Our homes are really having to multitask at the moment – they are classrooms, offices, places in which to shield and self-isolate as well as spaces to relax and unwind in. With so much going on – and so little going out – can you also find space for a home bar? 

Just as the drinks trolley and the globe bar cart have been enjoying a renaissance for the past couple years now, so has the home wet bar, last seen in the late Seventies. 

A bar can create a sense of occasion and the good news is it needn’t take up much room. Remember it doesn’t have to be a bar in the conventional sense of one that you can stand behind. An alcove to the side of a fireplace where you might normally find fitted joinery makes the perfect spot for a worktop bar housing a selection of bottles, glassware, and, if deep enough, a mini fridge. Add a couple of stools and you’re there. You can make a feature of it by having everything on show or conceal it behind traditional cupboard doors which you can pull or slide open to transform the space.

It’s important the style and size you chose is in keeping with the overall look and feel of your home but beyond that you can be as creative as you like.

If space does allow, a traditional oak or walnut counter can be a stunning addition especially in country homes where an abundance of wood panelling is often the house’s defining indoor characteristic.

A pool house or a new basement is a fantastic location for a more contemporary home bar, and dark woods used in conjunction with mirrored shelves and stone bar tops made from materials such as Carrara marble or slate can be both practical and beautiful.

Or you could try partitioning a simple timber outbuilding – add a hatch, a decked or paved area around the perimeter and extend the roof slightly or attach an awning or garden sun sail for shelter. I have done this myself with a garden shed, creating storage for tools and equipment as well as a bar for nights in.

For cocktails, mocktails, cider or smoothies, a dedicated space can be both fun and functional.

Further information

Contact James Ashford

Read more: Design tips for home schooling

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