old refrigerators can also be converted into kegerators to keep cold keg beer on tap. The Web site, http://kegbooty.com, gives easy instructions on how to make one. Also for the essentials — bar books, cocktail shakers, bartending tools and test tubes for shots — check out bartendershop.com for ordering discounted bar supplies.

Bar décor

The ultimate bar atmosphere wouldn’t be complete without some classic — not necessarily classy — bar décor. Bars should look good on the outside, but can be rugged on the inside, Landis says. He suggests setting up a stereo and speakers and displaying some cheesy neon lights. If you’re decorating on a budget, use Christmas lights. Also, make sure to collect some bar stools with a good story behind how you got them, he says.

Domas’s bar is L-shaped and was constructed by a previous owner. They have a tap connected to a kegerator next to the bar. There’s a rainbow disco-ball light to kick it into party mode, some beer brand wall ornaments, and, of course, a “cheesy” neon Bud Light sign. Domas acquired most if his décor from family and friends, but you can find most of the stuff he has on eBay, he says.