I’ve always thought that everyone should have a bar in their home. Whether that’s a bar cart, a bar nook, a full on bar with stools, or just a bar set up on or in any piece of furniture. As a child we had a full-on bar in our living room in Connecticut. There was barn wood on the face of the bar and we would go behind it and pretend we were serving people. We did our homework there and we had snacks there. In my teenage years, my parents had a wet bar nook in the living room. So, seeing this in my childhood, I just always thought that’s what adults were supposed to have. I also had parents that taught me that alcohol should be used in moderation, which is a great lesson.
In my adulthood, I always had someplace to put my liquor, mixers, glasses and bar tools. As a young adult, I had it set up on a console table. When I had my child, I had it set up in a cabinet away from prying little hands and now I have a vintage art deco bar that opens up to a mirrored background. Perfection.
There are tons of ideas on the internet so I thought I’d show you some of my favorites and I broke it down into categories so you have many options. There’s bar carts, bar nooks, full-on bars and bars within existing cabinetry. There are a few more categories, but I didn’t want to overload you so I broke it down into two parts. This is the first part and I hope you will come back for part 2, which I’ll be posting soon. In part 2, I will show you my bar and how I style it.
Bar Carts
Bar carts are the easiest because it’s a free standing piece of furniture that’s mobile and you can put it anywhere like in a corner, next to a sofa, in the dining room, etc. There are bar carts without wheels, but I’m concentrating on the classic bar cart with wheels and it usually will have handles so you can push it.
This brushed gold bar cart is a stunning piece that would go well in any design style. I also love the blue wall behind it.
This fits right in with the Bohemian style of the room. The whimsical wallpaper sets off the curves of the bar.
Brushed silver is so elegant in this corner of the room with traditional touches.
I love how this chrome bar cart plays off the cement walls and it would be perfect in a bachelor pad.
Bamboo is always in as far as I’m concerned and this bar cart is a standout against the woven wall.
My Mom had a wooden bar cart in her dining room and I always thought it was so chic. This gives me a mid-century vibe and I love the shelf below.
Nooks
Nooks are so cool and it’s perfect for when a bar cart just can’t contain your stash. Haha. You can make one out of a closet, make one under the stairs, or carve it into a wall after removing some studs. This is where you can go wild with the background too. Think wallpaper, mirror, tiles, etc.
This blue color caught my eye and it looks very artisanal. The owners cut into the wall, added some shiplap, pallet wood and narrow shelves, tapped into their plumbing for a sink and voila, they had a bar.
Here’s a perfect example of using the wasted space under the stairs. Paint it a beautiful canary yellow, add everything you need and you have a statement bar nook.
Take a closet, remove the doors, paint the inside the same color as the room and you have a seamless bar nook. I really think bar fridges are a must too.
I’m calling this a bar nook but that’s debatable. It looks like it was made and then inserted into a shallow indentation or corner? Anyhoo, I love it and especially the chalkboard section and a place for the doggie bowls.
Existing Cabinetry
If you have existing cabinetry and you don’t mind losing the storage, why not turn it into a bar? Whether in a kitchen or storage around the tv, use a section of the cabinets for your bar and accessories. If you can, paint the whole thing an exciting color to add some excitement.
I already love the color of these kitchen cabinets and it looks like they used a whole section next to the refrigerator for their bar.
Image via Architecture Art Designs
In a living room, why not mix the bar with the books. That’s always a cool idea and doesn’t take up too much space if you put the drink materials in the lower cabinet.
This beautiful built-in cabinetry is so elegant with its glass shelves and mirror in the background. The bouquet of yellow wildflowers gives it the punch it needs.
I’ve been trying to figure this out but it looks like a tabletop cabinet with a bar inside? Whatever it is, I’m loving this so much. The materials are right up my alley and the rough texture is a nice juxtaposition against the glass of the bar materials.
Image via Australian Design Awards
Full On Bar
Like I said previously, as a child we had a full on bar that was very multi-purpose. The pictures that I pulled look like they’re not really child friendly, but keep an open mind. You can always use it as a snack table, right?
This peninsula is a great way to expand on the bar nook idea by providing seating.
I love how this bar has a wine room adjacent to it. The bar stools are cool and the coziness of the heading makes this a very special place in the room.
Sweet dreams are made of this. Haha It’s just stunning with the bold marble bar and copper sheeting on the wall.
Very boho and I’m here for it. Boho to me is all about the curves and this curvy bamboo bar is so cute. The wallpaper and silver leaf mirrors don’t hurt either.
Very maximalist but not in an obnoxious way. The dreamy walls and mural are a nice counterpoint to the leopard bar stools and bold marble.
I’ve included this because I love the mix of materials. They’ve used brass, granite, mid-century stained walnut and grass cloth. What a stunning combination.
So to bar or not to bar, that is the question. Let me know in the comments if you have a bar and what kind. I’m always curious to see how differently we all use our bars and what we make them out of.
In Part Two I will highlight Vintage Industrial, Bars with a Twist and Hidden Bars. I will also show you my bar and how I style it as well as some styling tips. So stay tuned and I will see you next time.
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