Not every weekend has to be brushing elbows with a stranger in a crowded bar with blaring music to get the perfect cocktail. Why deal with the hassle of going out when you can create a similar experience in your own home that you and your friends will enjoy?

Whether you’re searching for a home for sale in Knoxville, TN, or looking at apartments to rent in Miami, FL, this Redfin article highlights seven home bar ideas that will elevate your weekend indoors so you can craft cocktails for a night alone, or to play the bartender role for your friends and family. Discover design tips that will elevate your collection of spirits, what tools are required to shake up the perfect drink, and even get an expert tip for taking your drinks to the next level. Let’s get started.

The design of your home bar

1. Think outside the box with its location

Whether you’re looking to build out a home bar or are deciding where to place a bar cart with the right tools and accessories, consider its location and overall functionality.

Lindsey Putzier, Owner and Principal Designer of Lindsey Putzier Design Studio, recommends thinking outside the box– “a bar doesn’t need its own room to shine. Adding a bar or bar cart to an underused dining room can draw folks in and create a hangout spot away from the kitchen.”

2. Introduce LED lights with dimmers 

With the location being important, you’ll want to make the bar a beautifully illuminated focal point. This isn’t just for aesthetics but for overall practicality, such as seeing the labels on each bottle or measurement indicators as you pour.

Putzier adds that LED-lit shelves will transform your bottles into a dazzling, modern work of art, and to set the right mood for sipping a weekend cocktail. Montana Elliott, founder and principal designer of M. Elliott Studio recommends installing dimmers to control the environment.

3. Craft inviting displays

When designing your home bar, ideas that are meticulous in detail can add to the inviting and welcoming nature of your home. 

From glass-paneled cabinets to open shelving, designing a home bar that inspires guests to cozy up and enjoy the atmosphere is essential. Elliott shares how “showcasing glasses encourages people to help themselves and partake in the social festivities.” You can even do this with tools such as cocktail shakers or olive jars for the perfect dirty martini.

4. Add a personal flair

Remember, your new home bar is going to live within your residence, designing something special with a personality that is unique to you should be a top priority.

Boris Lozinsky, CSO and CMO for Local Bartending School shares how a “charming chalkboard or a stylish cocktail menu within a well-organized and sophisticated space will undoubtedly elevate your at-home cocktail experience.”

What you need to pour the perfect cocktails

1. Equip your bar with the right tools

After you’ve created the perfect bar flooded with LED lights, glass displays, and flashy signs, equip your home bar with all the necessities, and maybe some bells and whistles.

Demitri Pallis, Founder of Demitris All Natural Gourmet Mixes, shares this checklist of essential bar tools that will propel your cocktail craft forward:

• Shaker
• Mixing glass
• Stirring spoon
• Graduated jigger
• Strainer
• Muddler
• Peeler

2. Immerse yourself in knowledge

Even the greatest of bartenders continue to learn and experiment throughout their careers. Reading books that can simultaneously serve as decoration atop your bar will transcend your knowledge. 

Beyond the day-to-day cocktail and bar specialties, Pallis suggests taking advantage of your personalized space and experimenting until your drinks taste “just the way you like them” and hints that “sometimes the difference between a good and a great cocktail can be the addition of fresh herbs, saline solution, and even chili peppers.”

3. Stock your spirits wisely

There are a number of spirits to choose from. Leverage your knowledge to decide which are necessary for your go-to and which are purely for experimentation.

Liquid Lab NYC reminds us that  “cocktails are a mixture of different ingredients; therefore, it’s not necessary to splurge on top-shelf spirits for your creations–a mid-range option works just fine.” They add how the premium bottles should be saved and savored for sipping straight.

Final thoughts on designing a home bar:

Home bars don’t have to be expansive masterpieces. Instead, leverage underutilized space to curate an atmosphere personalized to you and your entertainment needs. This, paired with personal flair, the right bartending tools, an eagerness to experiment, and the necessary spirits, will give you the ultimate weekend indoors when going out doesn’t sound so fun.

The post From Design to Pouring Cocktails: Discover 7 Home Bar Ideas To Elevate Your Weekend appeared first on Redfin | Real Estate Tips for Home Buying, Selling & More.