After experiencing a worldwide pandemic, there’s no better time than now to design a bar for your home. Rather than going out for a drink, why not enjoy that glass of wine with the comfort of your own fireplace and pajamas?
Fortunately, home bars can come in all shapes and styles, so you can personalize them to fit your needs. Whether your bar space is small or large, there are many different elements to consider when designing a unique area that you and your family can enjoy. Ultimately, it all comes down to your taste and what fits your personality the most.
Here are our tips for designing a home bar and other home bar furniture and essentials to consider.
Types of Home Bars
If you’re looking to design a home bar, you may be wondering what types of options there are to choose from. There are plenty of ways to design a bar that will fit nicely with the style of your home and provide an entertainment space for yourself and your guests. Here’s a look at some of the basic home bar styles.
Built-in Wet Bar
Wet bars are a great addition to any entertainment space, especially if you’re looking to host guests on a different floor of your home or outdoors. These bars are typically designed and built directly into an area of your home, such as a wall or corner. Wet bars get their name because plumbing is involved; these bars typically have a sink.
Wet bars offer many benefits, including plenty of storage space for dishes and drinks, mini-refrigerators or coolers, a seating area, and a central area for gathering. They can also be customized to have all the features you need.
Dry Bar
Like a wet bar, dry bars can also be built into your home and customized to fit your needs. The difference with dry bars is that plumbing is not involved, so they usually don’t have a sink. Dry bars can be effortless to create if you already have a short counter or cabinet space in your home.
Bar Cart, Tray, or Cabinet
If you’re looking for an affordable home bar option that doesn’t require a whole renovation project, you may consider using a bar cart, tray, or cabinet instead. These can be easily placed in any area of your home to provide optimal storage space. They can also be quite decorative; for example, trays offer versatility and can be placed on coffee tables or servers and buffets.
Designing a Wet Bar
Wet bars are a great option, especially if you’re entertaining far from your kitchen. By having another sink already in the bar itself, it’s a lot easier to rinse off glasses or that blender you used to whip up a frozen margarita.
When designing a wet bar, here are a few things to consider:
· Use More Space: Because of the sink and a wet bar’s location in your home, it is bound to take up more space than other bar types. You’ll want to consider this, especially if you’re looking to renovate part of your home to install the bar.
· Add Appliances: Wet bars tend to give you more space than dry bars, so there’s likely room to include a mini-refrigerator or wine cooler. Your white wine and beer drinkers will be happy that you’re offering them a chilled beverage to enjoy.
· Install a Statement Countertop: You may want your countertop to match what you already have in your kitchen, or you might want to make a statement with something else. There are plenty of natural stone options to try, including granite, marble, and quartz.
· Include a Seating Area: Wet bars are made for entertaining, and if you’re looking to provide a solid gathering space for your guests, you’ll want to include a place to sit. Consider using bar stools that match your home’s style and the style of the bar.
Designing a Dry Bar
Dry bars are a great addition to a dining room or kitchen space. If you have some extra countertop and storage area, you may consider incorporating a dry bar for your future dinner parties and group gatherings. Dry bars don’t feature sinks, so they need to be closer to your kitchen if you know you’ll be rinsing glasses often.
Here are some key tips for designing a dry bar:
· Maximize a Condensed Area: Dry bars are usually smaller than wet bars, and they can conveniently fit in smaller areas or corners. You may have limited storage or countertop space, so you’ll want to optimize the space you have as much as possible. Consider using extra shelving or storage cabinets to maximize the area.
· Position Strategically: There are many ways to get creative with your dry bar’s location in your home. You could try repurposing storage built-ins that are already in your home or even redecorate and convert a closet or nook area into a dry bar.
· Consider the Price Point: Dry bars are cheaper to design than wet bars because they require less space and no plumbing. They are also easier to improvise if you already have a small space available in your home that you’re looking to dress up.
· Add a Wine Cellar: For wine connoisseurs, you may want to devote more room to a wine cellar than the bar itself. Because dry bars can be smaller and may not feature enough space for extra appliances, you could consider adding an adjacent wine cellar to store all your favorite brands.
Designing a Bar Cart or Cabinet
For a simple look, bar carts and cabinets are a great, affordable alternative. There are many ways to customize a bar cart or tray, depending on its location, style, and features.
Consider these ideas if you’re looking to incorporate an affordable bar option into your home:
· Choose the Right Spot: Bar carts offer a lot of versatility when it comes to location. Because they can be easily moved, you have the flexibility to host guests wherever you want in your home. You can also quickly move carts and trays if you change your mind about your home bar location or your guests move into a different room.
· Stay Discreet with a Cabinet: Cabinets are great options if you’re looking to stow your alcohol away from the reach of children and pets. They can also offer a more organized look when you’re not entertaining people. Cabinets also offer different options for installation, including ones that are installed directly into the wall versus standing curio cabinets and shelves that can be placed and moved when needed.
· Add a Touch of Décor: There are many ways to dress up a bar cart or tray by adding accent pieces, plants, wine racks, or other accessories. You can even use alcohol bottles and glassware to your advantage by strategically placing and organizing them to fit your aesthetic.
Other Home Bar Essentials
After you decide on the right home bar style for you, you may be wondering what other accessories you need to make the bar as functional as possible. Other home bar essentials may include different types of chairs, dishware, glassware, or bartending tools. Bottle and wine openers, cocktail shakers, strainers, and juice squeezers are a great place to start.
Designing and personalizing a bar for your home may be your next renovation project, especially if you want a great place to entertain guests. With many different options and styles to choose from, you are sure to find a home bar that fits your needs.
If you’re looking to design a bar for your home, The Furniture Mall is here for you. You can find inspiration for your bar by shopping our selection of dining room furniture. With furniture stores in Topeka and Olathe, Kansas, and Lee's Summit, Missouri, our design specialists are ready to help you. Visit one of our locations today.