caring for home:
I love a good budget challenge. One of my favorite things to do is think of a project, plan it out, and then see how inexpensively I can create or recreate it. Beyond the budget challenge, I also need to consider the challenge of space. Living in a small or smaller space requires one to think outside the box a little. And that’s how I ended up with the cutest little coffee bar on the cutest little budget.
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01. Collect your inspiration
It is important to start by collecting your inspiration first. Trust me when I say that skipping this step will cause you to either spend more money than is necessary, or will leave you with too much, or too little of the items you want. In fact, gathering your inspiration may actually help you to envision your coffee bar in ways you wouldn’t have imagined.
Think of the aesthetic or the feeling you want your coffee bar to give. If you don’t give a little thought to this aspect, you could end up with an area that feels too sterile, too modern, too rustic, or too cluttered. Decide before hand what you want your space to feel like, and that will help you as you collect your inspiration.
If you’d like to see what inspired my coffee station, you can check out my Pinterest board here.
02. Create your budget
Now that you have your aesthetic in mind, it’s time to do the most important step and that is create your budget. It is so important when creating your coffee bar that you have a budget in mind. Prices are ever increasing, and you could spend a small fortune if you aren’t careful.
I am a firm believer that you can create a coffee bar on a very small budget if you shop smart. That means being open to garage sales, tag sales, thrift stores, second hand stores, hand-me-downs, and discount places like Hobby Lobby, Amazon, TJMaxx. But even with the discount stores, you must start with a set budget in mind or you may end up overspending.
03. Begin with what you have
I like to start with what I already have on hand. That means looking for items I could use for storage like canisters, jars, and tins. I like to look through the coffee mugs I already own to see which ones fit the aesthetic I’m going for. Finally, I like to rethink items I already own like lighting or trays or platforms. Even things like a rarely used cake plate might come in handy.
Pull all your potential items together, and then build your budget according to what fits into your budget and your inspiration. You may be surprised to find that you already own enough of what you want or need to create the cutest little coffee bar without spending much money at all.
04. Build on your collection
Here’s where I give you the method I’ve used to build our little coffee station – and let me tell you up front – it has been a two year process.
When we first moved into our apartment we started with our coffee maker and our electric tea kettle. Knowing I loved these items and they functioned well, I knew I would not need to replace either.
Also coming with us on our move was an old fashioned, but updated more modern mug tree. This isn’t your grandmother’s mug tree….although, if that’s your aesthetic, sorting through grandma’s attic might leave you with a bushel of treasures. For our mug tree, I have two sets of mugs: One set is a very plain, very modern set we use most of the year. The second set is a collection of autumn inspired mugs I’ve picked up at random places and also contains a set found an amazon that I love to use both during the fall, and also the Christmas holidays.
Finally, I knew we needed a place to store coffee, tea, sugar, a creamer, and a few cute little stirring spoons. Because I have an absolutely ridiculous love of cocktail napkins, I try to pick up seasonal ones whenever I find them for a good price.
05. Put it all together
Once you have your inspiration and your budget and you’ve collected your items, it’s time to put it all together. First, determine the space you want to use. I chose a section of our kitchen counter that was near to the sink. That makes filling the coffee pot or tea kettle simple and easy. You may choose to opt for a small bookshelf, or a bar cart to build your coffee bar. Whatever space you use, be sure it functions well for you and for any guests you may invite over.
Here is a list of the items we used for our coffee bar:
- Coffee maker
- Tea kettles
- Spoon rest
- Cocktail napkins
- Coffee canister
- Tea canister
- Coffee mugs
- Cream and sugar set
- Wooden stir spoons
- Coffee syrup dispensers
- Rechargable lamp
- Organizer counter-top stand
As everything came together, I have found that having this little coffee bar has completely changed my morning routine. Tea is conveniently at hand, coffee and coffee drinks are easier to create because everything is within reach, and in the morning hours, it is such a pleasure to wake up to such a cute little coffee bar.
If you think of projects like this from the aspect of caring for your home, I believe the thought process changes from being based in consumerism to one that is based in comfort and care. Is a coffee bar necessary? No! Of course not. Does it make your home feel more warm and welcoming? Absolutely!
Leave a comment below and tell me if you have a coffee bar, and what your number one favorite item on it is.
