How to style your home bar: Tips & products from a design expert

WORDS Harry Leckie PUBLISHED Sat, 16 Dec 2023 - 4:30 pm

Whether you are hosting holiday drinks or having a mid-week nightcap, everyone should be cocktail ready this summer. Ok, I’ll admit it – I am that person who will buy fancy bottles with pretty labels just for the look, never to be opened or drank. I have always admired a well-styled (and well-stocked) cocktail bar, it’s a place where both form and function collide and is a vital décor moment in your home. Whether it is on top of a cabinet or a vintage bar cart, an unused bookshelf or simply your kitchen counter – all you need is your favourite spirits and mixes, perhaps an ice bucket, some pretty wine glasses, flowers and berries in a Murano vase and a chic cocktail shaker to create a perfect hydrating pitstop for any festive fiesta.

How to style your home bar

Your bar cart does not always need to cater to cocktails; you can introduce non-alcoholic labels or showcase those treasured objects you have collected over the years, too. When Dom Perignon invented champagne he called, “Come quickly! I’ve invented the stars.” Bring the same kind of magic and invention to your bar-scape – play with height and scale, pair old and new, big jugs with small tonic mixes, contrasting colours and materials. Experiment and have fun, functional items can also be beautiful if you know where to look, and it’s all about the curation. So, if you're still needing a hand, I've rounded up some of my favourite picks to help decorate and style your home bar this summer.