As the year wraps up, there's every excuse to celebrate. Plus, with dark nights and cold weather, a little bit of fun makes the winter months all the more bearable. Whether you're a year-round social butterfly or need to dust off your dancing shoes, there are social occasions aplenty at this time of year.
Remember, December isn't known as party season without very good reason. If you're playing host this year, whether for Christmas, New Year celebrations or another occasion, a home bar is always a crowd-pleasing addition. You get bonus points if you're a dab hand with a cocktail shaker.
Let's be honest though, very few of us are lucky enough to have a bar in our house (we can dream). Luckily, creating a DIY bar is easier than you think.
For smaller areas, such as a hallway, drinks trolleys are a great option, both in terms of looks and practicality. Not only do they save space, but they can also be wheeled away once they've been used.
The Jen Three Tier Trolley in Silver has a trio of layers, so there's room for everything from the drinks themselves to garnishes and glassware. Plus, the sleek metallic finish couldn't be any more party appropriate. It's a great choice for smaller gatherings and dinner parties. A compact option is the Jen Trolley in Silver which features two hexagonal tiers and mirrored surfaces. It doesn't get much more glamorous than this!
If you're looking for a real showstopper, the Nyla Drinks Trolley in Gold is a bold choice. Mirrored surfaces add an extra touch of class that will make your martini glasses and cocktail shakers sparkle and shine. It's set on vintage-inspired wheels so you can take it anywhere and everywhere.
For a self-serve option (on those nights where you want to spend more time hosting and less time bartending), the Athena Drinks Cabinet in black is just the thing. Fill the shelves with pre-poured glasses of fizz and leave the doors open.
If you're looking for lots of storage, the Odette Cocktail Cabinet has plenty of shelves for all your glassware, spirits and mixers - making for the perfect self-serve cocktail station. On the top two tiers, add coupes, flutes, highball glasses and tumblers. Below that, an ice bucket and garnishes. Lastly, fill the bottom two compartments with spirits and mixers. When cocktail hour arrives, open and let guests help themselves.
For larger spaces, you can set up an entire dining table as a bar. We think the Stephanie Dining Table is a perfect choice. Transparent legs support a classic tabletop, creating an unusual floating effect. Just the thing for adding the glamour of a real bar to your home. Use the room underneath for extra bar supplies.
Last but not least, a quick tip for turning your kitchen into a trendy cocktail bar is to refresh your breakfast bar or kitchen island with luxe bar stools. The Abi Velvet Bar Stool is an elegant combination of sumptuous velvet and sleek gold legs - your kitchen never looked so good.
No bar is complete without three things: an ice bucket, bottle opener and a chopping board.
For a glamorous combination that'll keep your wine chilled and cocktails cool, choose the Paloma Ice Bucket and matching Wine Cooler. The sleek finish and mother of pearl inlay on both makes them deserving of a place on the top of your bar; they're a decoration in their own right. For extra extravagance, fill the Wilda Round Ice Bucket to the brim and use it to store your favourite bottle of bubbly. It can make for an eye-catching centrepiece.
A drink is nothing without its garnish. Fill the Winnie Large Chopping Board with a variety of finishing touches ahead of your party, so you don't spend too long chopping lemon wedges when you could be dancing.
If you're brave enough to leave your bar unmanned, leaving a bottle opener on hand is vital. The Megan Agate Opener & Stopper Set is pretty and functional, and a real win when it comes to hosting a party with a bar. Just make sure it doesn't go home with any of your guests by accident!
It can be tempting to use disposable cups to save clean-up time, however stylish glassware is not only more sustainable but looks better too (we're just being honest). The Izzy Glasses boast a wonderfully retro ribbed finish and are the right size for highball cocktails like Mojitos. If you have any whisky drinkers to contend with, our petite Octavia Tumblers are just the thing to have on hand.
If you want to go the extra mile and not only create a bar at home, but the atmosphere of a bar too, it's all about the extra touches. We suggest dimming the lights and creating some ambience with a variety of lamps. The Hera Floor Base Lamp is well-suited to the cosy corners of the room and provides a laidback glow. For the bar itself, choose the Bexley Table Lamp or Emersyn Shade Lamp, which make great decorations too.
It's always advisable to have napkins on hand - not only are they handy, but they add a touch of elegance. The Broste Copenhagen Gracie Eco-Friendly Linen Napkin has a high-quality finish to elevate your guests' bar experience.
If you have an interior you care about, you don't want to forget coasters! The post party clean up is bad enough without discovering marks on your cherished coffee table. We suggest having a multitude on hand and position them on every surface a drink could conceivably be placed on. The Winnie Round Coasters in Grey are smart, sturdy and affordable. Stock up, you won't regret it.
If you're planning on providing all the drinks on offer, it's best to buy in bulk - not only is it cheaper, there'll also be no last-minute dashes to the corner shop. Rather than directing guests to unsightly crates for a refill, invest in an elegant wine rack: physically, you're in your kitchen, mentally you're in your favourite independent wine bar.
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