8 Home Bar Ideas to Maximize Your Space

Who doesn’t love gathering around a comfortable home bar and enjoying a few drinks with friends? A home bar can be the main attraction of your social gatherings, or it can be an afterthought hiding in the basement. The result is up to you. Here are eight clever home bar ideas to maximize your limited space and impress your guests.

1. Invest in Quality Glassware

Glassware is one of those home bar ideas that often get overlooked by inexperienced homeowners. Using red solo cups and regular drinking glasses might’ve been good enough in college, but not now. Alternatively, a chilled glass with the right structure makes alcoholic beverages more enjoyable. Your home bar should include the following types of glassware:

• Beer
• Wine
• Shots
• Martini
• Coupe
• Margarita
• Champagne
• Single/double rocks

Serving beer, wine and spirits inside the proper glassware isn’t just a matter of tradition. The size, shape and thickness of the glass literally makes the drinks taste better when served correctly. A proper set of glassware will be sure to make a strong impression on your guests.

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2. Get a Professional Bartending Kit

Similarly, a proper bartending kit will amplify your home bar’s drinking experience. Every cocktail and mixed drink tastes the best when you follow the ingredients and measurements down to the last detail. A slight variation can negatively impact the taste and texture. That’s why your home bar needs the following tools:

• Jigger
• Shaker
• Strainer
• Muddler
• Mixing glass
• Citrus juicer
• Channel knife
• Bar spoon

You can find all of these items at any bar or restaurant, so it’s only right that your home bar uses them too. After you develop some bartending skills, you can start experimenting with different mixology techniques and show off to your friends. Your guests will certainly appreciate the attention to detail.

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3. Establish a Strong Theme

Aside from the drinking accommodations, every home bar must have a distinct theme that shows off the homeowner’s interests. A sports bar theme is the most popular choice, but there are many others. You can do something creative like an arcade or casino, or you can do something more sophisticated like a moody, contemporary design.

In any case, you must get furniture and decorations that correspond with the theme. For example, a sports bar would benefit from classic wooden barstools, long couches and recliners where lots of guests can relax and watch the game. A casino-themed bar might benefit from furniture with lots of gold and silver highlights.

4. Add More Comfortable Seating

A home bar isn’t complete without comfortable seating arrangements. If you ignore this detail, the bar will only be a temporary hangout spot. People will eventually go somewhere else. If you want your guests to sit around the bar and talk all night long, you need a quality set of barstools with features like back support, adjustable heights and swivel seats. 

You might also consider installing a booth or putting some cocktail tables around the bar. If there aren’t enough stools, you need to provide other options. Some people actually prefer to stand while drinking because they can finish their drinks more quickly. There are many manageable home bar ideas when it comes to seating arrangements.

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5. Set Up a TV

Setting up a TV is another way to make your home bar the center of attention. Whether you want to watch your hometown football team or play video games, a TV set will be sure to keep guests entertained. If you opt for a typical flatscreen, make sure it’s energy efficient and at least 85 inches long so the whole room can see.

The other option is an overhead projector attached to your ceiling that provides a wider display, but you’ll probably need help with installation. In either case, remember to put the screen in a position where everyone can see from their assigned seats. No one should have to turn around or crane their necks.

6. Install a Surround Sound System

Along with your TV set-up, you also need a powerful sound system to create an equal visual and audio experience. Many home bars, man caves and movie theaters utilize a  5.1 surround sound system with two front speakers, two surround speakers, a center channel and a subwoofer. 

7. Establish Ambient Lighting

Lighting is critical for your home bar’s success. It makes the area feel warm and welcoming, providing a great environment for drinking with friends. There are many light fixtures you can easily add to your home bar without messing with the electrical system. LED rope lights, floor and table lamps and mood lights with calming colors are just a few examples.

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8. Provide Other Types of Entertainment

Now that you have all of the essentials, it’s time to focus on other forms of entertainment. Television and music are the bare minimum. Some good home bar ideas include darts, pool, ping pong, drinking games and coasters with trivia questions, fun facts, riddles and other stuff to stimulate the mind.

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Make Your Home Bar Ideas Come True

Everyone dreams of having a fully stocked home bar with TV and surround sound, but only a handful of people are willing to put in the work. Even if you have limited space, a home bar is possible. Turn your home bar ideas into reality by following this guide, trusting your design intuition and paying attention to every detail