Outdoor entertaining often comes with the same problem: bottles, glasses and serving pieces compete for limited table space. Instead of adding another bar cart or cabinet, Chelsea Mohrman found a smarter solution by using two leftover plywood boards from her workshop.
The finished wall bar stores two wine bottles, four hanging stemware glasses and a small display shelf inside a compact wall-mounted cabinet. By combining storage and display into a single piece, the design frees up patio space while showing how leftover plywood can become furniture that looks custom-built rather than homemade.
The two pieces of plywood left over started the whole build
Two narrow plywood offcuts became the starting point for the entire wall bar. Instead of adding expensive hardware or decorative trim, she relied on basic workshop tools, including a drill, hacksaw, hammer, wood glue, paint and finish nails.
The list of materials hints at the simplicity of the design. Almost everything that appears in the finished cabinet comes from those two plywood boards, while the rest of the supplies help shape, assemble, and complete the project rather than defining its look.
Shelf layout begins before any assembly
After sanding the plywood smooth, the shelf was marked for the wine glass opening. Spacing across the board also ensures that each wine glass hangs independently while leaving enough space above for bottles and decorative items.
Instead of cutting pieces and adjusting the layout later, the entire stemware rack was planned on a single board before assembly began. That preparation keeps the finished cabinet balanced and gives the glass rack its clean, symmetrical look.
Each hole became a slot for hanging stemware
After the holes are drilled, guide lines extend from each opening to the front edge of the shelf. Those marks ensure that each slot stays perfectly aligned, allowing each wine glass the same amount once installed.
The backsaw then removed the narrow sections of plywood, connecting each circular opening to the edge of the board. Those narrow slots transform an ordinary shelf into an integrated stemware rack without the need for separate rails or metal hardware.
The stemware rack took shape before the cabinet came together
The completed shelf now features four finished stemware slots cut directly into the plywood, a signature feature of the cabinet. Instead of relying on a separate metal rack, the shelf itself becomes a storage system for hanging wine glasses.
Once that part was complete, the remaining plywood sections were assembled around it into a simple open frame. The shelf divides the cabinet into two functional levels, making room for bottles above while suspending glasses below without increasing the overall size of the cabinet.
Paint turned cabinets into patio furniture from a workshop project
With the frame assembled, the remaining step is focused on the finish. A coat of exterior paint covers the exposed plywood edges and integrates each piece into a single cabinet, replacing the raw wood look with a cleaner, furniture-inspired look.
Painting after assembly also creates a more consistent finish around joints and shelves. The painted finish draws attention away from the plywood construction and toward the cabinet, making it look like a permanent addition to the patio rather than a project made from leftover materials.
A wall bar doubles as outdoor decor
A finished wall bar combines bottle storage, hanging stemware and decorative displays in a small cabinet footprint. Two bottles sit next to a simple jar of fresh flowers, illustrating how the cabinet serves as both a serving station and a decorative display rather than just wine storage.
A closer look reveals the details that make the design work. Evenly spaced stemware slots disappear beneath the shelf until the glasses are inserted, while the painted plywood frame creates a clean, built-in look. The olive-green finish complements the surrounding plants, making the cabinet look more like permanent outdoor furniture than a project made from leftover materials.
Blank patio walls can become functional storage
Mounted against an exterior wall, the cabinet turns unused vertical space into a dedicated serving station without sacrificing floor space for a bar cart or freestanding cabinet. Wine bottles, glasses and decorative accents remain within reach while outdoor tables remain available for diners and guests.
Instead of taking up valuable floor space with other furniture, a wall bar transforms an unused section of the patio into a dedicated serving station. It also shows how two leftover plywood boards can become a custom-looking feature that blends into an outdoor space instead of looking like a DIY project.
