Are you one of those people who thinks every home should have a bar? If so, you’re not alone. There’s nothing quite like the atmosphere it creates for friends to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. Maybe you’re thinking about setting up a home bar for the first time. Possibly you’re looking to add furniture to the bar you already have. Perhaps you’ve decided it’s time to replace some of your bar furnishings with something refreshingly new. Whatever the case, here are some home bar ideas to consider when purchasing home bar furniture.

What Should a Bar Look Like?

When you’re putting a barroom together, you should take the time to think about where it will be, how much room it will take up and how the style will fit in with the rest of your home design. Your bar should be close to where you do most of your entertaining. In some homes that will be the living room or dining room, but in others there could be a dedicated rec room or game room. And of course, a porch or patio is often a splendid locale for your bar. A back bar with hutch is a great walk up bar option, seamlessly blending into any household. You can choose one that features plenty of storage, including stemware and bottle storage in the hutch and drawers and base storage in the buffet.

The style of the bar needs to coordinate with the style of the room. A hardwood bar, solid or veneer, is often best in a living room full of fine furniture. Some of these have hand-crafted fronts that lend elegance. But a bar can also be rustic or even distressed if that’s what blends with the prevailing theme. For a more contemporary look, there are bars of aluminum, including those with some glass. For a patio or an informal rec room, wicker is an option.

Whatever the material, look for high quality and sturdiness. A well-made bar can be a piece of fine furniture that improves and gains character with age.

The bar itself is only the beginning of your home bar ideas. You might choose to add storage in the form of cabinetry and wine storage units. Some bars conceal a small refrigerator. If you have the space you might imitate your corner tavern with additional high-top tables and an assortment of stools.

Pull Up a Seat

No seating is as suitable for a bar as the classic barstool. A typical bar top height is 42 inches, and the standard barstool is 30 inches. Stools are available in a dizzying assortment of styles that can be deployed in any kind of seating arrangement. There are the familiar backless stools with cushy seats. There are bar stools with seat backs and bar stools that swivel. Some stools look like the ones you see in any neighborhood bar and grill, while others have wooden backs and resemble tall dining chairs. These backs can be high or low. Some barstools have adjustable seat height, which might be controlled with pneumatic gas lifts.

One major advantage of barstools: they take up a smaller footprint than other types of seating. Still, they do need adequate spacing. There should be 12 inches between the seat top and the bar or table top. Also, there ought to be about two feet between stools so that your guests won’t feel crowded.

Most often, all of the barstools will be identical, but there’s no law that says they have to be. If you have a stylistically diverse barroom setup, mix and match bar stools can be a point of interest and a conversation starter.

Table and Bar Carts

A lot of home bar rooms are centered around a large, permanent bar. However, the classic bar is not a requirement. It’s very much possible to set up your entertainment area with some high-top tables and portable bar carts. Even if you do have the big central bar, a few additional surfaces can extend the hospitality area and provide more places for you to mix drinks and for your guests to set them.

One option is the round high-top bar table that you see in so many neighborhood eateries. An alternative is the rectangular sofa table. They can be narrow or standard width, and they can do double duty elsewhere in the home when they’re not covered with drinks and bar snacks.

It’s important to choose the appropriate stools to suit your table or counter surface. Bar height is 42" and uses bar stools; counter height is 36" tall and utilizes counter stools.

Bar carts have skyrocketed in popularity because they’re fashionable, practical and flexible. They can be wheeled from room to room as they’re needed. They can substitute for a permanent bar in a small apartment or condo. In a bigger entertainment area, they can constitute a station for mixing a specific drink that the host is particularly proud of. They provide extra storage for glassware and snacks. They can be set up with a few ingredients for guests who like to step up and measure out their own concoctions.

Storage: Where to Put It All

Large bars provide hidden storage below the top, but often that isn’t enough. Even when it is, a lot of hosts like to have their bottles and their mixers up where they can see them, and where the guests can see them as well. Even so, some liquor cabinets are closed, and these might be used to store beverages that are expensive or those that need to be protected from light.

On the other hand, open shelves and glass cabinets put everything on display. A lot of people find that to be more of a barroom feel. Also, it lets guests know what’s on offer so they can avoid asking for a libation that the host can’t come up with. If you have something you want to serve people, it’s nice to have it out where everyone can see it.

Some bar cabinets have a combination of open and closed compartments. And of course, such cabinetry can store more than just dazzling bottles. There can be plates, napkins, corkscrews, glassware and even little umbrellas for the tropical drinks.

Storage: Wine Racks

If you like to keep an assortment of wines on hand, there’s no shortage of ways to store and display your favorite bottles. There are small wine racks that sit on the bar or on a side table and hold a few of the most popular choices. Some floor-standing wine racks can handle dozens of bottles. Many of these are elegant scrolled metal, and others are wooden racks that resemble furniture. Yet others have a stylish yet functional glass top for a more modern look.

In addition to style and storage capacity, think about what features you want for your wine rack. You might choose floor levelers for steadiness or wall attachments that ensure that your rack won’t tip. Some racks have miscellaneous storage suitable for wine glasses as well as accessories such as aerators and bottle sealers.

Additional features are more often found in full-sized wine cabinets, which are often as large as a dresser or a chest. They might feature open cubby holes for favorite bottles and closed storage for accessories and additional bottles.

Finishing Touches

Once you have your bar area laid out, now comes the fun part: filling it with all sorts of beverages and accessories. While you’ll want to have all the basics the first time you throw a party, you can build up a more complete collection over time. This might include bitters, specialized mixers and after-dinner liqueurs. You also might want to get started on a collection of varied glassware, including martini glasses, glasses for different craft beers and the specific glasses that wine varietals are best served in.

Don’t miss the opportunity to deck the bartop with some decor. These might include napkins holders, unique bowls for olives and lemon slices, and larger bowls and trays for bar snacks. Add some wall art, whether it’s wine bottles, sports themes or outdoor scenes. Maybe mix in some signs with clever and welcoming sayings.

Your hospitality area might be a full-size bar with generous cabinetry and tables and stools for a crowd. It might be more compact, consisting of a bar cart and an occasional table or two. Be it large or small, a well thought out home bar with suitable furniture will be the high spot of your home entertainment for years to come.