Heading out to a pub or bar to relax is one of the activities you might be missing right now, even as some establishments re-open with limited capacity or outdoor seating. With your own home bar, you can enjoy frosty beverages with family and friends, minus the safety concerns.
If you want to go to a place where everyone knows your name, as the “Cheers” theme song put it, that perfect spot may be right in your own home. Whether it’s part of a basement remodel, adjacent to your kitchen, or even in a covered spot outside, a fully functional home bar makes entertaining easy and fun. Here are a few tips for creating an entertaining-friendly bar in your home.
Choose a Bar Style
The style of your bar should set the scene and work with your goals for the space. Think about your favorite places — it could be an English Pub, sports bar, a mid-century modern cocktail vibe fit for Mad Men’s Don Draper, a rustic bar that reminds you of Bourbon tasting rooms, or your very own invention.
If you’re a wine enthusiast, consider a wine cellar with storage, refrigeration, and a gathering area to sip your vintages that rivals the wineries in Napa or Sonoma.
If your bar is away from the main living area, like in an outdoor living space or in the basement, it can depart from the overall decor of the rest of your home if you need a change. But home bars don’t have to be hidden away. Like the photo at the top of this page, it can be a light and airy space for gathering and entertaining that flows with the rest of the home.
Get the Pro Touch
When outfitting your home bar, look to what the pros have. If you’re a craft-beer lover, you’re going to need at least one tap, if not more. Building in a kegerator or two keeps your favorite drafts cold, fresh, and ready to pour in the comfort of your own home.
Invest in an ice maker so you’re not depending on your refrigerator. You’ll get clearer looking and tasting cubes, and you can find models that will dispense ice in sizes and shapes that complement fine spirits and mixed cocktails.
A powerful blender is a key to making frosty drinks — whether or not they’re spiked — that rival the Pina Coladas, Painkillers, or Daiquiris at your favorite beach bar.
A dedicated wine fridge will keep your vintages at the perfect temperature, whether it’s a full-bodied Petite Syrah, a crisp unoaked Chardonnay, or a celebratory sparkling wine. If your bar is outside, invest in a good metal ice bucket to keep cool wines refreshing. A refrigerator for mixers, soft drinks, garnishes, with a place to chill glasses or copper mugs for Mules will give your home bar extra capabilities.
You’ll also want enough counter space to prep garnishes and at least a small bar sink for rinsing and easy cleanup, though a full-size sink is a great thing to have. To keep everything within the bar area, installing a dishwasher saves steps at “closing time,” and helps ensure your bar’s glassware doesn’t travel far — so you’ll always have clean mugs, wine glasses, and other specific drinkware at your fingertips.
Build-in Plenty of Storage
Having a well-outfitted home bar means you need space to store everything. Add style with lighted cabinets that can house your wine glasses, beer mugs, martini glasses, and more. Shelving or cabinets below the bar keeps your collection of shakers, blenders, and other gear out of sight until you need them. If you have young children in the home, cabinets with locks, where your collection of liquor can safely put away, will be an important storage feature to include.
With a home bar that’s designed and built with your style in mind, there may not be a reason to leave the comforts of home, while providing a gathering space for entertaining. If you’d like to talk about adding one to your home, give Bailey Remodeling a call at 502-749-1586, or complete the form below. Cheers!