The Secret To Making A Home Bar The Centerpiece Of A Room

A home bar is frequently the focus of entertainment in a room, whether you're serving dry martinis, wine, or beer. It doesn't have to be extravagant — the simplest bar is a perfectly functional counter with stools and maybe a few shelves holding glassware and supplies, but even the right bar cart decorated in Old-World style with a fancy cutting board and your best glassware can be a focal point in a tiny apartment. The secret to making a home bar the centerpiece of the room is to make it stand out through a combination of form and function, dressed in the style of your choice.

A show-stopping bar that isn't easy and convenient to use and enjoy is basically just another piece of furniture. A wine fridge, beer taps, an ice maker, hot and cold running water, a dishwasher, and plenty of storage add function, even if you don't include all of those elements. Mirrors, amazing light fixtures, high-end finishes, eye-catching paint colors, and bold wallpaper are design choices that make or break the bar as a centerpiece of the room. And, of course, the room itself plays an important supporting role. A glamorous cocktail bar in an Art Deco-style room might work, but it might stand out in the wrong ways in a cozy, muted living room.

Design choices are key when you're creating a centerpiece bar. Combine vivid colors with mixed textures and upscale finishes. Give a nod to the room's decor, but don't make the bar blend in by copying it completely. If your decor is seaside chic with pale green walls and driftwood end tables, choose a deep emerald green for the bar's walls and cabinetry, or use a marble bar top with a wave-like pattern. Create a feature wall behind a minimalist bar with vertically striped wallpaper that picks up one of the room's key colors. 

For a dry bar, use an existing architectural detail of a room, like an arched cove or nook, as the foundation for a bar, or you can cleverly hide a bar in a bookcase or hutch. These large-scale architectural pieces help to ground the bar as the centerpiece of the room. Install glass shelves and a mirrored back. Use a bright, distinctive tile, daring, large-print wallpaper, or a paint color that contrasts with the room's wall color for the side walls of the alcove. Build a low cupboard with doors into the bottom of the alcove where you can tuck away the liquor when you're not entertaining. This keeps everything neat and crisp Hang a single pendant light from the top of the alcove, and don't forget to add attention-grabbing, app-controlled music and lighting.