Building a Home Bar or Man Cave Bar: 6 Things to Get Right, Including the Tap Handle

Updated September 2026 by Brad Lugar, owner of Steel City Tap Co., Birmingham, AL.

Quick answer: A home bar feels like a real bar when six things are right: a spot with water and power, a budget that puts the kegerator first, seating that faces the bar, a real tap handle on the faucet instead of the chrome knob that came in the box, one good sign, and glassware that matches. We sell blank tap handles one at a time for exactly this, and printed stock handles from 12 units for the person who wants the bar's name on the faucet.

We build tap handles in Birmingham, AL for breweries, and a steady share of the single unit orders come from people building a bar in the basement. Here is what we tell them.

1. Pick the spot for plumbing and power, not for the view

A bar needs a sink if you are serious, an outlet for the kegerator, and a floor that can take a spill. Basements and garages win because the concrete does not care. If the perfect corner has no water, put the kegerator there and the sink somewhere close, and accept that you will walk.

2. Budget the kegerator first

The kegerator is the bar. A single tap unit that holds a half barrel or two sixtels is the difference between a room with a fridge and a bar. Buy the kegerator, the CO2 tank, and a dual tower before the furniture, and get one with a real tower rather than a faucet through the door. Everything else can be built from plywood.

3. Seating that faces the bar

Three or four stools on the customer side, and the tap tower where they can see it. A home bar where people sit on a couch across the room is a living room with a fridge. The tower is the focal point; aim the room at it.

4. A real tap handle

The chrome knob that ships with a kegerator faucet is the one thing that makes a home bar look like a kegerator. Any handle we make fits it, because home faucets use the same 3/8-16 thread as commercial ones. Three options:

• A blank resin handle, sold as a single unit with no minimum, for the person who wants a clean handle or a base to decorate.
• A brewery handle. Ask your favorite local brewery; most will sell or give you one if you ask nicely and you buy their beer.
• A custom handle with your own name or bar name on it. Stock shapes with print start at 12 units, which is more than one bar needs, so this is the route when a few friends go in together or you want a set for a dual tower and spares.

5. One good sign

Not ten. One. A tin tacker from a brewery you love, or an LED sign with the bar's name in the window of the room. A wall of signs looks like a restaurant chain; one sign looks like a bar.

6. Glassware that matches

A set of the same pint glasses, ideally with the bar's name on them, and a few tulips for the big beers. Mismatched glasses from every brewery tour you ever took are fine for a shelf display, not for pouring. Our sister shop Classic Printing & Signs prints glassware in small runs.

What to skip

Neon everywhere, a TV on every wall, and a 20 bottle back bar you never touch. Stock what you drink. A home bar with two taps, one sign, and clean glasses pours better than one with everything.

Want a handle with your name on it? Tell us what you are building and we will point you at the right option.

Frequently asked questions

Will a commercial tap handle fit a kegerator?

Yes. Kegerator faucets use the same 3/8-16 thread as commercial beer faucets, so any tap handle from Steel City Tap screws right on.

Can I buy just one tap handle for a home bar?

Yes. Blank resin handles are sold as single units with no minimum. Printed stock handles start at 12 units.

What should I buy first for a home bar?

The kegerator, CO2 tank, and a real tower. The bar can be built from plywood; the draft system is what makes it a bar.

How many taps should a home bar have?

Two to four. A dual tap kegerator with one flagship and one rotating beer is the sweet spot.

Can I get glassware with my home bar's name on it?

Yes. Screen printed glassware in small runs is done by our sister shop, Classic Printing & Signs, and can match a custom tap handle.