home decor trends
Whether you’re a social person by nature or you’re more into it, nothing can replace your favorite neighborhood bar. You may not be able to take the atmosphere home with you, but you can at least recreate the drinks.
However, if your kitchen feels like a frat house because of your disorganized liquor collection, it can be difficult to enjoy a well-mixed cocktail or glass of wine. You can solve this problem in a snap by adding a liquor cabinet.
Check out these innovative liquor cabinet ideas to learn how you can enjoy a bar-quality drinking experience in the comfort of your own home.
1. Creative Liquor Cabinet Ideas
It is undoubtedly nice to own a liquor cabinet. Still, not everyone wants to have a full bar in the middle of their kitchen or living room. Or you don’t want your liquor collection to be on display all day long.
Converting a small cabinet into a liquor cabinet is easy and practical. Just close the doors and everything is out of sight (and it’s not hard to put a lock on if there are kids around). At the same time, you don’t have to forego any usable living space.
It’s best to choose a cabinet near your kitchen or in a room where you often entertain guests. You can go all out with a wine cooler, countertop, and overhead shelves. Or use the cupboard as is for regular storage.
If your liquor cabinet conversion will be the centerpiece of future parties and gatherings, don’t skimp on the design. Add contrasting paint or wallpaper to interior walls. You can also hang themed decorations or artwork if space allows.
2. Innovative assembled inspiration
If free space is a concern but you still want to enjoy the style and convenience of a liquor cabinet, a mounted version is probably the best solution. All the better if you can store your glassware and mixed drinks alongside your spirits.
Be sure to choose a shelf or cabinet that meets the needs of your household. Someone who prefers to drink a glass of wine after work will need very different storage than someone who prefers whiskey on the rocks.
Remember that your shelf can be decorated all by itself. If your home has a modern aesthetic, look for elegant wall storage with unique cutouts and geometric shapes. If your home is classic, opt for a floating wooden shelf. And if you prefer a dramatic style, look for matching ornate gilded storage solutions.
Do you like the idea of a mounted liquor cabinet but still want a small bar counter? A cabinet with a fold-out table top is perfect for mixing, pouring or simply enjoying.
3. Enjoy the rustic atmosphere
We tend to associate liquor cabinets with penthouse living, but that couldn’t be further from reality. It’s incredibly easy to add functional liquor storage to your rustic home or cabin.
When it comes to rustic furniture aesthetics, it’s almost entirely about the workmanship. Choose a liquor cabinet with worn or knotty wood grain. Cast iron hardware is a great way to add a rugged touch to any piece of furniture. Use chicken wire in place of the glass panels in your liquor cabinet doors.
One of our favorite solutions for a rustic-inspired liquor cabinet is repurposing an old hutch or buffet. While you can use these pieces of furniture in many ways as is, it’s not hard to add something like a custom wine rack.
4. Ornate wood accents
Nothing is more elegant than a solid wood bar or liquor cabinet. No matter what decor your home has, wooden furniture will fit in easily.
Naturally stained wood goes with almost everything. Or you can paint your new liquor cabinet to match the existing furniture in the room.
For a compact liquor cabinet solution, opt for a cabinet or a bookshelf. While you can purchase specialty liquor cabinets from most furniture manufacturers, a china cabinet works just as well. Add a small cooler to improve all-in-one functionality.
Traditional built-in cabinets and shelves are an easy way to create a full-fledged bar in your home. You can opt for a regular kitchen cabinet set or invest in something specifically designed for liquor storage. Pair these cabinets with a bar top for the full experience.
5. Slim and chic
If your desire for a full-fledged liquor cabinet stems from a love of Art Deco aesthetics and Gatsby-esque luxury, look to modern design for inspiration. Although modern design covers a variety of trends, they all have a few things in common.
Modern aesthetics are predominantly about shapes. Above all, choose furniture with a slim, clean profile. When you build a home bar, this includes your countertops, bar stools, and upper cabinets. Built-in lighting lets you highlight unique shapes or cutouts in your design.
