Creating a Cocktail Bar in a Compact Space

Entertain in style by putting together a small cocktail bar in your apartment. Follow these small-space decorating guidelines for stocking alcohol and equipment.

Bottle Storage

With so many wine and liquor products on the market, the more varied your selection, the more drink options you’ll have. Here are a few choices for keeping those various bottles stored securely and decoratively.

• Bottle racks There are several space-saving types on the market. One stylish choice is the wall-mountable Grapevine bistro bottle holder. It holds up to three bottles and is available on Amazon.com for under $15. Another popular choice is the ceiling-mountable Climbing Tendril wine rack from Oenophilia. It holds up to six bottles and comes in either black or chrome. You can find this handy space-saving gadget at Target starting at $24.99.
• Bottle bins Think tall, slender and stylish. Diagonal type bottle bins allow you to lie down and stack bottles on top of each other. You can mount the bins to the wall or purchase floor standing models as well. The advantage of using bins is that you can store more bottles in a small amount of space when compared to the average small bottle rack.
• Refrigerator Another great place to store your bottles is in the refrigerator, which also doubles in helping to keep your alcohol fresh and cold.

Glassware Storage

Cocktail glassware adds a professional touch to your bar. Unfortunately, they’re also easy to break. Reserving a small space just for them will help to ensure that they are kept safe and sound. Sets can be purchased that can be mounted to the wall, ceiling or, better yet, under a cabinet or shelf. One handy model that’s designed to mount to the bottom of your cabinet is The Wine Enthusiast hanging metal stemware rack. It holds twelve glasses and is available at Target for $24.95.

Bar Kits

Bar tool essentials can be purchased in kits. Most will include a jigger, a strainer, a muddler and a corkscrew. Some will also include an ice crusher, a shaker, bottle stoppers, tools for preparing garnishes and other handy gadgets.

You can stow all of these tools in a decorative bin or basket, although if you’re really crunched for space, you may want to purchase a travel bar set. These sets are designed to easily fold up in a canister or case for easy storage and portability. Kits run anywhere from about $20 on up.

Bar Cabinets

Investing in a bar cabinet is ideal for keeping your bottles and bar equipment organized. There are several models that are designed for small-space living. One type is designed to fit in an empty corner of your apartment, such as the attractive black and silver corner home bar by Global Furniture USA.

Another good choice is the Sidecar high dining table. This item lets you store bottles, glassware and other items and provides you with table space so that you can sit back and relax as you entertain.