Setting the Bar: How to Take Your Bar Out of Hiding

Image: Planete Deco

I’ve made a decision: it’s time to bring the bar out of hiding and into the open. No more stashing liquor, mixers, and shakers in a cabinet—With the design options below, there is no longer a reason to keep them hidden.

Trays

Images: (Left) Design Sponge; (Right) Wythe Hotel

If your space is small (or your liquor options are limited) organizing your adult beverage makings on a tray makes a lot of sense—and looks great. Let your décor personality be on display along with the booze by selecting a tray that reflects who you are, and by hanging a favorite piece of art nearby.

Tables

Images: (Left) Bethany Nauert ; (Right) Max Kim-Bee for Country Living

A simple high table is a great option for setting up your bar, and can give you enough room to add a few extras—like your ice bucket. Keeping it all together in a dedicated space is really what it’s all about, along with making it easy to keep the party flowing.

Carts

Images: (Left) The Cavender Diary ; (Right) Bethany Nauert for Apartment Therapy

Carts have a few great advantages for serving up drinks. You can easily move a cart to wherever you need to be acting as bartender, plus you double your storage space with the second shelf most carts provide. Repurpose a cart you already have around the house (or garage) or make a special flea market trip to find just the right rolling cart especially for your bar.

Chests

Images: (Left) Marcia Prentice for Apartment Therapy ; (Right) Trevor Tondro for The New York Times

Finally, make a big statement by setting up bar on a chest of drawers. This solution seems somehow to be more communal to me—instantly inviting guests to help themselves to the refreshment of choice. Something that would never happen if the bar hadn’t come out from hiding.

Where do you keep your bar?