Ditch The Bulky Bar Cabinet & Try A Unique IKEA Solution To Upgrade Your Drink Display

With hosting trends making a strong comeback in 2025, stylish drink displays like bar carts and cabinets are back in the home decor spotlight. Even if a nightcap isn't part of your routine, many interior designers believe a home bar display is all about hospitality, showing your guests that you truly care about creating a welcoming atmosphere. That said, bar cabinets aren't necessarily the best solution, as they typically conceal your items rather than highlight them, and they take up a hefty amount of space. While a bar cart might seem like the only alternative, they can appear too bulky in small rooms, and quickly get cluttered. If you're looking for a more clever upgrade, consider this unique solution — use the IKEA LACK shelf for a wall-mounted bar display, and drill in door handles for a crafty way to secure large bottles.

Instead of a large bar cabinet cramping your square footage, this solution gives you a stylish vertical display that not only saves precious floor space, but also makes the most of your empty wall space. Whether you're looking to design the perfect entertainment space for hosting, or just want a better way to store your drink and barware collection, this IKEA shelf is an easy option worth exploring.

There are endless ways to creatively use an IKEA LACK shelf around the house, but a vertical bar shelf is perfect for those entering their hosting era. This shelving is perfect for tight spaces, giving you a simple, appealing design to show off your drink collection. When hung vertically, it can hold 6 pounds of weight on each shelf, which is ideal for beverages, but you may want to weigh your bottles beforehand for peace of mind. There's 10 ¼ inches of space between each shelf, so you have the perfect amount of height for glassware, bottles, and decor. For taller drinks like wine bottles, TikTok creator @our_home_style_ used a clever hack of drilling door handles onto some shelves, so taller bottles can rest horizontally without rolling onto the floor.

Decorating this design is similar to how you would decorate a bar cart — using glass decanters, displaying chic drinking glasses and bar accessories, and adding various aesthetic pieces to enhance the style. When organizing your shelf, consider giving each ledge a specific purpose or theme. It's often recommended to keep your most frequently used spirits within reach, as well as accessories like a cocktail shaker set, and of course leave the highest level for those top-shelf liquors. For an extra touch of hostess flair, you can even add some fun cocktail napkins, accent lighting, or fresh florals.