If you’ve always dreamed about having your own bar at home or you started considering it recently as an excellent way of entertaining guests, now might be the perfect time to turn the vague plans into reality.
Of course, the way you set up your bar will depend on many factors that you need to take into account before you even start doing anything. First, you’ll have to find the appropriate space for it, which shouldn’t be a big problem if you own a whole house, but it might prove tricky if you live in an apartment. Then, you’ll need to set aside some money to get tools such as trays, a shaker for mixing the drinks, a jigger for measuring, a muddler for mashing fruits, and so on. Only then can you start browsing Acker Wines and other online stores for the best deals for your favorite alcoholic beverages.
This might sound like quite a challenge, but with the right amount of planning and the ability to figure out what your needs and goals are, as well as the tips that you’ll find in the article below, you should be able to set up the home bar and wow your guests.
Available Space
The crucial factor in determining what type of bar you’ll be able to set up is the available space. First, you should consider what types of parties you’re planning on having in your bar. If you want your guests to move around freely and not feel limited by anything, then a small barcalounger in the corner of the living room is probably the best option for you. On the other hand, if you host bigger parties, you might want to look for a separate room and arrange a bar, for example, in your basement or guest room. However, if you mostly sit with your friends and talk or play games, you can go for a bar with longer counters and a table with comfortable chairs. And don’t forget that your bottles of alcohol should be stored in appropriate environments (e.g., some are better to keep in the fridge, while others prefer room temperature.
Decorations
When decorating the bar area, you could either go all out and create a classy and sophisticated space with many attention-grabbing details or have a more casual and minimalistic look with just a few decorations. Don’t forget that every detail counts when setting up your home bar, so don’t ignore even the smallest thing, such as replacing the light bulbs with ones that give off a softer glow or hanging some interesting artwork on the wall.
Consider getting some personalized signs or posters. To set the mood, you can also purchase a neon sign or decide on a whole theme for your bar – you can go vintage or decide on a particular decade, such as the 70s, when everything was colorful and full of interesting shapes and designs.
If you don’t want to go big on decorations and are interested in a more casual look, the glasses that you buy might act as decor. The only thing you’ll need to do is explore some eye-catching designs and decide what will work best for your taste. You can also lean towards gold or silver details on your bar equipment for that unique touch of luxury.
Tools and Equipment
When setting up your bar, you’ll need to figure out what exactly you will put into it. There are two main options – you can go for a fully stocked bar or a minimalist one that just serves as a place to pour, mix, and serve the drinks. The choice is up to you, and depending on your needs and preferences, you might need some extra space, as well as storage solutions, to accommodate all of your equipment and liquor.
A fully stocked home bar could include such equipment as a shaker for mixing cocktails, a muddler for crushing fruits, a jigger for measuring, a mixing glass for shaking, a strainer for filtering, a bottle opener and caps, bottles, glasses and tumblers, ice trays, a corkscrew and bottle openers, cocktail stirrers, coasters, and napkins.
Glassware
If you want your guests to enjoy their drinks in style, then you’ll have to choose some high-quality glasses for your home bar. While there are many options available on the market today – stemware glasses and cocktail glasses being the most popular ones – it’s essential to understand what each type offers and how they differ from one another in terms of size and shape.
Highball glasses are great for tall drinks with ice. Martini glasses are perfect for creating an elegant atmosphere with their stylish designs and wide stems. Tumbler glasses are used for serving everything from water and juice to wine and champagne at the end of a meal or celebration. They are also great for serving shots and drinks at parties where guests can choose their combinations. Wine decanters go along with wine glasses to help aerate red wines. All of these types of glasses will look amazing on your home bar and add elegance to any party.
Spirits
Even though hundreds of liquor brands are delicious and packed with flavors that are almost impossible to describe, most people stick with one or two favorites. This is why it makes sense to expand your bar collection with liquors that are relatively inexpensive and versatile enough so they can be used in many cocktails. When choosing liquors, remember to complement each other when mixed in cocktails.
Just because vodka is usually included in numerous recipes doesn’t mean that it has to be the only one in your collection. Having several types of liquor at home will allow you to create more unique cocktails for your guests. In addition, make sure you have plenty of liqueurs at your disposal – these are essential ingredients in many cocktails and punches.
Final Word
If you’ve always wanted to own a home bar, now is the time to make it happen. Setting it up doesn’t have to be a complicated process, but you still have to make sure that you have thought everything through well enough before you start buying anything. With the easy steps described above, you’ll be able to create a fantastic bar at home and enjoy your favorite drinks in style!
