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Knowing what to look for in a home bar

Do you want to enjoy a relaxing drink with friends in the privacy of your own home bar – away from the noise, jostling and smoky interiors of crowded clubs?  Do you want the quiet simplicity of a basic home bar to mix a few drinks or maybe have a saloon-style outdoor home bar to add sizzle and excitement to your summer parties?

Drinking in moderation can bring people together and add an element of celebration to most social and family gatherings.  And in this age of open plan houses and home entertainment systems, the home bar is becoming more popular as a focal point for partying and socialising.

Whatever your lifestyle requirements and party dreams, there is a home bar to suit your space, style and budget needs.  But how do you choose the home bar that is right for you?

How to choose the home bar that is right for you

1. The most important question to ask is:  How much space can you allocate for your home bar?

- If you have a big space, you may choose a home bar that will be permanently located in a large recreation room, den or covered patio.  Most permanent home bars have separate serving counters, storage space for bottles, glassware and bar accessories, including bar stools.

- If you have a medium-sized space, then you may choose a semi-permanent home bar resembling a cocktail cabinet.  Most semi-permanent home bars have pullout shelves or cabinet top space to mix and serve drinks.  They also usually display bar equipment, glassware and bottles.

- If you have a smaller space or want the convenience of entertaining guests in any part of the house – both indoors and outdoors – you may choose a mobile home bar on wheels.  Just make sure that your mobile home bar has enough space on top or that it has pullout counter to lay out glasses and prepare drinks.

2.   The next question is:  What would be the best location for your home bar?  

- Do you want your home bar indoors or outdoors?

- Can you put your home bar in a corner to save space?

- Is the location convenient for you, your guests and other family members living at home?

- Do you want your home bar tucked away in the basement for privacy and so as not to disturb other family members when you are partying with friends?

- Do you want it in the living room or your study?

- Or if you often entertain outdoors, do you want an outdoor home bar in aluminium or wicker in the covered patio?

3. How much storage space do you need for your wine glasses, vintage bottles, and other bar accessories?

4. Will you need a roomy countertop to mix and serve your drinks?  And what countertop material do you prefer?

- If you love the natural grain and beauty of wood, then you may opt for a mahogany, dark cherry or oak countertop.

- If you are partial to the elegance and easy maintenance of natural stone, then you may opt for a marble or granite countertop.

5. What home bar material, design and style would fit both your décor and cleaning maintenance requirements?

- Most home bar shops whether online or brick and mortar stock a wide range of styles from traditional, to contemporary, kitsch to old western.

- If your taste is more traditional, then you may opt for the American colonial or old world European designs in dark woods with elegant flourishes and intricate carvings.

- If contemporary, then the cleaner lines of Swedish organic minimalism might be for you.

- If Hollywood glamor and old western, then you may opt for a saloon-style rustic timber home bar in your backyard or game room.

6. And last but not least, what is your budget?  There is a wide range of home bars to suit every budget – from the lower priced $600 bar cabinets, to the $1000 mid-range mark, and up to the classical timber home bars that cost $2000 and above.

-    If you have $600, you can get a home bar in the bar cabinet style with a beautiful wood carved front in lovely oak finish.  Some bar cabinets have removable wine racks – holding six bottles, wood serving trays, front drawers and pullouts to rest glasses.  Most bar cabinet doors have dual inset shelves to keep condiments and accessories.  

- If you like the traditional look and have $1000 to spare, you can get an old world style home bar with deep, rich wood curves and flourishes and elegant black granite countertop.  Home bars at this price range can give you spacious service areas to store up to 15 wine bottles, stemware racks to store wine glasses, shelves to store liquors and drawers to keep tools and bar accessories.

- Or if you want the ultimate in home bar furniture and have more than $2000 in your bank account, then you may opt for traditional classic timber home bars with gorgeous wood top, ornate, hand-carved wood detailing, brass plated foot rails to rest those weary feet, ample drawers and shelves to store supplies and wine bottles,  wine glass racks for convenience,  and can include matching leather topped bar stools.

Cheers!

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