Home bar ideas

Turn your kitchen countertop into a swish entertaining space with a few bar stools. Choose a style to suit your decor - we've picked these luxe velvet chairs for a sophisticated aesthetic. Not got enough worktop? Opt for a space-savvy breakfast bar table and stool set.

A sideboard is a great way to make use of an empty wall in your dining room, living space or hallway. Once in place, laden with your favourite glassware and prettiest drinks - all that extra storage space comes in handy too for spare glassware, your 'fanciest' bottles and favourite board games.

There's been a resurgence of the retro bar trolley - and we LOVE it! Roll out one of these dinky drinks-on-wheels and simply store out of the way when you're finished. A slimline side table is a great space-savvy option too.

You can still make a space for your drinks even if you don't have room for a new piece of furniture. Choose a stylish wine rack to display your favourites, or get a stylish drinks tray for entertaining.

Like an ice cold beer, chilled wine or cool can of fizz? Free up space in your main fridge with a drinks cooler. Undercounter styles will slip discreetly into your kitchen, but these compact coolers can sit just as neatly in your living space.

Why are those intimate cocktail bars and bistro restaurants so inviting? Aside from tasty food and drinks, a clever use of lighting likely has something to do with it. Investing in some designer lighting can really elevate your look to luxe level - we love pendant style lighting and large filament bulbs for their soft glow.

Complete your at-home bar with a few finishing touches, like some artwork or a fun light-up sign. We love arranging fairy lights around the glassware and bottles - they reflect against the glass to create an eye-catching display.

You'll need:

• 1 part vodka
• 1 part rose wine
• Orange soda (or orange juice mixed with soda water)
• Crushed ice
• Slices of grapefruit

Fill a wine glass with the slices of grapefruit and crushed ice (you can make this by gently breaking up a few ice cubes with a rolling pin). Pour the vodka and rose wine over the ice, before topping up with the orange soda mix.

You'll need:

• 1 part blackcurrant liqueur
• Sparkling wine
• Frozen blackcurrants

Add the blackcurrant liqueur to a glass of your choice (we like champagne flutes for bubbly drinks) and top up with your sparkling wine. Garnish with the ice-cold blackcurrants. To make this a mocktail, swap the liqueur for cordial or squashed blackberries, and mix with sparkling grape juice.

You'll need:

• 1 part brandy
• 0.5 part Creme De Cassis
• Lemonade
• Ice
• Sliced lemon

Start by half-filling your hi ball glass or tumbler with ice and slices of lemon. Next simply pour the brandy and Creme De Cassis over the ice, before topping up with lemonade.

You'll need:

• 2 parts black vodka
• 1 part raspberry liqueur
• Fresh blackberries for garnish
• Cocktail shaker & strainer

Start by adding some ice to your cocktail glass to cool it while you mix the cocktail. Add the vodka and raspberry liqueur to the shaker and mix vigorously. Remove the ice from your glass, and strain the Martini mix into it. Finish with a garnish of blackberries.