Decorating
Decorating: How to Fit a Home Bar into Any Scheme
From drinks trolleys on wheels to luxe home bars, here’s how to enjoy a tipple or two from the comfort of your own home
If staying in is the new going out, then make sure you have a dedicated spot for storing, stashing and displaying your glasses, decanters and cocktail kit. Be it a full-on bar that swallows up an entire room or a charming vintage drinks trolley in a corner, here’s how a home bar could transform your nights in and look fabulous at the same time. Anyone for a mojito?
Hunt down unusual pieces
This reburbished vintage ice box is gorgeous for so many reasons: it not only keeps refreshments cool, it’s seriously good interiors eye candy, too. Each compartment can stash a fair few bottles, making it easy to stock up for the party season.
If an old ice box eludes you, hunt for a vintage cabinet with several compartments to store your drinks and glasses – you can always add a couple of ice buckets at party time.
This reburbished vintage ice box is gorgeous for so many reasons: it not only keeps refreshments cool, it’s seriously good interiors eye candy, too. Each compartment can stash a fair few bottles, making it easy to stock up for the party season.
If an old ice box eludes you, hunt for a vintage cabinet with several compartments to store your drinks and glasses – you can always add a couple of ice buckets at party time.
Go all out on glam
A luxurious mirrored bar like this will transport you to the big screen in seconds and, before you know it, you’ll be whipping up cocktails à la Tom Cruise. The full-length wine fridges stash bottle after bottle of your favourite grape, while the back-lit glass shelves can be lined with your chosen tipple.
I love the daring choice of colourful, patterned bar stools, too – they add so much personality to this high-spec, high-tech bar. Who needs to go out when staying in is so deliciously glam?
A luxurious mirrored bar like this will transport you to the big screen in seconds and, before you know it, you’ll be whipping up cocktails à la Tom Cruise. The full-length wine fridges stash bottle after bottle of your favourite grape, while the back-lit glass shelves can be lined with your chosen tipple.
I love the daring choice of colourful, patterned bar stools, too – they add so much personality to this high-spec, high-tech bar. Who needs to go out when staying in is so deliciously glam?
Utilise part of the kitchen
If you don’t have space for a full-blown home bar, dedicate a cupboard in your kitchen for all of your glassware, bottles and mixology kit. Then, once night falls, your breakfast bar can simply double up as a cocktail perch.
If you don’t have space for a full-blown home bar, dedicate a cupboard in your kitchen for all of your glassware, bottles and mixology kit. Then, once night falls, your breakfast bar can simply double up as a cocktail perch.
Fit under the stairs
Cloakrooms and extra storage are all very sensible fixtures, but why not forgo practicalities just this once by transforming your under-stairs space into a streamlined home bar? Kitchen cabinets can easily be tailored to suit the space, then simply team with bar stools, or some slouchy chairs for a more laid-back vibe.
See more clever uses for under-stairs spaces
Cloakrooms and extra storage are all very sensible fixtures, but why not forgo practicalities just this once by transforming your under-stairs space into a streamlined home bar? Kitchen cabinets can easily be tailored to suit the space, then simply team with bar stools, or some slouchy chairs for a more laid-back vibe.
See more clever uses for under-stairs spaces
Invest in a trolley
You can’t beat a drinks trolley on wheels for one of the most stylish ways to serve your brandy and bourbon. An industrial-style design in a vintage nickel finish simply oozes old-school Hollywood glamour. Cut-glass decanters and champagne saucers are a must here…
Check out brilliant ideas for big mirrors
You can’t beat a drinks trolley on wheels for one of the most stylish ways to serve your brandy and bourbon. An industrial-style design in a vintage nickel finish simply oozes old-school Hollywood glamour. Cut-glass decanters and champagne saucers are a must here…
Check out brilliant ideas for big mirrors
Make your bar part of the décor
Sometimes, a neat, discreet console table will do the job of home bar just as well as any fancy-pants fixture. This elegant, Art Deco-style display is finished off with beautiful glass decanters and a silver tray – an essential piece of kit for keeping watermarks at bay.
Sometimes, a neat, discreet console table will do the job of home bar just as well as any fancy-pants fixture. This elegant, Art Deco-style display is finished off with beautiful glass decanters and a silver tray – an essential piece of kit for keeping watermarks at bay.
Make it a family affair
Perfect for family evenings in and weekend get-togethers, this spacious, light-filled games room is equipped with its very own bar. What could be better than taking in a movie or playing a game of pool while sipping your favourite tipple?
Perfect for family evenings in and weekend get-togethers, this spacious, light-filled games room is equipped with its very own bar. What could be better than taking in a movie or playing a game of pool while sipping your favourite tipple?
Max out on colour
Pretty jewel-coloured glasses are as beautifully decorative as they are functional. Make sure you have a glass for every type of drink – from bubbles to highballs and chasers – and invest in classic chrome cocktail shakers and ice buckets for a super-luxe drinking experience.
Pretty jewel-coloured glasses are as beautifully decorative as they are functional. Make sure you have a glass for every type of drink – from bubbles to highballs and chasers – and invest in classic chrome cocktail shakers and ice buckets for a super-luxe drinking experience.
Highlight with a huge mirror
I love the way this beautiful oversized mirror reflects the glass and dark lacquered wood in this drinks area – it’s effortlessly glamorous without being untouchable. And the vintage glass siphon is the icing on the cake.
TELL US…
Whether you’re a mixologist in the making or simply like the odd glass of wine, we’d love to see where you store and stash your bottles and kit in the Comments below.
I love the way this beautiful oversized mirror reflects the glass and dark lacquered wood in this drinks area – it’s effortlessly glamorous without being untouchable. And the vintage glass siphon is the icing on the cake.
TELL US…
Whether you’re a mixologist in the making or simply like the odd glass of wine, we’d love to see where you store and stash your bottles and kit in the Comments below.
Seek out unusual pieces of furniture that can double up as a one-off, eclectic home bar. This ornate, carved sideboard and counter is a real talking point and the brightly coloured glassware and bottles add a rainbow accent to the all-white scheme. Don’t forget to source a few quirky bar stools, too.