There is a certain appeal to drinking at home. Bar hopping can be exciting and great for an occasional night out of fun. However, it is hard to beat walking only a few steps in the comfort of your own home to stir up a craft cocktail in your home bar. Besides being a great place to unwind by yourself, your home bar can also be set up to entertain friends and family.
Whether you want to transform an area of your kitchen or have an entire room devoted to your bar, there are some key pieces of home bar furniture that you may want to include to help ensure that you have the best set-up on the block.
Utilise Vertical Space
Vertical space is how we envision many bar set ups in our head. For instance, think about your favourite bar that you frequent or one you have visited in the past. How was their alcohol or decorations displayed?
Chances are, the way the items were set up drew you eyes up towards the ceiling. Granted, you do not have to have alcohol reaching the ceiling. But, if you already have vertical space available to you then you might as well use it. This is especially helpful if you live in a loft or apartment where space to have a bar area may be limited.
There are several ways that you can achieve this look with different pieces of home bar furniture that are available to you, such as tall whisky cabinets, or wall bar cabinets that don’t require floor space.
Bookshelves
Bar shelves can be in the form of bookshelves. Bookshelves are a great way to take advantage of vertical space. You can place alcohol, as well as glasses and decor items on the different shelves. This will help to display your alcohol, as well as make for easy access.
Floating Shelves
Bar shelves can also be in the form of floating shelves. Floating shelves can easily be placed on the wall behind your bar set-up. This can be used to place bottles or even glasses on for display. Floating shelves also make for excellent home bar wall decor to help fill up any empty spaces.
Cabinets
You may be interested in a wall cabinet or a bar cabinet with a fridge for behind your countertop. You do not need to purchase a specific wall cabinet or whisky cabinet and can instead repurpose other cabinets to transform them. You may want to choose a cabinet that has a glass door, so that way you are able to see what alcohol is inside.
Closets
Closets are easy to purpose into areas for your home bar. For instance, a closet typically has enough space for a bar cabinet with fridge. A bar cabinet with fridge can be very convenient, as everything you need is in one location. However, typically more work is involved with converting closets into cabinets if you do not have the required shelving already installed.
Keep It Lit
When it comes to bar areas, you will want to ensure that you have ample lighting. This lighting may act as bar wall decor, but you will need to make sure that you have plenty of light in your bar. This will allow you to be able to see all the alcohol you have in stock, as well as where the glasses are and ensure that you make the drinks properly.
You may choose to have a very brightly lit bar or want to have more of a romantic ambiance. Whichever the case, you will need some sort of lighting. But, do not worry as there are many different lighting options to choose from.
Floor Lamps
Floor lamps can add very bright location specific lighting options to your bar area. Floor lamps may be great for seating areas or to place behind the bar area for additional lighting when needed. Floor lamps may also use more than one bulb, which means that it can provide you with a bright lighting solution for your space. Floor lamps can also come in a variety of different styles.
Desk Lamps
Desk lamps can come in many different forms, which includes vintage options, and can be placed on tables or on top of the bar itself. This can give your area a vintage vibe and provide the area with low lighting. Desk lamps are typically not recommended as the only lighting option for your bar, but can be a great additional lighting option.
Rope Lights
Rope lighting is great for illuminating certain areas of your bar that a normal light may not reach. They also help to draw the eye to that area of your bar. For instance, you may choose to string up rope lights directly underneath your bar. You may also choose to place rope lights inside a cabinet or closet where regular lighting options would not work.
Chandeliers
Chandeliers can bring a vintage or elegant aspect to your home bar. Chandeliers are excellent lighting choices for directly above the bar area. This soft lighting option can also give off plenty of light to fill an entire room.
Make the Most of Counter Space
When it comes to bar countertop ideas, the options are virtually endless. It is important to make the most out of as much counter space as you can, especially if you are working with a small area. Bar countertop ideas can come in the form of utilising pre-existing items in your home, such as kitchen islands, unused counter space, or even bar carts.
You may have counter space next to your sink, in another room, or up along one of your walls in your kitchen that is not being used. You can easily transform these areas into bar areas by taking advantage of this space.
