How to Set Up an Epic Home Bar

As the cost associated with a night on the town keeps going up, more and more homeowners are looking for alternatives that will allow them to keep their social lifestyle without breaking the bank. In truth, a home bar is quickly becoming the ultimate place to entertain family and friends and a great way to keep the party coming back to you. This article will help identify the things you’ll need to get your humdrum home bar ready for your next hang out session.

Glassware That Makes All the Difference

Let’s face it, you’re not in college anymore and as such, the mix and match glassware simply won’t do in a sophisticated and stylish home bar. As an amateur cocktail master, you’ll likely know that each cocktail should be served in a specific style of glass, so you should have a set of some of the most popular close at hand. Some staples you’ll want to stock up on include:

• Highball glasses
• Cocktail glasses
• Champagne flutes
• Wine glasses

Of course, any reputable bar will have a selection of glasses capable of serving brandy, whisky, and of course, beer. As these are normally sold in sets of four, you’ll want to make sure that your bar setup has enough space to accommodate the various styles of glassware.

Consider a Bar Cart or a Charming Tray

Bar carts are a must-have of any sophisticated home bar and it’s easy to see why. Not only does it offer an opportunity to add some eclectic style to your bar area, but it also offers a convenient vessel to store and display some of your favourite vintages, liqueurs, and glassware.

In addition to offering some visual pop, a stylish cart gives you a second area on which you (or your guests) can try their hand at mixing their drinks. When it comes to a bar cart, one rule of thumb that should be observed is to make sure that it is stocked sparingly; your bar cart should not be used as a catch-all for everything you have on offer and should be reserved for the good stuff. If you don’t have the space for a bar cart, a simple yet elegant tray can be used to transform just about any shelf into a mini bar of sorts. Like the bar cart, a properly appointed tray is the perfect vessel to display your high-end spirits.

Obtain the Essential Tools

With the right tools at hand (and enough practice), anyone can become an impressive mixologist. If you have a full wet bar, that’s definitely a start in the right direction, but there are a few other essentials that you’ll need to procure before you can build your cocktail repertoire.

• A respectable variety of bitters which will allow you to experiment with the different infused flavours as you craft your home bar’s proprietary drink.
• Stainless steel jigger for perfect, consistent measurements
• Corkscrew (of course)
• Citrus press
• Paring knife
• Cocktail shaker and strainer
• Reamer and muddler set
• A variety of mixology books that contain recipes for drinks made famous the world over

Establishing Ample Storage Space

Even though your home bar may start out modestly (and in fact, you should build your inventory slowly, so as not to break the bank), the various bottles, mixers, and tools that will accumulate over time will need a decent amount of storage space, especially if you want your home bar to achieve that “epic” status.

Space permitting, a cocktail cabinet or minibar is the perfect place to house all the home bar accoutrements you’ll need to entertain friends and family. Since this is a dedicated space for your alcohol, it’s much easier to justify keeping a sizable inventory on hand. Many home bars that don’t have the benefit of a great deal of space tend to take over a great deal of valuable real estate in the kitchen cupboards, much to the potential chagrin to others in the home. All else considered, a cocktail cabinet is a suave throwback to the ‘50s and 60’s when a den couldn’t be called a den without one of these cabinets lining the wall.

Add Some Stylish Bar Stools

If your bar will feature standing room only, there’s nothing wrong with that. However, if you want your guests to have a comfortable space to relax with their drink in hand , or maybe watch the game, you’ll want to have a few seating options that’ll allow them to take a load off. There are a number of bar stool options available to you, from the fixed height to adjustable, from metal to classic wood; there is a bar stool out there that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your setup.

Add a Mini Fridge / Beverage Centre For Convenience Behind the Bar

Yes, a mini fridge or beverage centre will keep your drinks cold and close at hand, there are also a number of additional benefits to having a designated fridge behind your bar. Having a mini fridge prevents you or your guests from having to leave the entertaining area to procure a cold drink, which can be a bit of a bother depending on the distance between the bar area and your kitchen.

Bevarge Centres  and Mini Fridges can also be designed to meet just about any customization, including: 

• Finish
• Capacity
• Security locks
• Temperature range
• Size

Tie it All Together with Some Wine Art

Any bar isn’t complete without some related wall art to tie it all together. While your home bar can feature just about any type of art, you might see this as an opportunity to display the sort of items that really don’t have any other place in the home.

And there it is, a quick and dirty look at what you need to get your epic home bar started. Just think -- before long, your home may become the next trendy spot you’re friends will be begging to hang out in. We hope that this article will help you make that thought into a reality.