Fun, fizz and frolic

Sharmila Chand

Do you find solace and peace of mind in prepping your own cocktails? A home bar equipped with the bar essentials will do the trick. Don’t stop at just central islands and cabinets — go an extra mile to hunt for funky bar stools, quirky accessories and even essentials such as napkins, forks, spoons and stirrers too!

Let’s have a look at some ideas that can create a cozy and comfortable space to be a perfect den for your at-home entertaining:

Create storage

You need to have adequate cabinets or furniture items which can accommodate your liquor, drink-ware and other bar accessories. If built-in cabinets are an expensive option, then you can use ordinary cabinets or even a bookshelf to incorporate storage in your bar. Do not forget to collect wine racks as well.

Add an island

Have enough counter space to shake and stir with a built-in island. Islands are a must for preparing and serving drinks or hors d'oeuvres at a party. You can add a sink, which will help you clean glasses quickly and serve drinks faster.

Style & design

From the classic to the contemporary, retro to futuristic, one can opt for a design that fits the overall home décor the best and then enhance it by giving personal touches.

Your lifestyle and entertaining needs are the governing factors to determine the overall style of the bar at home. Let your bar be in sync with the style of your home hence play off similar decor ideas for your home bar. For example a very modern bar will look out of place in an ethnic styled home. Once you’ve settled on the style, then work out on the other smaller details like furniture, lighting, and bar-ware.

Want to have a retro- themed bar then go 

for some bright neon signs and a few arcade gaming machines.

For a chic contemporary look, black granite counter-top and stainless steel fixtures are a best bet complete with industrial style stools.

LED back lighting is perfect which can be changed according to mood and showcases the bar selections.

Get a bar cart

A bar cart is an easy and inexpensive option to create a bar area. You can showcase specialty liquors, and move it to different places in your home as per the requirement. While there are plenty of options available at online retailers, you could also look at vintage shops, and flea markets for a quirky, unique piece.

Accessorise well

The bar is all set up but what about the accessories like shakers, cocktail napkins and glasses. A decent collection of these will make a huge difference to your bar style. Make accessorising the fun part in designing your bar space. Study the décor of your favourite pub and draw inspiration from there.

For a warm, intimate atmosphere, have dim under-bar lighting whereas spotlights are the best to brighten and energise the mood.

Enhance the look and feel of glitz and glamour through your choice of glassware, drinks trolley, ice bucket, shaker and spirit bottles. Do not neglect small items like coasters which can add lot of character to the space. Perk up the space with your personal collection of lamps, artwork, photos and travel mementos.

Think about appliances

The bar features a keg tap, a wine fridge, a dishwasher, a refrigerator, and ample storage for glassware and other serving pieces. Small refrigerators are available in wide variety and style and they can be placed within the lower cabinetry of your bar. A wine cooler is a great buddy, especially to a wine aficionado's bar.

Location

Your home bar need not be extravagant and space-consuming, you should be able to set it up anywhere in your home if you apply a bit of creativity and follow your own personal style.

Experts say, the most popular location for a home bar is near the kitchen or dining room. If you are fortunate to have enough outdoor space then you can set up a nice Mediterranean Bar outdoors. If you are limited by space, then look for cozy corners to turn into a home bar like the space underneath the staircase.

Once you have selected a location, decide on what functionality you want to include in your home bar, such as sinks, storage and refrigeration and other accessories.

Make room for guests

Create comfortable seating for guests so that they can hang around the bar area, and keep the conversation going. You can have traditional bar stools or comfortable lounge seating near the bar or re-arranging your space so that chairs, couches and other seating complement the bar area.

If you entertain large groups regularly, think about a dedicated seating area around your home bar otherwise bar stools, lounge chairs, and ottomans are good enough to create a casual atmosphere. These days bar stools come in an array of materials and styles ranging from traditional wooden bar stools, to funky and resort style, so make sure to pick the style that best suits your existing furniture. If you are creating a freestanding station, you will need a tall bar table, and your stools and table height should be in coordination.

—The writer is a Delhi-based freelance journalist