When it comes to holiday entertaining, a home bar is a must. And a well-designed home bar can serve as a beautiful focal point. Whether it’s a small bar cart or a custom built-in space, anyone can achieve a space worthy of hosting family and friends for the holidays and beyond. To help inspire you to create your own space, our RNDD design experts have 10 tips that will have your home bar ready to impress your guests.
Start with the Cart
If you don’t have the space for a custom built-in, the best way to achieve a chic home bar design is to start with an elegant bar cart. The Jak Bar Cart from Arteriors and available through Casa Bella, is there perfect vessel to build out your beverage station. This antique brass cart is multi-tiered and offers extensive opportunities for styling. The black glass try top is removable making it the perfect cart for parties allowing you to take martinis on the go.
Contact your local Casa Bella rep for purchasing information.
Once you have the cart, the fun starts. Now you can add exquisite accessories such as the Arielle Decanters, also from Arteriors and available through Casa Bella. Inspired by vintage perfume decanters, these ribbed vessels of smoke luster-cut glass are topped with sculptural stoppers of gray marble and accented with finished brass details. Sure to be the star of your bar cart.
Contact your local Casa Bella rep for purchasing information.
Add a Backdrop for Instant Drama
In this home bar, Relic Design installed dramatic ombre tile, floating shelving and custom cabinetry to display the client’s eclectic barware, and create a luxe entertaining space in the clients’ home. The effect? The ombre tile created a luxurious backdrop for the metallic barware and beautiful bottles which really pop against the tile. Whether your backdrop is tile, glass, metal, or even a dramatic paint color, consider making a statement on the wall. Mixing cocktails has never looked better.
See more from Relic Design here.
Speaking of Backdrops, Follow these Tips when Selecting Tile
When creating a dramatic backdrop for your home bar design, Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors suggests you go with tile. Start by finding something you fall in love with and have it shape and influence the rest of your design. But keep in mind the art and other design details in the space to ensure it all ties together. Find something you love? Make sure it’s also functional. You want something that is easy to clean and maintain.
When installing your tile backsplash for your home bar, consider the grout color. Blend with tone on tone or do a high contrast to give it a completely different look. A gorgeous tile needs to be accentuated. Consider up and down lighting to highlight the details in the tile.
Find more design inspiration from Sarah Jacquelyn Interiors here.
Two Words: Durability and Functionality
Designing a home bar is an exciting project that can transform your space into a hub for entertainment and relaxation. O’Brien Harris, a bespoke cabinet maker, can offer valuable insights for homeowners looking to create a stylish and functional home bar that will endure the test of time. Here are some recommendations.
When it comes to materials, opt for durable and stylish materials like hardwoods, or stone for countertops, backsplashes, and bar surfaces. O’Brien Harris loves integrating reflective materials on vertical surfaces.
But perhaps the most important element when it comes to a home bar design is storage. Incorporate custom storage for glassware, liquor bottles, and bar accessories. Everyone loves open shelving, but O’Brien Harris prefers using grilles on doors to create something more decorative while concealing bottles when not in use. They also create concealed compartments with doors that open when clients are entertaining but then close to allow for family-friendly spaces.
See more custom cabinetry solutions from O’Brien Harris here.
Store Your Wine in Style. And in a Temperature Controlled Space.
When getting started on the design and presentation of your space a big factor is how you’re going to store your staple drink necessities.
Skyline Window Coverings recommends open shelving that shows off an impressive wine collection as a great way to infuse design elements with needed functionality. Choosing how to incorporate refrigeration in your storage layout is another helpful consideration if you have a home bar that isn’t directly connected to a kitchen space. This wine room brings together elements that make it easy to use and fun to entertain in. From the red fabric of the window treatments to the temperature controlled wine storage the holidays here are just a little bit better.
See more solutions from Skyline Window Coverings here.
Consider a Different Type of Storage & Display Cabinet
With Horizons, a cupboard for the daytime area and available through Molenti&C, Dante Bonuccelli proposes a different way of storing, and at the same time, displaying much-loved objects.
Two tip-up doors, which, when closed, reveal the contents thanks to both the transparent stopsol glass and the internal LED lighting, and when open, folded back against the side of the piece for full access to the internal space, transform the cupboard like a chameleon.
Please call Molteni&C Chicago for an appointment to view the Horizons Bar. 312-600-9546.
Make it Personal Yet Functional
According to Amy Kartheiser of Amy Kartheiser Design, the key to a successful home bar is blending functionality with your personal style.
Elevate the atmosphere with texture. Amy loves working with textures that engage the senses. Think velvet barstools, textured glassware, and a well-chosen backsplash that adds the perfect touch of warmth and style.
And personalize your space with meaningful art. Whether it’s a festive gallery wall, a vintage bar sign, or custom artwork, infusing your space with pieces that resonate with you creates a memorable and personalized environment.
See more spaces designed by Amy Kartheiser here.
When in Doubt, Do as the Italians Do
Designing a modern home bar with Italian cabinetry can add a touch of sophistication and style to your space. Scott Dresner of Dresner Design is an expert in all things Italian Cabinetry. Here are his steps to help you create a modern Italian-inspired home bar.
Choose high-quality Italian cabinetry known for its sleek lines and minimalist design. Italian manufacturers are renowned for their craftsmanship and innovative materials. Opt for finishes like glossy lacquer, wood veneer, or matte options, depending on your style preferences.
Italian design often features a neutral color palette with a few bold accents. Whites, grays, blacks, and earthy tones are commonly used. Consider adding pops of color through accessories or glassware. Modern Italian design places a strong emphasis on lighting. Install contemporary fixtures, such as pendant lights, recessed lighting, or LED strips to highlight the bar area and create a welcoming ambiance.
When designing a modern home bar with Italian cabinetry, collaboration with a professional designer or cabinet maker who specializes in Italian design can be beneficial. They can help you choose the right cabinetry, materials, and finishes to achieve the desired modern Italian aesthetic while ensuring functionality and quality.
Set up a consultation with Dresner Design today.
Take Your Bar Accessories to the Next Level with Something Unique
Curating the perfect bar cart requires equal attention to both liquids and solids. Heritage Auctions invites you to dive deep into unique pieces sure to delight your guests and add charm to your mixology. A little bit of Tiffany never hurts, and this art glass cordial set was a perfect find. If martinis are on the menu, step outside the expected and consider silver glasses. Temperature matters, so why not go luxe with a Baccarat wine cooler? From Art Deco to 007, Heritage Auctions is your resource for special finds at every level!
View more of their collection here.
