How to Set Up a Stylish Drinks Area However Small Your Home
From simple shelf to dedicated zone, check out these ideas for fashioning a party-ready home bar
Amanda Pollard
21 December 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Whether you invest in a luxurious drinks trolley, commission some bespoke joinery, or simply set up a dedicated spot in an existing area, it’s possible to find space for a home bar. Take a look at these suggestions for places where you could store, display and prepare drinks for your guests.
Make it portable
If you tend to socialise in more than one area of the home, try a portable drinks trolley like this one. Arrange your glasses, bottles and mixing accessories stylishly on top and turn it into a glitzy feature.
Keep it in a corner of the kitchen or in place of a sideboard in the living area, and move it from room to room, as and when you need it.
If you tend to socialise in more than one area of the home, try a portable drinks trolley like this one. Arrange your glasses, bottles and mixing accessories stylishly on top and turn it into a glitzy feature.
Keep it in a corner of the kitchen or in place of a sideboard in the living area, and move it from room to room, as and when you need it.
Work in wood
Don’t fancy a shiny metal drinks trolley? A wooden hostess trolley could make a nice alternative. This one is large enough to hold plenty of drinks paraphernalia, and the dark wood finish tones well with the bar stools nearby.
Find drinks trolleys and bar carts in the Houzz Shop.
Don’t fancy a shiny metal drinks trolley? A wooden hostess trolley could make a nice alternative. This one is large enough to hold plenty of drinks paraphernalia, and the dark wood finish tones well with the bar stools nearby.
Find drinks trolleys and bar carts in the Houzz Shop.
Pop in a tray table
If your drinks area doesn’t need to be mobile, you could opt for a simple tray table instead. The protruding rim works as a barrier for any falling bottles or glasses, so it’s practical for holding a number of items.
The beauty of a design like this is that it can be folded up and put away when it isn’t needed. Store it neatly, then bring it out on evenings when friends are coming over.
If your drinks area doesn’t need to be mobile, you could opt for a simple tray table instead. The protruding rim works as a barrier for any falling bottles or glasses, so it’s practical for holding a number of items.
The beauty of a design like this is that it can be folded up and put away when it isn’t needed. Store it neatly, then bring it out on evenings when friends are coming over.
Assemble on a sideboard
A classic sideboard is a brilliantly practical piece for storing drinks. Place your collection of spirits and mixers inside the cabinet, and display accessories on the surface above.
The low-level top is perfect for preparing drinks, rather than the high surface on a chest of drawers. Go with the retro feel of a drinks sideboard by teaming it with vintage artwork and accessories, as the homeowners have done here.
A classic sideboard is a brilliantly practical piece for storing drinks. Place your collection of spirits and mixers inside the cabinet, and display accessories on the surface above.
The low-level top is perfect for preparing drinks, rather than the high surface on a chest of drawers. Go with the retro feel of a drinks sideboard by teaming it with vintage artwork and accessories, as the homeowners have done here.
Exploit every inch
If you’re lucky enough to have some spare space in your kitchen or open-plan area, you could turn it into a bar. This awkward alcove is the ideal spot for a dedicated zone for serving drinks.
The designers have built shelves beneath the sloping ceiling and set up a row of kitchen cabinets below for storage and preparation.
Fancy doing something like this in your own home? Find carpenters and joiners near you.
If you’re lucky enough to have some spare space in your kitchen or open-plan area, you could turn it into a bar. This awkward alcove is the ideal spot for a dedicated zone for serving drinks.
The designers have built shelves beneath the sloping ceiling and set up a row of kitchen cabinets below for storage and preparation.
Fancy doing something like this in your own home? Find carpenters and joiners near you.
Carve out space on a worktop
A simple way to set up a drinks area in your kitchen is to gather all the elements in one spot. Invest in a simple tray, like this one, and gather your drink-making essentials together.
The tray will keep everything together in one place, and can be moved around to different areas whenever you like.
A simple way to set up a drinks area in your kitchen is to gather all the elements in one spot. Invest in a simple tray, like this one, and gather your drink-making essentials together.
The tray will keep everything together in one place, and can be moved around to different areas whenever you like.
Set up a serving station
Use an alcove in your home to design a drinks area, complete with storage and a preparation space.
This idea would work well in a recess at the side of a chimney breast. Here, the designers have installed wall and base cupboards, a worksurface and a handy shelf for easy access to glassware.
Use an alcove in your home to design a drinks area, complete with storage and a preparation space.
This idea would work well in a recess at the side of a chimney breast. Here, the designers have installed wall and base cupboards, a worksurface and a handy shelf for easy access to glassware.
Create a display
Make the most of attractive bottles and glassware by displaying them all in a glass-fronted cabinet. For a modern look, go for a lighter piece rather than a dark wood design.
This white cupboard looks fresh and contemporary in the room, and the designers have added interest to the plain glassware with a couple of strategically placed prints propped up behind.
Make the most of attractive bottles and glassware by displaying them all in a glass-fronted cabinet. For a modern look, go for a lighter piece rather than a dark wood design.
This white cupboard looks fresh and contemporary in the room, and the designers have added interest to the plain glassware with a couple of strategically placed prints propped up behind.
Hang for handy access
The owners of this kitchen have turned a peninsula unit into a bar area by including a clever feature above.
The boxed-in, reeded-glass shelf is ideal for storing drinks accessories, and a few hanging rails below keep the glassware organised.
Whoever is preparing the drinks can easily take what they need, mix it on the worktop and pass it over to guests on the other side of the peninsula.
Tell us…
How have you set up a drinks area in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
The owners of this kitchen have turned a peninsula unit into a bar area by including a clever feature above.
The boxed-in, reeded-glass shelf is ideal for storing drinks accessories, and a few hanging rails below keep the glassware organised.
Whoever is preparing the drinks can easily take what they need, mix it on the worktop and pass it over to guests on the other side of the peninsula.
Tell us…
How have you set up a drinks area in your home? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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These are all lovely and there are some stunning images but I do keep my booze in the Cupboard of Shame so I don’t need to dust it!
Just read another article on Houzz on decluttering, while this one seems to add to it! In our house, booze goes in a cupboard, along with glasses. Life is too short to add dusting and washing decanters!
Exploit every inch is our bar.! It works for us, easy access for glasses for
Cocktails / G & T’s. Bottles hidden from view until needed & glasses easily accessible.