As the nights draw in, what could be better than sipping on an expertly mixed cocktail or chilled glass of champagne in the comfort of your own private bar? Having a fully stocked bar in your home provides the perfect ambience for your favourite tipple. Plus, with the festive season fast approaching, a home bar offers a versatile space to entertain friends and family, too. Home bars have become something of a trend in the UK in recent years, with Brits spending £2 billion designing and building home bars since March 2020. There’s even evidence that home bars may be a desirable feature for house hunters, with one survey finding that buyers would be willing to spend an extra £6,000 for a property with a garden bar. So, installing a home bar could be a good investment, as well as offering a place to sip in style. Here, I’ll be sharing some pointers for creating a luxe home bar that will impress guests and homebuyers alike. Choose the right space The first step to creating your home bar is to decide where it will go. You can build your at-home bar wherever you like — it can be a corner in your kitchen or a whole room. Or you might carve out a space in your living room to be your home bar. If you’re short on space, then corners, nooks, and alcoves also work well, especially if you go for a custom-built option to maximise the space. If you have room in your garden, you could even create an at-home bar in a summerhouse or extension. This is a bigger investment, but it was found to add the most value to a property, so it could be well worth it — just take care to create a space that you can enjoy year-round. For example, adding a wood burner or stove will create a cosy, ski chalet feel in the winter months, while bi-fold or French doors will ensure provide the ideal bar for garden parties in the summer months. Use your favourite drinks as a starting point To create a space you’ll love, I recommend theming your bar around your favourite tipple. So, if you’re a whisky connoisseur, you may want to go for a slightly more classic or rustic design, with plenty of dark woods, plush velvet, and vintage whisky signage. Or, if you’re more of a champagne and classic cocktails aficionado, you could create a 1920s-themed art deco bar. Whatever you choose, your bar should feel personal to your tastes and suit the drinks you’ll be serving up. Choose professional-quality tools and equipment Once you’ve chosen a theme, you can start thinking about equipment and fittings. Again, it’s best to use your favourite drink as a starting point here, as this will ensure you’ve got everything you need to create the most delicious drinks. For example, if you’re a whisky lover, wall-mounted dispensers, decanters, and temperature-controlled storage for those special vintage drams will be essential. Keen amateur mixologists will need top-quality cocktail mixing equipment, along with a good selection of specialist glassware to suit both long and short serves. If you’ve got the space and really want to wow your guests, a juicer and ice machine will take your cocktails to the next level.
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