6 Steps to Setting up The Perfect Home Bar| Homeonline

Ruchi Sabharwal

Space-Planning Expert

Text: Manali Bhutwala
Photographs: iStock

Having a bar at home is no longer a matter of luxury -- it forms a part of the house that helps unwind at the end of a long day, or a section that helps entertain guests better. The extent to which the bar is explicitly expressed within the house, however, is a matter of taste and cultural values of the individual and of the family. Would you want your home bar to be pompous? Would you rather have it discreet? We bring you some quick tips from designer Ruchi Sabharwal of Ruchi S Design…

1. Where's the bar?: While the ideal part of the house in which to have your bar would be a common area such as a living or dining room or den, many families prefer to have it as part of their bedrooms or kitchens. As long as it is packed with all the essentials, any zone can be made to work. If you prefer to have it visible in a more subtle manner, you could use a recessed wall or a niche in the house and lay out the bar within. The bottles should not be in direct contact with the sunlight and hence should be placed away from the windows. Also, make sure there are sufficient wide, horizontal surfaces as part of the bar area for laying out the bottles and easy mixing of drinks.

2. The must-haves: Along with your collection of spirits, wines, liqueurs and mixers, different types of glassware and tools must be handpicked to go with the collection. A mini-fridge or an ice box for storage, and a dock for some music, and you're set with the basics.

3. What's the story?: If you have curated a collection of your favourite bottles and bar essentials over time, you could use this as the central theme around which to build the set-up of the area. You could customize the display to illustrate the story of your collection, and use a backdrop that complements or exaggerates it.

4. The backdrop: If you have no specific ideas for the theme, you could use works of art or vintage furniture with accessories. Some simple ideas that can be used are neon signage for the retro look, exposed brick or stone walls for the rustic look, or wallpapers for specific themes. You could have your favourite quotes framed and hung up, have a part used as a chalkboard to scribble on, or display hand-painted signs.

5. Functional features: Once the overall set-up has been selected, you could go with complementary furniture, using vintage sofas, vividly upholstered chairs, leather recliners, or bar stools. Tinted glass panels add an edgy look. You could use whisky barrels as side tables, or beer drums with taps to pour from.

Bars could be either created in an abridged version (left) or you could go the whole nine yards (right). The trick is to make sure all the paraphernalia -- extensive or not -- has its proper place.

6. Storage and maintenance: The horizontal surfaces/shelves of the bar should be treated to protect the glassware. These should ideally be clad in fabric, felt or leather -- this would reduce the noise and protect the glass. If you prefer enclosed storage, glass panel shutters with thin metal or wooden frames will help maintain the bottles while also keep them on display. Sliding shutters would help save space. While the counter could be made of any material, glass or stone tabletops are easier to maintain and clean.

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About the author

Ruchi Sabharwal

Space-Planning Expert

Founder of Ruchi S Design, Ruchi Sabharwal draws great inspiration from the Indian craft and loves using an array of interesting metals, textiles, paintings and woodcarvings. She leans towards an eclectic, minimalist look in her designs and composes her projects around a central key thought such as â€˜zen philosophyâ€™, â€˜energizeâ€™, â€˜transformâ€™, etc.Â She believes that technique, detailing and proportions can fuse together to create a brilliant design. Influenced by the energies of the earth, she looks to incorporate nature in her designs however she can, be it in the form of natural skylights, green walls or free-flowing water bodies.

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