The public houses of England have been serving patrons for two thousand years, thanks to the Roman invaders who left commercial eating and drinking establishments in their wake. The best alehouses gained reputations for debauchery and rowdiness, causing the king to restrict liquor licenses in the seventh century. The mayhem continued, however, and men and women alike continued to enjoy brews and booze with their comrades.
Whether you’re reveling in Ireland while watching a football match or taking it easy with your mates in Sydney, pub culture mandates welcoming all comers. Setting up your work space to reflect this attitude will invite your coworkers to substitute a break around the water cooler with an office dart tournament. Hang paper pub coasters to create collages on your walls so you can reminisce about good times out with your buddies. “Last call!” will gain new meaning when issued from within your walls!
WALLS
• Faux wood paneling is essential to the transformation from staid cubicle to rowdy pub. Use brown-colored corrugated paper on the upper portion of the walls and faux wood corrugated paper on the lower portion. The items you hang in your pub will contrast with the brown without obscuring the texture of the faux wood paneling at the bottom. Cut the corrugated paper to fit the cubicle walls and keep it in place with strips of Velcro or straight pins on all sides.
• Overlay shelves with dark brown felt, securing with hot glue. (For tips on working with hot glue, see page 5.) Trim the shelf with the same brown felt to keep the look clean and uncluttered.
DESK
• Cover your desk with dark brown felt. Cut the fabric to fit the top of the desk (leaving extra material to secure underneath), pull the fabric tight, and secure it underneath the desk with duct tape. Use hot glue to secure any areas of fabric that pull away from the desk for a cleaner finish.
DÉCOR
• Every pub needs a pool table, and your cube is no exception. Perch a miniature pool table, complete with cue sticks and a rack of balls, next to your phone. The next time you’re on a never-ending conference call, rack ‘em up!
• Using vintage pieces in your design can evoke old-fashioned hospitality. Include a collection of vintage beer coasters or steins, or display an old wind-up bartender to serve your drink for the day.
• Use barstools as guest chairs. If you have room, place a long shelf at table height to create a bar in your cube.
• Collect a variety of bar towels and hang them as art, or place them on a shelf-they’ll come in handy for cleaning up coffee spills!
• Neon beer signs are a decorating must for any bar, and they also provide lighting that sets the proper mood. Call your favorite local beer distributor to see if they have any for sale.
• Scour eBay and other Web sites for vintage posters advertising your favorite beer or an old Irish pub, frame them, and hang them on the wall.
• Wooden containers can hold your office supplies, and are compatible with the pub look.
• Put a small refrigerator in your cube to keep cold beverages on hand. Even if you can’t have a beer at the end of the day, iced tea or a gourmet soda pop will refresh you.
• Don’t forget a bowl of bar snacks. Peanuts, pretzels, or chips are a perfect midday munch.
• Turn a galvanized metal bucket with your favorite beer logo into a trash can.
• Use a beer coolie to store your pens and pencils, and a beer tap as a paperweight.
