Entertaining Made Easy – Drinks Cabinet Inspiration

Having a well-stocked drinks cabinet is a mark of sophistication and style. Not only can it add a touch of class when it comes to upping your hosting game, depending on the aesthetic design, a drinks cabinet can also prove to be an attractive focal point to your room, while also providing a convenient way to store and display your favourite beverages.

Designing a drinks cabinet involves careful consideration of both form and function, so with this in mind, this blog is designed to provide you with some ideas to help you create the perfect solution for your home.

Your Ideal Drinks Cabinet

Start to consider what kind of drinks cabinet would complement your existing décor and cabinetry if it’s within your kitchen space or in an area adjacent to the kitchen.

Perhaps you prefer the classic, country or traditional look as opposed to the more modern and contemporary style, but regardless on the overall style, ideally your furniture should fit seamlessly into the room. It’s also worth considering the size of the drink’s cabinet in relation to the available space, ensuring that it doesn’t overpower the room or appear too small.

Form and function are just as important when considering your design. Will it be a place to showcase your wine and drinks collection in full view of your guests or would you prefer closed cabinetry which offers maximum storage while keeping things out of sight when not in use.

If you like the idea of having somewhere to house all your bottles, glassware and mixers in one convenient location, a freestanding drinks cabinet may be the answer. Offering you the benefit of moving from room to room or even home to home, freestanding drinks cabinets are not fixed to the walls or floor of your room, making them particularly a wise choice for rented accommodation.

On the other hand, if hosting is an important part of your lifestyle and you want to really invest in the ultimate luxury, you might want to consider a fitted drinks cabinet or bespoke home bar area!

Creating the perfect focal point in your home for entertaining, a fitted drinks cabinet or grander home bar can offer the benefits of greater storage by maximising every inch of available space and in some instances, a natural place to gather and socialise with family and friends when serving up their favourite tipples. With a wide array of styling options available, from feature glazed triple panel doors, to decorative open shelving, an integrated seating area can even be incorporated for the ultimate home entertainment experience. Your options are endless.

Choosing Your Door Style

Whether it’s an extension of your kitchen or you’re planning on putting your drinks cabinet in a separate living space, the next point to consider is your choice of door style.

STORI offers a comprehensive selection of 25 unique door styles, from traditional painted shakers to contemporary handleless doors, so whatever you opt for, each design will have a selection of feature doors to choose from.  Feature glazed doors are perfect for proudly displaying your finest selection of glassware and drinks, meaning their also permanently on show, whether you’re entertaining or not.

Alternatively, solid doors are perfect for hiding all items and helping to create a more clutter free appearance. This can also be a clever way to wow your guests by unveiling secret drinks dresser in your home when you open up those doors!

When designing your drinks cabinet, think about how you want to organise your collection. You might arrange bottles by type (wines, spirits, liqueurs) or by colour for a visually appealing display. Incorporating racks for stemware and accessories such as corkscrews and cocktail shakers helps keep everything well-organised and easily accessible also.

With a wide array of door options to choose from including bi-folding doors, double and triple opening doors, there is a style for everyone.

Sophisticated Storage

The best drinks cabinets offer a balance of decorative display and practical storage options. To get the best of both worlds here are some options:

Internal Storage: For the inside of your drink’s cabinet, you might want to top for a bespoke wine rack, so you can easily keep all your wine bottles neatly organised. For your glassware, you could simply place it on an internal shelf or add a wine glass rack/holder for extra opulence. Having a mix of internal shelving and rack storage will give you the most flexibility for storing your drinks and glassware.

External Storage: As an alternative or to complement a closed cabinetry design, you might want to choose to incorporate open shelving to place your mixers, whisks, churns, stirrers and cocktail shakers. Open shelving provides you with the freedom to boldly display your barware for maximum effect.

By also combining drawers into your design, this provides easy access to other items such as crockery, spare glasses, plates and cutlery.

Well-Handled

When it comes to designing your dream drinks cabinet, accessories such as door handles can often be overlooked but they make a huge impact in terms of the overall aesthetics and functionality of the furniture.

As the drinks cabinet or bar area will more than likely be a place where you’ll host guests, you’ll ideally want to make things run as smoothly as possible (not just the drinks!).

Choosing the correct handles wisely, will enable you to get a firm grip when opening and closing your drawers and cabinetry, while also cutting down on any potential spills.

Choosing the correct handles wisely, will enable you to get a firm, durable grip when opening and closing your drawers and cabinetry, while also cutting down on any potential spills! STORI offers a versatile choice of handle designs which are practical yet stylish, from D-Handles and Bar Handles to Cup handles and knobs, a selection of finishes are also available to cater for all tastes and budgets.

Our extensive handle collection is categorised into 5 main colourways: Brass, Black, Silver, Copper & Oak. Within each colour option there’s also an abundance of finishes to choose from, allowing you endless opportunities for personalising furniture or cabinetry.

Well-Lit

Great lighting plays an essential part when it comes to creating a functional and ambient entrainment  area within the home. You want to strike a balance between task lighting for pouring wine, curating cocktails and perfecting your signature drinks and mood lighting for creating a party atmosphere for your guests!

Task lighting is a perfect choice for under wall cabinetry or open shelving, whereas mood lighting can be incorporated below base units or the tops of wall units to flood your floors or ceilings with a warm glow.

You might also want to add some LED strip lighting or spot lighting inside your cabinetry to illuminate your glassware and create an inviting ambience. This is a great finishing touch if you’re considering glazed door frontals, as the internal ambient lighting will create a sophisticated atmosphere for your space.

STORI offer a selection of LED lighting for a variety of uses throughout the home, including Smart Lighting for ultimate convenience. Want to see more? You can explore more of our Dressers and Drink Stations in our Inspiration Gallery here.

We’d also love to talk to you about your ideas in person at one of our independent retailer showrooms across the UK & Ireland. Find your nearest STORI retailer to start your design journey today!