Space-Saving Tips for Your Home Bar Setup

We had a fun bar out in our garage for awhile that we used for parties and what not. Where we live in northern MN though we could never leave anything out there through the winter and we certainly, also, weren’t using it in the winter either. We used our island as kind of a “bar cart” for awhile in the kitchen and that made a lot of space saving sense!

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)

A home bar is an excellent addition to any space, but more often than not, you just don’t have the space to create one. However, there are plenty of space-saving tips you can use to not only have a home bar, but also one that ticks all your boxes.

Bar Cart

Firstly, a bar cart is the definition of a space-saving home bar. They typically have space for a few bottles of wine and liquor, beers and Somersby apple cider, ice, and a few tools to make cocktails like a shaker, crusher, etc.

You can also fill it with ice, mixers, and some ingredients you may need for cocktails, and move it around to where you need it. It may not be a full bar, but it can store all the basics you may need.

Fold-Down Bar

If you do have the space, a great way to have a bar and also have one that isn’t always in the way is to have a fold-down table. These are also super-easy to install yourself, and are ideal for both apartments and large homes.

The one downside is that you can’t have all your drinks and ingredients in the way when the table isn’t in use; it is still a great addition that will create a temporary bar area when in use.

Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are brilliant for saving space in general, and that is no different when it comes to home bars. They give you plenty of storage space, without taking up any floor space, which you may be short on.

Racks are also a good idea, as wine racks, for example, don’t just hold wine bottles, and can hold everything from bottles of beer, to vodka, tequila, soda, etc.

Hang Stemware

Another way to cut down on the need for cabinets and to keep your stemware clean is to hang them from shelves. If you have floating shelves, the bottom one can be used to hold your wine and cocktail glasses, and make them easily accessible.

Don’t Over-Buy Glassware

Speaking of glassware, don’t make the mistake of buying large sets of all types of glasses. Remember that this is a home bar, and more often than not, only you or you and your partner will be using it.

Even if you have friends or family over, there is no need to have ten whisky tumbles, ten wine glasses, ten champagne flutes, etc. Start with only what you need, and then add to it if need be. Glassware can take up a lot of room, and this is the perfect way to save some space.

Make it Stackable

Whether it be the glasses you choose or the containers you have to store drink ingredients, make sure that they are stackable. Simply put, if these things are stackable, they will take up far less room.

Multipurpose Furniture

If you don’t have room for dedicated bar furniture, opt for multipurpose furniture instead. For instance, a bookshelf can do its normal job, but it can also hold glasses, bottles, etc. This means you can save money and space on extra furniture, without losing functionality you already had.

There are also plenty of ottomans and chests that can act as a chair or table, but have storage space that you can use to store drinks and glassware that you aren’t using.

Built-In Fridge

While this is certainly not the most affordable thing you can do, to stop yourself from filling space with a standalone fridge, you can opt for a built-in fridge, a drawer fridge to be precise. This handy addition means a counter or island can double as a fridge.

As mentioned, they don’t come cheap, but if you can afford them, it is most definitely worth installing, with many of them being able to hold a couple dozen cans, a few bottles of wine, some mixer, etc. However, a mini fridge still does the job, with some being small enough to place on a counter.

Buy Mini Bottles/Half Bottles

Another simple switch you can make that will save you far more space than you think is to buy mini bottles and half bottles of liquor, and even wine. This is because it is still a home bar, you don’t need liters of all your favorite liquor and wine available at any one time.

For example, if you like a one or two mojitos on the weekend once a month, you don’t need a big bottle of rum; a half bottle is more than sufficient. Think about what you drink and how often you drink it; then decide if you need a full bottle or if a half, or even mini bottle is enough.

Only Store What You Need

If you have a pantry or garage, then you already have the best place to store your bar supplies. There is no need to have every bottle, glass, and can you own in your bar area; this takes up a lot of space, and you won’t use it all.

Instead, keep at your bar only what you need and use regularly, and store the rest away somewhere out of sight. This not only saves space, but will also keep your bar area looking neat and tidy.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)