5 Style Tips For Creating An At-home Bar

With lighter and warmer evenings already upon us, many of us can find ourselves feeling pressured to constantly spend money when out for a social drink. But, with recent reports from NPD finding a 2.4% drop in the number of under-35s going out, with pubs and bars specifically hit by a decline in custom, there's never been a better opportunity to stay home and create your own fun. An at-home bar can be a great alternative to going out, saving you travel time and money — as well as giving you the convenience of having a tipple on hand whenever you need it! Whether you use it as your own personal spot to wind-down, or you invite friends over to come and enjoy it with you, read on to discover our top five must-know style tips for creating your own at-home bar.

Choose your space wisely

Popular bars range from small and cosy spots to large and open spaces, and this can certainly be applicable to your at-home bar, too. Whether you’re planning on converting your spare room, or you think it’s about time to make use of that neglected garden shed, most decent-sized spaces can be successfully converted into an at-home bar. As well as having sufficient room, make sure — especially for sheds — that they are near enough to plug sockets prior to setting everything up if they require power. You’ll also want to make sure it’s an area that you're able to freely customise — after all, no great bar is complete without shelves of alcohol on display, hanging glass racks or attractive signage. And most importantly, you should also check there is sufficient storage space, for when you spot a great boozy deal!      

Prioritise high-quality furniture

There are no rules as to how much or how little furniture you should put in your bar, but, generally, the best ones will be kitted out in some premium furniture to establish a refined atmosphere and a good level of comfort. Incorporating both high-quality bar stools, as well as handmade sofas like some from Sofas by Saxon, will give your bar the ultimate welcoming feel and timeless style. For tables, bar tops and the bar itself, you’ll want to choose a hard-wearing wood that is durable and can mask any spills and stains. While lighter finishes might be more seasonally appropriate for summer, these are more susceptible to visible damage. For that reason, most bars and pubs opt for darker stained wood surfaces, like an ebony veneer from The Wood Veneer Hub, to mask any dents, scratches or stains — and as a bonus, these types will successfully complement leather seating as well!    

Impress with barware and drink selections

Aside from the drink itself, the barware will be the most important and useful thing in your bar, so don’t get caught short. Any good bar should have glasses to match popular drink choices: pints, wine glasses, tumblers and champagne flutes will be among those that need providing. And, these needn’t be expensive, as you can often find options to buy them in bulk or in sets. You could even add a unique touch to your bar with a couple of these drinking jars from Drink Stuff to present cocktails to your guests in a fun and inventive way — just make sure you have plenty of coasters at hand to protect your new surfaces! With the alcohol drawing everyone to the bar, you’ll need to make sure you’re well equipped to make like a barman and whip up a drink at someone’s request. If you’re really wanting to invest in your bar, a beer tap will no doubt be welcomed, just be aware that this requires some DIY and a slightly bigger space.    

Install some ambient lighting

Nothing beats sitting out on a warm summer evening with your friends, but as the night draws to a close, an outdoor bar will need to provide some lighting — even if it’s just to navigate yourself to the fridge for another bottle of beer. Pubs and bars regularly use dim lighting to create a relaxed and comfortable environment, so why not follow suit? Using energy-efficient, touch lamps with varying light levels or shaded drop lights can help to create this effect. But, don’t forget to brighten up the exterior as well! A row or two of fairy lights will bring the place to life and imitate those regularly found outside bars. If you choose to have your bar indoors, you can mimic this with blackout blinds and a few dimmable lamps, like this uplighter floor lamp from Iconic Lights.    

Invest in some entertainment

Although the social aspect of it is sure to be entertainment enough, installing a television, speakers or some games will add an extra purpose. Rather than heading to your local pub on match day, why not gather everybody at yours? You could also incorporate elements of a pub if you’re wanting to create a more traditional drinking space — dart boards for a smaller bar and pool tables for a larger one will help you seal the deal! An at-home bar can be an extremely popular element added to your home, so save some money this summer and stay in — we bet your friends will come flocking!