15 Home Bar Ideas: How to Style and Stock Your Home Cocktail Bar
Home bars are an amazing way to entertain guests for all kinds of occasions, not to mention awesome when you want to enjoy a casual drink from the comfort of your own space. Considering the ease of use, the luxury, and convenience to enjoy, it's hard to think of a reason why someone wouldn't want one. But we can all do better than just the basic bar setup - creating your own home bar can be a super fun process, and there are tons of great home bar ideas to get started with. Aside from our specialty engineered BROOD bar, this article will walk you through our top 15 home bar ideas.
Essential Elements of a Home Cocktail Bar
Before we get into ideas, it's important to nail down the home bar basics that everyone should know. This includes how to stock a bar - what core elements are essential to making everyday drinks? While what you end up putting in your home bar is ultimately up to you, the bartender, some drinks that you plan on making may require specific ingredients or considerations beforehand. Take some time to reflect upon your needs before heading out to grab the following home bar essentials and any other personal picks that you'd like to include.LiquorLiquor is an obvious must-have for any bar setup. The selection of liquor you choose should depend on the types of cocktails you plan to make most often. Start with the basics - vodka, gin, whiskey and rum - and go from there. Once you have those down pat, consider adding some craft or flavored spirits like tequila or mezcal to give your home bar a unique twist.Mixers and Fruits Stock up on tonic water, soda water and juice for mixing drinks as well as essential citrus fruits like lemons, limes and oranges.Tools Essential tools like a cocktail shaker, jigger, muddler and bar spoon are must-haves for any home bar. You may also want to invest in a scoop or juicer.Glassware Any bar should have a selection of glassware to choose from. Grab basics such as champagne flutes, beer glasses, martini glasses, rocks glasses, shot glasses, and wine glasses - ideally something for every occasion.
15 Home Bar Ideas to Elevate Your Experience
Now that we're clear on the basics, it's time to get inspired. Read below for a list of our 15 favorite home bar designs and concepts.
1. Designate a Wet Bar
Wet bars are a great bar setup for home contexts because they bring everything together in one convenient place. To create one, you'll need an area to prep, cut, and mix, along with a small sink, and ideally cabinets. This is definitely a more time and money intensive setup, but it's 100% worth it for regular drinkers.
2. Spruce up a Bar Cart
Ah, the bar cart. This is one of the best home bar ideas for those with limited room or who want to be able to make their drink space mobile from time-to-time. But yours doesn't have to be on wheels - there are tons of unique bar cart ideas online that involve upcycled furniture. There are also plenty of ways to get creative with limited space, from hanging glasses under the cart's top surface to integrating drawers for tools.
3. Repurpose Old Furniture
To work off of the last idea, who says that a DIY home bar can't be made out of furniture? We sure don't. In fact, out of all of our home bar ideas, this is definitely the most unique. Upcycled furniture is a great way to both repurpose old items and compliment other room fixtures - all while enjoying ample storage space.
4. Invest in a Wine Fridge
Next up on our list of bar cart essentials, we have the wine fridge. While it caters to a specific crowd, you're definitely going to want one of these if you're serious about your home bar game. A wine fridge can help keep all your wines, ciders, and beers chilled and ready to pour whenever you are in the mood for a drink. Many are designed to fit inside cabinets or on countertops, so you don't have to worry about taking up additional space.
5. Upgrade Your Home Bar Setup with Nitro Cold Brew
Home bar ideas are usually pretty conventional - 'get the right tools', 'buy some glassware', etc. But what about a next-level upgrade? If you are looking to take your bar game up a notch, adding nitro cold brew is definitely the way to go. Nitro cold brewing refers to the process of using nitrogen gas to produce cold-brewed coffee drinks that have a creamy texture and velvety foam head. Whether you like it black or white, adding nitro cold brew into your home bar setup can create a much more sophisticated drinking experience.
Nitro Infusers for Your Bar Station
After reading the above bar station suggestion, you may be wondering how one acquires the ability to nitro cold brew at home. The answer is simple: a high-grade infuser from BROOD. Our line of products is designed to bring you the luxury of nitrogen beverages in a sleek and easy-to-use package. Choose one of three options for your home cocktail bar:DRNXDRNX is the most basic of the BROOD lineup, but is by no means a compromise. With it, you'll be able to craft flash chilled drinks at the speedy rate of five cups a minute.DRNX DUODRNX DUO is like its aforementioned counterpart in terms of speed and performance. The biggest difference is a second tap to work with - ideal if you plan on serving multiple guests at your home bar.DRNX BRW Finally, we have DRNX BRW. This top-of-the-line machine is a completely self-contained unit, capable of both brewing drinks and infusing them with nitrogen. A total game-changer for espresso martini lovers!
Integrating a Nitro Cold Brew Machine into Your Bar Setup
Creating a bar setup at home with a nitro cold brew machine isn't as complicated as it sounds. BROOD machines boast a minimalist design perfect for modern home bars. Our infusers are built to be compact and can fit practically anywhere - under the countertop, next to your bartending station, or even on top of a table. Setup is as easy as plug and play. All you need to do after install is learn how to make nitro cold brew from the instruction manual and you're good to go.
6. Decorate with Garnishes
Drinks, like all things in life, benefit from a little flair. Home bar designs can be impressive and all, but the presentation of the drinks it serves is just as important. Ensure your home cocktail bar is fully equipped with all the necessary garnishes, like cherries and olives to add aesthetic appeal to your drinks. Espresso martinis, for example, look great when topped with a few coffee beans and some freshly grated nutmeg.
