1Embrace a Theme
Reid RollsIn Carson Kressley's Pennsylvania home, the equestrian roots run deep. To keep the bar's design cohesive with the rest of the space, the beloved animal is depicted on everything from the wall art to the jockey-adorned figurines in the bar cabinets.
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2Make Use of an Open Space
Nathan SchroderThis alcove, once purposeless without the bar, now becomes the it-place to hang out in this home. Pastel hues blend the feature with the adjoining living room, and detailed millwork makes it seem as though the bar has been there all along.
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3Style Your Shelving
Shade DeggesAt first glance, this may not seem like your standard home bar, and that's thanks to the expert styling of Jeremiah Brent. Rather than displaying shelves of booze like your favorite dive, artfully incorporate well-designed bottles and your curated glassware among your cocktail books and antiques instead.
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4Hack Your Own Wine Shop
Jacob SnavelyUnder the stairs is often a wasted space, but here, it's a family's curated wine cellar. If you're constantly reaching for a new bottle to try out with friends, there's no point in housing your collection in the basement. This way, the conversation and the drinks flow easier all night long.
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5Maximize Storage Space
KEVIN J. MIYAZAKIThere's an added bonus to positioning your home bar just off the kitchen—you now have extra space for any cooking tool overflow. Here, cutting boards and serving pitchers adorn the bar's shelving while keeping the actual kitchen cabinets clear for more everyday items.
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6Keep it Simple
House BeautifulStreamlined and simple, this home bar sticks to its midcentury surroundings with a coordinating set of crystal decanters and glassware. A silver tray keeps everything contained and easily portable.
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7Use Art as a Backdrop
House BeautifulCasually leaning framed art defines the zone for this home bar and makes it look contained. For an added touch, coordinate your glassware with the art's colors.
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8Make a Statement
House BeautifulRather than continue this room's black-and-white scheme, these homeowners filled the area around their home bar with a bold variation. Ample storage ensures drink fixings are easy to find.
9Stick to the Essentials
House BeautifulWhether you lack square footage or don't want to dedicate a whole area to a home bar, opt for a cocktail corner instead. Close proximity to the sink allows for easy cleaning after last call.
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10Go Full Glam
House BeautifulIf you're able to, place your home bar in a whole separate room. A private speakeasy cocooned in grasscloth is made more glamorous with metallic accents and an oversize pendant light.
11Add a Window
Alec HemerExperience the joy of a swim-up bar at home, even if you don't have a pool. Oversize windows allow the party to carry on inside and out. Guests can enjoy the summer weather with a cocktail while the family cook preps dinner—and no one misses the action.
12Bring a Bucket
House BeautifulIf you prefer to prep in the kitchen, invest in a small ice bucket you can bring from room to room to freshen drinks. It'll save you a dozen runs back and forth to the freezer.
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13Customize Storage Space
Studio OskloStudio Osklo made use of a windowless space in this L.A. home by turning it into a modern home bar. They carved out two corner nooks with built-in shelving, cabinets, and even a sink. The narrow console ensures a streamlined look while still providing extra room for taste tests and hangs.
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14Sneak in Personal Touches
Noe DeWittIn this Palm Beach bar designed by Phoebe Howard, swiveling vintage barstools have seats embroidered with a duck in a nest that the client's daughter designed, a nod to the home's longtime nickname ("The Duck's Nest").
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15Add a Mirror Backsplash
Trevor TondroTuck mini wine fridges into enclosed cabinets, then flank them around a central wine cubby for an aesthetically pleasing and functional display in a narrow nook. The smokey mirrored backsplash brings the right touch of formal style to this space designed by Mallory Kaye, too.
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16Get Creative With Doors
Emily FollowillIn a Texas home by Meredith McBrearty, homeowners and their guests can hang out in a swanky bar within the study, where a porthole door adds a nautical feel.
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17Channel a Speakeasy
Laure JolietIf you're bisecting one room into separate zones, create an actual dividing line with a counter (plus, it gives you a place to sit during tastings). Here, Reath Designs color blocked to separate the two "rooms" further, with the adjoining family room featuring a like green color and the moody bar area boasting a deeper shade of green as well as dark eggplant. The internal stained glass windows in the right corner were the jumping-off point.
18Get Playful
Emily FollowillDesigned by Meredith McBrearty, this basement wine cellar is cozy and comfy—the perfect place for lounging and sipping. And where better to have a little fun than at the bar? The moveable sconces here are a playful touch; sometimes the hands will be arranged in a Texas Longhorn gesture or flipping the bird, depending on the day.
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19Customize to Your Space and Lifestyle
Laure Joliet Stock your little bar nook for morning, noon, and night. Nestled right next to a casual built-in dining nook, this Reath Design home bar made the best of sloped ceilings with custom shelves for glassware, mugs, and booze, and then kept the remaining counters clear without skimping on storage by hanging a curtain to hide essentials tucked below the sink.
20Match Glassware to Cabinets
Thomas LoofThis glossy home bar designed by Ashley Whitaker is the perfect blueprint for anyone with a glassware collection they'd proudly display. Here, the cobalt and lime glasses both speak to the deep marine cabinets.
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