When it comes to colors, choose a mix of dark wood, elegant marble and metallic accents. Or you can liven up your liquor cabinet with a bright coat of paint. No matter which direction you go, make sure to keep the space well organized.
6. Upgrade your space
Many people choose to display their liquor and wine bottles on shelves or in other ways. There’s nothing wrong with that, but custom cabinets are another great way to store home bar essentials.
You can easily repurpose regular kitchen cabinets (or even bathroom cabinets) into your bar cabinet. This is a great way to reduce the cost of your home bar idea. However, consider adding some dedicated wine storage or stemware racks while you’re at it.
Maximize storage and work space by placing a countertop above your cabinets. If that’s not enough to accommodate your favorite whiskey and all the accessories, you can also install wall cabinets. Complete your bar area with a splashback in a complementary color.
7. Space saving solutions
Limited space doesn’t mean you have to resort to a wire wine rack and a single bottle opener. There are many space-saving ways to add a DIY liquor cabinet to any home or apartment.
Place your small home bar in a niche in the wall or invest in a corner cabinet to save space. If you have a butler’s pantry, dedicate a small section of cabinetry and a drawer or two to storing your wine and spirits.
A cabinet on the dining room or living room wall creates a stylish yet compact liquor cabinet that is easy to reach. Mirror panels behind your bar shelf or inside the cabinet can help make the room appear larger and brighter.
8. Wine lovers, rejoice
Whether you prefer white wine or red wine (or a little of both), a home wine cabinet is an excellent investment for any wine lover. Thanks to their uniform shape and size, wine bottles can be stored particularly well in large quantities.
You can put up wall shelves, specially designed cabinets, or simple wire shelves. Consider whether you’d like to display your bottles – this can also make it easier to find a specific wine. In any case, choose a storage solution that meets your needs.
If you want accent furniture for your homemade wine bar, use an old wine barrel as a cocktail table or bar centerpiece. For serving, consider incorporating a refrigerated drawer into your home bar design.
9. Nostalgia meets class
Freestanding liquor cabinets were very popular in the mid-20th century. So if you want to enjoy your favorite cocktail with a vintage twist, pay a visit to your local mid-century furniture store.
These antique cabinets come in all shapes, sizes and functions. Some are regular cabinets that you could just as easily use for books or china. Other designs are specific to liquor storage.
Decide whether you want your vintage liquor cabinet to match the rest of your furniture or whether you want it to be the centerpiece of the room. In the latter case, you can be much bolder when choosing your closet.
While you can always stain or paint the cabinet to match, there’s also something special about retaining the original finish. You can even find vintage cabinets equipped with ice buckets, fold-out counters, built-in drains, and shelves for wine glasses.
10. Small in size, big in style
For most people, a minibar is the only liquor cabinet they will ever need. This style keeps your liquor bottle collection and essential tools close at hand without taking up more space than a side table.
Unless you want your minibar to stand out, try to keep the exterior as neutral and unobtrusive as possible. Leave the top bare or add everyday decorations like potted plants or a table lamp. If you want to show a subtle nod to the cupboard’s contents, try a miniature whiskey barrel.
Choose a minibar with plenty of hidden storage space – a small drawer is perfect for storing bottle openers, corkscrews and other tools.
When shopping for a mini liquor cabinet, take a moment and consider a bar cart instead. With a bar cart you get all the functions of a minibar with the added bonus of mobility.
11. Wall-mounted wonders
Of course, you can keep the walls or your home bar plain and simple. But don’t miss the opportunity to create a stunning design that the whole crew will be talking about.
Cover the wall behind your liquor cabinet with wallpaper, backsplash tiles, or a mirror. Brick walls are great for an industrial-style basement or bar. Opt for an open shelving layout so you can really show off the materials behind them.
For sports fans, a television is practically a must. If hanging a TV in your home bar isn’t your thing, opt for a large piece of art instead. Or invest in a custom neon sign for a homey bar aesthetic.
