Old TV
This option is ideal for bachelors, young couples or lovers of unusual interior elements. A minibar inside an old TV is an original idea for any home. Place it in the living room - and it will “decorate” more than one pleasant evening with friends. And if you dim the lights, it will create the ambience for a romantic dinner in retro style. Such an item can look great in modern styles. So don't be afraid - experiment!
Photo: sampowersphotography.com
What to mix?
What is a cocktail? This is a drink that must meet three criteria: it must be tasty, fun and inexpensive. This can be achieved by following five simple principles:
- The principle of five. It states that a cocktail should not contain more than five ingredients.
- The principle of the bouquet. No single component of the cocktail should dominate the others, overpowering the taste or smell, but at the same time, the entire mix should feel like a harmonious bouquet of several flavor shades that complement each other.
- The principle of compatibility. Milk and cream, for example, work well with strong alcohol, but absolutely do not go well with wine. If you mix them with any acidic ingredient, they will completely curl into flakes that are unpleasant in appearance or taste. Carbonated non-alcoholic ingredients and sparkling wines may not “work well” with juices with pulp: the pulp enclosed in a shell of carbon dioxide often tastes like mash, which, you see, few people will like. Vegetable juices do not go well with sweet liqueurs, wines, etc.
- The principle of strength . Compliance with it will allow you to achieve your goal: for example, relax, have fun all night long, maintaining the desired degree, or immediately knock you off your feet. But still, it is traditionally believed that “if you drive more quietly, you will go further.”
- The principle of freshness . It is better to use non-alcoholic components of cocktails as fresh as possible: squeeze the juice immediately before preparing the drink and never use old ice, since it tends to absorb surrounding odors, which does not have a very good effect on the final taste of the cocktail.
The ideal cocktail is when it’s beautiful, tasty, fun and inexpensive.
But don’t forget that mixing cocktails is an art, so when you learn and master these rules well, you can break them to give drinks new shades and facets of taste.
Bottle cube
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A compact 12-bottle minibar is perfect for a minimalist-style living room. It is made in the shape of a cube with smooth painted surfaces, on one side of which there are holes for bottles. The entire structure rests on strong, low legs. The cube can double as a nightstand; its upper part can be used for open storage of glasses. If you choose furniture in a similar style, such a minibar becomes a harmonious part of the interior.
Photo: wayfair.com
Ready solutions
Ready-made home minibars (pictured) often provide dual functionality. So now you can buy the following options:
- Built into upholstered furniture. Moreover, the storage for bottles can come out both from the back and from the side. They hold little alcohol and often do not have a compartment for glasses or tools for creating cocktails. But they have a clear advantage - space saving, often remote control.
- Portable. They are ultra-compact. They can easily move where they need to go. They provide space for proper storage of bottles and glasses. When closed, it is a table or cabinet. You can place glasses on top of the tabletop, like a kind of table. Such designs can be closed on all sides or have an opening shelf where all contents are easily visible.
- Bar for the office. These are special designs; the most popular is a large globe on a massive wooden stand. All contents - bottles, glasses, corkscrew - are hidden inside. Thanks to this, the solidity and seriousness of the leader is unshakable. At the right moment, the contents of the globe are revealed, and you can discuss work issues or celebrate a profitable deal.
- Bar furniture. It is more spacious than the options proposed above, although it is still smaller in size than a full-fledged bar. But still, this is furniture, and it should be selected taking into account the general style of the room where it will be installed. Often this is the living room or any place where you receive guests.
Modern minibar under the stairs
Portable minibar in modern style
Home minibar in a black cabinet
Note! A minibar can be of different shapes - round, rectangular - the main thing is that it matches the style of the existing interior. If a minibar is being selected for a completely new room, then you need to choose it based on the intended purpose of the room. If the territory of the house allows, then it is better to create a separate bar room, where the central component will be a mini-bar.
An open minibar is suitable for a minimalist interior
Modern glossy streamlined kitchen with built-in minibar
Minibar in retro style is suitable for modern style
Living room element
A wonderful, light minibar can be built into the living room interior. To do this, you will have to make a niche in the wall, so this solution is not suitable for every home. You can use the space of a closet as a niche, if you have one, but here you need to weigh what is more important, a closet or a bar. This home minibar can even accommodate a refrigerator and a small sink.