7. Go Big: Get a Fully Stocked Bar Cart
Beyond the home bar basics we covered earlier, the process of stocking a home bar should be taken to the next level whenever and however possible. So go overboard! There are even ways to go all-out without all of the work. Try a fully stocked bar cart. Not only will it make your home bar look and feel more sophisticated, but you save yourself the trouble of having to buy all the individual ingredients separately.
8. Save Space with Premixed Cocktails
While we're on the topic of stocking a home bar, chances are that it's something you'd rather not do regularly. Premixed cocktails are a great way to minimize ingredients and save space. Modern home bars usually feature drinks that are ready to pour, such as negronis and margaritas. Not only do premixed cocktails make it easier for you to get creative with your bar setup, but they also guarantee a perfect drink every time.
9. Strategic Storage
If you want to have any hope of being able to fit all of your home bar essentials into a small confined space, you'll need to get creative with your bar setup. Simplicity is the name of the game here. Investing in a bar cart with adjustable shelves or hanging stemware holders is an excellent way to maximize your storage space without any extra effort on your part. You can also look into purchasing bottles with smaller dimensions to save additional room.
10. Make it a TV Bar
One of our more intensive home bar ideas, but nonetheless awesome to try if you have the time and resources. Consider equipping your cocktail station with a television. This can be used to help guide you through making a complex cocktail, or even just as an entertaining addition when having guests over. Plus, it's always great to have some background noise while you're mixing drinks!
11. Use an Extra Closet
Your cocktail station doesn't have to be limited to the confines of a cart. If you have an extra closet in your home, you can transform it into a space-efficient home bar. Consider lining the walls with shelves to store all of your liquors and mixers. You could also add drawers or cabinets beneath the shelves to hide any additional supplies you may need. This is the only one of our bar cart ideas that doesn't have to include the cart itself.
12. Outdoor Entertainment
If you want a luxury home bar, proper lighting is essential. This means doing more than simply hanging a few lanterns. String lights, bottle lamps or Edison bulbs can be used to instantly add character and ambiance. You could also use a mini bar fridge that's illuminated with low-voltage LED lighting. Home bar cart ideas that include lighting like this can make your serving station look truly stunning.
13. Lighting and Ambiance
If you want a luxury home bar, proper lighting is essential. This means doing more than simply hanging a few lanterns. String lights, bottle lamps or Edison bulbs can be used to instantly add character and ambiance. You could also use a mini bar fridge that's illuminated with low-voltage LED lighting. Home bar ideas that include lighting like this can make a bar cart look truly stunning.
14. Add a Personal Touch
You're making a DIY home bar. So why shouldn't it be personal? Add a couple of decorative touches to the bar cart or bar area in your home. You can add some colorful beverage napkins, hang a few pictures, or even get creative and make something that speaks to you by hand. Entire home bar designs can even be conceived from scratch - just make sure it's something that you'll be proud to show off.
15. Embrace Non-Alcoholic Options
Although we skipped this on our list of bar cart essentials, it's important to recognize that not everyone who stops by your home bar may be interested in drinking alcohol. Have a few non-alcoholic drink options available, like homemade iced tea or freshly squeezed lemonade. There are plenty of recipes out there that incorporate various fruits and herbs to create mocktails that are just as good as the real thing.
How to Style a Bar Cart
So, you've got ideas and have been inspired. Next comes learning how to style a bar cart properly. Whether you're looking to create a luxury home bar or basic home bar setup, there are some best practices that should be followed to ensure aesthetic consistency in the overall look. Start by pinpointing a style. Do you want a classic look, modern minimalist vibe, retro-themed atmosphere or something more outdoorsy? Once you decide on the style, it's easier to start looking for the right pieces that will bring your bar cart ideas to life. Whatever items you buy though, make sure that they compliment each other and fit in with the overall look you're going for well. Nothing's worse than a tacky bar cart full of clashing colors.
Bar Cart Styling Tips
Not so fast - we've got a few more bar cart ideas and bar cart styling tips to share. The first is placement. Where can you best display your cart so it’s both practical and visually appealing? The kitchen, living room, entertainment area or outdoor spaces all are great options. Next up, storage. It’s important to think about what items you need to store and how much of them. A well-stocked bar cart should have enough storage for glasses, tools and liquor bottles that will fit your gathering needs.
Bar Organization Ideas for the Best Setup
We've taught you how to set up a bar, but what we haven't clarified is how you can get all of its pieces to fit in the same space. Hopefully these bar organization ideas will help:Keep Things Clean - Be sure to wipe down all surfaces, and keep track of where you store items.Store Your Most Used Liquor at Eye Level - The most used liquors such as whiskey, vodka and rum should be placed at eye level. This will make it easier to grab during the party.Make An Ice Pan - If you don't have a full wet bar with a fridge and sink closeby, you'll need to figure out how to access water and ice smoothly. Consider investing in an ice pan or cooler for the job.Juice Fruits Ahead of Time - This is a major time and space saver for any bar. Squeeze juice from oranges, lemons, limes and other fruits ahead of time and store them in jars or bottles for later use.Place The Cart Strategically - Your bar shouldn't just be organized with convenient items within reach. The cart itself should also be in a spot that makes sense for the space - typically a corner or against one wall.
Conclusion
In this article, we've covered a broad range of topics, from learning how to set up a bar to bar ideas and best practices. With this knowledge in hand, you're more than ready to venture on the journey of DIY bar creation for yourself. And if you're looking to make the most out of it, we have one last recommendation - invest in a BROOD nitrogen infuser. It will make your portable bar truly unique and create amazing cocktail experiences for yourself and guests.