Kitchen Islands
Kitchen islands come in many different shapes and sizes, as well as price points. This means that there is a kitchen island for every budget. Utilising a kitchen island for a home bar does not mean that the kitchen island needs to necessarily be in the kitchen. The kitchen island could be placed wherever it is that you would need it to be.
However, having a bar area as a kitchen island in your kitchen space may be convenient due to the closeness to the sink and fridge.
Bar Carts
Bar carts are very popular items to have. This is primarily because bar carts look very chic and are also easy to transport from room to room. For instance, if you are having a party in one room but have the cart in another, it is relatively easy to move it to the other room. Bar carts can be small or large. However, most have more than one level and are generally low to the ground.
If you have a small space and are not able to make use of counter areas, then a bar cart may be a great alternative for you. Bottles of alcohol can be placed on the bottom level and then glasses, as well as decor pieces, can be placed on the top level.
Dining Tables
Utilising certain dining room tables, as well as entryway tables, can be a great option. Often, these types of tables are higher off the ground than bar carts, which may provide you with more convenience. Dining room tables have a larger surface area, which means you will have more ways to fill up that space and more room for storage.
Tie The Room Together
Even when your main home bar area is completed, you will still want to leave room for decor pieces that help to tie the room together. Take note of your particular design style and choose items that compliment that style. You may want to add a beautiful backsplash to or throw up unique pieces of art. Whichever the case, your decor pieces will help bring life to your bar area.
Mirrors
Mirrors are excellent statement pieces in a room. Mirrors can be simple or ornate, as well as large or small. You could even consider hanging up multiple mirrors next to each other. Mirrors help to add dimension to a room and can help to make your bar area appear larger than it actually is. Another brilliant idea is to use mirrored cabinet, this way you are adding dimension to your room whilst also adding storage space.
Trays
Trays can not only be great ways to transport your alcohol to your guests, but can also be excellent decor pieces and add ambiance to your space. There are many different options when it comes to trays. There are wooden trays, metal trays, and even wicker trays. This means you are sure to find a tray that fits your style.
Glasses
One of the most important aspects of bars are the glasses that you will use to pour the alcohol in. However, you can also use glasses as decor pieces. Try putting the glasses up on some shelves or around your bar area. There may be certain collectible glasses that you would like to put on display.
Take a Seat
It is not necessary but it is highly suggested to have some seating options. This is especially true if you plan on entertaining others in your bar area. Depending on your design style, you may want to add bar stools or even couches. Sofas and couches can help to add a more comfortable vibe, but you may want to instead use bar stools for a more industrial vibe. The choice is really up to you.
Bar Stools
Bar stools are the typical seating choice. You may want wooden or metal bar stools which are high enough that you and your guests can sit comfortably up at the bar. Bar stools are also what is used in regular bar settings. So, if you want to give off the feel of a real bar, then stools may be your choice.
Dining Chairs
If you are not a fan of bar stools, you may be wondering if there are other options. Dining room chairs can also be a good option. However, you should not put dining room chairs up to the bar, as they will most likely not be tall enough. This means your guests will not be able to reach. Instead, dining room chairs should be used up against other tables.
Benches
For more of a relaxed and functional seating option, you may want to consider utilising benches. Benches can be great for being placed up against a wall or along a long table. Small benches can also be great if you have a small home bar area that does not have much room for seating. There are also corner bench options that are available that may be perfect for your bar area.
Sofas
If you want to give your guests the ultimate comfortable bar experience when you have invited them over, then you will want to have sofas, couches, or comfortable armchairs for them to sit in. This can offer an elegant, classy, and even chic vibe when someone walks into your bar area. You may be amazed at how much a sofa transforms your room from stuffy to comfortable.
Conclusion
Knowing what furniture to add to your bar area can feel overwhelming. The average person often does not know what all should go into a bar area. The real answer is that it is up to you on what you would like to add to your own unique bar area.
It also depends on your needs, especially if you plan on entertaining people in your home bar or you just want it to be an area for yourself. Bar areas are great additions to your home, but knowing what to put in them can feel like a challenge. Utilising this helpful guide can help make sure that you do not miss anything when it comes to picking out your furniture for your bar area.
