SUPER BRIEF HISTORY: The South Pacific has given the world much in the way of culture, but perhaps the most identifiable contribution has been the tiki. Since the opening of Don The Beachcomber and Trader Vic restaurants in the early 1930s, tiki culture has seen a rise, fall, and resurgence of popularity. (No surprise, right? Anything that was cool more than 20 years ago will eventually make a comeback, including the tiki.) Well, for about 20 years between the 1940s and 1970s, tiki culture and all that it entailed were hot. Thor Heyerdahl’s novel and documentary entitled Kon-Tiki, as well as WWII troops returning home from the South Pacific were also instrumental in elevating the tiki to pop culture status. The mystery, beauty, and serenity of the islands appealed to post-Depression and post-war America, and we embraced it all. Although there isn’t much googie tiki architecture left, tiki culture is once again flourishing. What does that mean for you, the tiki enthusiast? Whether you’re just a fan of Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, or a full time tiki god, you’ll be able to find all the items you need to make the tiki bar of your dreams.

WHAT IS TIKI DECOR? As with any culture, what exactly constitutes tiki decor is open for interpretation. Much of what we see in the US is our own version of how we see Polynesian culture. We’ve integrated our own style into mix, and as a result it’s hard to say what’s "good" or "bad" when decorating with tiki in mind. Were velvet backed paintings of tropical women part of traditional Polynesian decor? Hardly, but as you can see at right, they make an excellent addition to a retro-modern tiki themed room.

Overtly homogenized imagery of any kind usually leads to generic decor, but modern interpretations of vintage tropical decor can really give your tiki room some extra sauce. A perfect example is the tiki art of Shag, who creates modern pop art style illustrations using retro subject matter like tikis. While his work is obviously modern, it can be perfectly integrated into a more "traditionally" decorated tiki bar. For Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary in 2005, Shag created many new illustrations for use on Disneyland merchandise, including many with tiki themes. At left you can see his rendition of the Enchanted Tiki Room.

TIKI DECOR CORNERSTONES: Despite the eclectic nature of tiki decor, there are a lot of obvious symbols that can quickly transform a ho-hum den into a tropical rumpus room. If a romantic escape into idyllic island living is what you crave, you’ll want to rustle up some of the following;

Tiki Bar- Nothing says "sit down and relax with a Blue Hawaii" like a bamboo and thatched grass tiki bar (also sometimes called a tiki hut). They come in sizes to fit every budget ranging from bars to fit in your family room to big old outdoor huts for a Hawaiian luau.

8×10′ tiki bar	8×8′ tiki bar	6×8′ tiki bar	4×8′ tiki bar	4×4′ tiki bar
All models of tiki bar above have FREE Shipping in the US

Tiki Signs- There are several online merchants who create personalized tiki signs, but Pariarts has the best selection and quality. You can get a quality sign from them with your name on it, or go fully custom and commission a unique sign with your picture painted on it. Wooden signage like this really sets apart the tiki god from the tiki hobbyist, so if you have room for just one splurge in your decorating budget, this should be it.

Tropical Music- Exotica is the key word here. Tunes suitable for your tiki bar are going to be tropical sounding orchestral jazz that are heavy on tribal rhythms (and were probably created a minimum of 15 years ago). Look for albums by Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Robert Drasnin, Les Baxter, and Don Tiki. The Ultra Lounge series of compilation CDs are also fantastic for conjuring up just the right mood.

Cocktail Accessories- Pay attention to the details and your tiki bar will really feel like a little escape from the world. Cocktail shakers, tiki coasters, and animal shaped drink hangers and swizzle sticks lend to the festive ambiance, as well as more practical bartending utensils.

I’M READY TO START DECORATING! Now that you have some basic ideas and information you can start stocking up on supplies! You might also get some inspiration from tiki themed books. Starting a new decorating project can sometimes be daunting, but just remember the reason that tiki culture became popular in the first place: the desire for a laid back, worry-free environment where one could escape to for a little while…

-Lauren