Having a bat at home is one of the best small perks you can create. Whether you want to experiment with cocktails, or you love entertaining friends and family, it is the perfect addition. Here are a few ways to create a fully functional home bar, even if you live in a small space.
Cabinet Bar
A cabinet bar is easily one of the easiest home bars to create. All you need is a reasonably sized cabinet that would usually be used to store plates and bowls, glasses, or linen. For an added touch of style, choose one that has a glass front.
Whether you have a few bottles of Bijou rose or Cabernet Sauvignon, or you want a full cocktail setup, a cabinet will have all the space you need to store bottles, glassware, tools, an ice bucket, etc.
Bookshelf Bar
If you are short on floorspace, a bookshelf is the ideal way to create more vertical space. Similar to a cabinet, a bookshelf has all the space you need to store multiple bottles and glasses, a wine rack, and everything in between.
Be sure to choose a very sturdy bookshelf, and mount it to the wall if possible. As your alcohol collection grows, the last thing you want is for one of the shelves to buckle and break.
Converted Closet
This won’t apply to every small home, but if you have a space that has one too many closets, or one that is fairly small that you would use for cleaning supplies, you can convert it into a hidden bar.
There are multiple ways you can do this, ranging from installing a few shelves in the closet, to moving in a chest of drawers or bookshelf. Whatever you choose, you will end up with a fully functional home bar with a lot of space that won’t take up any actual floor space.
Converted Chest of Drawers
Speaking of a chest of drawers, this is arguably one of the best options for a home bar. The top of a chest of drawers is the perfect counter for mixing and making drinks, and the drawers have enough room for bottles, mixers, glasses, etc.
Additionally, you can add a wine rack to the top of the chest of drawers for even more space and to display some of your favorite wines.
Unused Space Bar
Depending on the shape and size of your home, there is a small chance you have some floor space that is either impractical or not big enough to be used for something useful. However, this means you have the space to create a small home bar.
If it can fit, place a bar cart in the unused space and fill it with wine, liquor, glassware, etc. At the very least, you can use this space to store your home bar supplies.
https://unsplash.com/photos/a-bottle-of-alcohol-and-two-glasses-on-a-tray-CbugCszii38
Kitchen Cabinet Bar
If you are struggling to find the space to install or make any of the above bars, your last resort can be converting a kitchen cabinet. While this will be smaller than the other options on this list, it is still ideal for creating a dedicated bar area.
If the cabinet is large, add a small shelf to separate the alcohol and glassware. In an ideal world, converting a double cabinet would be the best option if you have the space to spare.
Tips for Creating a Small Home Bar
Now that you know a few of the best ways to create a home bar for a small space, here are some tips to ensure it is stocked and as functional as you need it to be.
Stock What You Like
First off, if you are short on space, don’t stock your bar with what’s popular or what you think your friend and family will like, stock up on what you enjoy drinking. Additionally, be selective with what you keep in the bar area, too.
For instance, even if you have three bottles of vodka, keep one in the bar area and the other two stored away. Or, if you like beers, keep those in the fridge; there’s no need to keep them in the bar area.
Minimal Glassware
Glassware can be annoying, especially when you consider you need a different glass for red and white wine, vodka and whiskey, champagne and cocktails, etc. However, your home bar isn’t meant to be a copy of the Ritz.
Therefore, keep your glassware minimal, there is no need to have every type of glass for all the alcohol you have. Choose a few glasses you like, and leave it at that. On the other hand, if you love drinking whisky, red wine, etc, investing in a couple of specialty glasses will always be worth the money.
https://unsplash.com/photos/clear-wine-glass-with-yellow-liquid-saw2ahar17s
Invest in a Bar Fridge
Finally, it is never a bad idea to invest in a bar fridge. If you go the route of a closet conversation, you can easily store and hide away the fridge as well. Simply put, a bar fridge is the best way to store your drinks and mixers without taking up too much space in your regular fridge.
