Your guide to the ultimate home bar setup

Sometimes a glass of wine with dinner just isn’t enough. Consider adding your own personal bar to your home, be it a nook in the kitchen or a cupboard in the lounge.

Fill it with your favourite spirits, collect gorgeous glassware and you might never want to have a night on the town again.

First and foremost, consider what role a bar would play in your home. Are you the house that hosts dinner parties with custom cocktail menus? Or do you fancy a nightcap around a roaring fire? Would you rather have a bar close to the kitchen sink or in a living space dedicated to entertaining?

Design a bar that works for you, not just something that would sit pretty (and untouched). “A home bar reflects the personality of the people who live there. It’s a space that tells a story through favourite bottles and collected glassware,” says Meg McMillan, stylist and founder of Tea Pea homewares store.

Permanent addition

If you’re an entertainer who is on a mission to perfect your cosmopolitan, consider a wet bar. This simply means including a built-in sink.

At its core, a bar needs two elements – a countertop and shelving. This can look like many things. For a fixed bar, try converting a cupboard or pantry. Remove the doors (or replace them with textured glass) and install enough shelving to display glassware and liquor bottles. Have fun with wallpaper behind the shelves.

A small drinks fridge underneath the countertop of a fixed wet bar can store mixers, wines and beers. If you can extend the bar space, consider an additional island to prepare and serve drinks. Add some bar stools and you’ll be the swankiest joint in town.

Guestlist

It can be easy to get overexcited with a home bar. Before you buy a thousand varieties of glassware and bottles of liquor you’ve never touched, think about what you would want to drink. Alcohol is expensive – create a list of cocktails you like to drink, or spirits you tend to lean towards. If you favour wine, consider adding an elegant wine rack. When it comes to buying glassware, stick to the same rules. You won’t need brandy glasses if you only drink margaritas.

There are so many questions to consider and answer before you start painting walls or installing sinks. How many people will be in your home at any one time to enjoy the rewards of your bar? Will you refill the same glasses, or will you always insist on a fresh glass for every drink? How often will you need chilled mixers? And perhaps most importantly, how do you like to drink? Once you’ve answered these questions, the vision becomes clearer.

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On theme

This is where the fun happens. Let the bar either blend into the room or become a showstopper. The theme ideas are endless. A bar cart in a colour-drenched library or office adds a chic, literary-like vibe; then pair it with a roaring fire and a cosy armchair and you’re sorted. Art deco is another classic style that matches a home bar perfectly. Add mirrors and accents of gold or chrome decor alongside elegant champagne coupes and low lighting. Or lean into your quirky collection of glassware and select colours that reflect that. After all, the magical thing about bars is that alcohol provides the function and the decor.

It’s important to remember that a bar is still a part of the everyday functions of your home.

Prepare to dust – a lot – and style it with practicality in mind. This could be a washable rug in case of spillages or cleverly placed drawers to stash cloths. Keep these details in mind when figuring out how to decorate your space.

“A bar is a working space and tends to evolve naturally over time. To keep it looking both functional and inviting, focus on a few key styling elements: colour, height and lighting,” says Meg. “Layering different heights creates depth, while warm lighting helps establish atmosphere. Glassware responds well to good lighting, bringing it to life. A bar is also one area of the home where colour often comes naturally through the bottles, labels and glassware on display, so I tend to embrace that rather than over-style it.”

It’s a luxury worth having, and a great conversation starter. Whether a home bar is for yourself or your busy social life, it’ll be a hit.

Fabritzio’s home bar essentials

Fabritzio Candiani from the cocktail guy, an auckland-based mobile bar service.

The secret to a great home bar isn’t having 50 bottles – it’s having the right 12. Start with a London dry gin, a good aged rum, a rye whiskey, a blanco tequila, a sweet vermouth and a quality triple sec. With these, you can build everything from a Negroni to a margarita to an old-fashioned.

You’ll need a proper jigger for accurate pouring, a Boston shaker (tin on tin), a fine strainer and a bar spoon. Accuracy beats expensive spirits every time.

Keep glassware simple with a set of coupes, some rocks glasses (tumblers) and highballs. Also, good ice and fresh citrus – they do more for a drink than any premium label ever will. Build slowly, buy quality spirits and liqueurs over quantity, and learn three cocktails well before chasing the next one.