You’ve bought your glasses and your shaker. You’ve found the perfect jigger and a lovely little ice bucket. You’ve got your bottles or even decanters of booze. The question is: where do you put them?
If you’re not going to use them often, are short on space or just favour a clean look, then a cupboard may well be the answer but why hide away all of that beautiful glassware? As you can see from the pictures above, we like to keep our glasses and assorted cocktail paraphernalia on view at Muddled HQ and we have a lot of fun doing it. Yes, it adds to the dusting but it also creates some visual interest in your room and gives it an injection of personality.
Types of Storage
Drinks trolleys, otherwise known as bar carts, have come back into fashion in a big way in the last few years and are an easy way to add some home bar style to your space. There’s so much choice you’re bound to find something you like whether its a sleek new chrome and glass number or an elegant mid-century one.
Most of the major high street retailers sell trolleys these days. The likes of Soho Home, John Lewis and La Redoute, for example, are all good bets. If your love of vintage extends beyond the odd bit of barware, you can pick up a trolley quite reasonably online. Here at Muddled we have a sturdy oak tea trolley which looks great styled with bottles and glasses. We have a kitsch gold Woodmet trolley too, the kind with the removable tray your grandparents would recognise. Both were just £15 on Facebook Marketplace. If you're looking for more of an investment piece, online marketplaces likes Vinterior, Pamono and 1stDibs have a wonderful selection. You can find some terrific pieces on eBay too.
If a trolley doesn’t appeal, then a side table or chest of drawers can work equally well. Cocktail cabinets are another fabulous option as they often have lots of space for both barware and bottles of alcohol. If they're mirrored or have lights, they're even more special.
For some people, a proper home bar may even be an option. We’re not necessarily talking a kitsch tiki construction in the corner of the living room but something built into a little nook or a corner of the kitchen. If you have the space, you might like to think about a bar fridge or a sink. Consider installing proper storage - hanging racks for stemmed glasses, shelves for bottles and other bits and bobs - and a durable work surface. A word of warning: marble looks lovely but we advise avoiding it as it stains easily and is damaged by citrus juice.
How to style your home bar
Your home bar arrangements will be determined by factors such as how much space you have, your decor and your budget. Once you've made your choice you can have fun with styling.
If you have a trolley or table, one of our top recommendations is to corral items together on a tray, especially drinks bottles. Not only does this make everything look more cohesive, it also protects precious surfaces.
You probably don't need all of your glasses out on display so just pick a couple of each type and don't be afraid to mix and match styles. Shakers, ice buckets and other accessories are practical additions and and can look terrific. It's a good idea to include cocktail books too if you have the space.
We see a lot of photographs of home bars with other decorative accessories such as art, nick-nacks and flowers but if you have lovely glasses and other pieces of kit, whether vintage or modern, it's nice to let them speak for themselves.
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