Photo: venidair.com
Why do you need a home bar for alcohol?
The design of this product can be both complex and simple. For example, sometimes the owner of the house cannot choose a suitable option to match the finished interior.
Perhaps there are too many departments inside or, conversely, the compartments allow you to store something that is not at all what you need. Therefore, there is a desire to make a bar yourself.
Let's decide why it is still needed:
- This design attracts attention wherever it is located. Sometimes not everyone can guess what's inside. Accordingly, such a specimen in the room plays an aesthetic role.
- The device is designed for storing expensive alcoholic drinks or refreshing invigorating cocktails. They are relevant at business meetings and holidays when guests gather in the house. It is irrational to store drinks in the refrigerator.
- Even homemade wine will not spoil if stored in a dark place. As a result, the taste of the drink from the correct content will only be better, more interesting and more refined.
Of course, a minibar in the house will be in great demand if at least one of the listed factors is present. It is important that the design has several shelves and compartments for placing bottles.
Spectacular minibar for strong drinks made of natural wood with a varnished surface PHOTO: rmnt.ru
A minibar can be made from an antique suitcase or a massive chest of drawers PHOTO: kreuzwortraetsel.me
Niche in the kitchen
The minibar in the kitchen can be presented in various variations. Let's consider an example when a niche is allocated for it. This option is quite convenient for saving space. Behind the screen there is a large part of the countertop for dishes, a small narrow refrigerator for horizontal stacking of bottles and a square refrigerator for other items. The wall behind the minibar can be decorated with wallpaper so that it contrasts with the overall look of the kitchen. This can be easily and effectively implemented in strict, laconic styles, where the walls of the room remain white.
Photo: saberkids.com
Other options for minibar placement
Read: High-tech furniture - photos of the best new products for stylish design
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Separate cabinet in the kitchen
In large kitchens, the set is divided into several parts, which most often have their own specific set of functions. One such part can be allocated for a minibar. In this case, the bottom drawers are converted into a refrigerator, and if there is space left, additional shelves can be arranged there. The top drawers are reserved for glasses, glasses and other dishes. The LED strip lighting above the working area of the minibar looks beautiful.
Photo: decoist.com
Canister
So, how to make a minibar at home with your own hands? The first option is a canister. There are a lot of photos of a minibar made from a canister on the Internet, and this is no wonder - such photos have a special atmosphere, but now we’re not talking about them.
Every man has an unnecessary canister somewhere in the garage, into which gasoline was once poured for IZh, or Ant. The iron horse was successfully sold, or dismantled and not reassembled, but the canister remained. So here is a great opportunity to use it.First of all, the canister needs to be washed, because alcohol with the smell of gasoline or diesel does not receive additional points for the atmosphere, and in the category that is responsible for the pleasant pastime, it loses altogether. A solvent will help remove dirt from the surface, but what to do with the insides?
Read here - How to make garden furniture with your own hands: the best ideas for making unusual and simple outdoor furniture projects (95 photos)
There is a slightly barbaric, but working method. You need to put some mash in the canister. The downside is that you can’t drink it, which means you just have to pour it out. But the smell will disappear and you can start creating the minibar itself.
Part of the table
If the dimensions of the room do not allow you to install a full-fledged minibar, do not worry, a small multi-tiered table can easily replace it. Glass tables with a metal frame look beautiful. This solution is suitable for both classic and modern styles. By the way, to make your minibar look more solid and attractive, we recommend installing a large mirror on the wall behind it. This will visually increase the size of both the room and the bar. The top shelf can be used for accessories, and the lower ones will already accommodate wine glasses and bottles.
Photo: chairish.com
Space under the stairs
In private homes, there is often space under the stairs that no one uses. This is the right place for a minibar. Wall shelves, several refrigerators, and even drawers for dishes and other accessories will fit here. The brick wall behind the minibar looks good; it adds brutality to this corner. Don't forget to think about the lighting - bottom lighting on the shelves under the bottles looks beautiful. You can hang an LED strip along the bottom edge.
Photo: decoist.com
Wooden structure
For lovers of natural materials in the interior, we suggest considering this minibar option. A one-piece structure was made from treated wood, consisting of a cabinet with shelves for bottles and a holder for wine glasses, a bar counter and chairs. The composition is suitable for chalet and country styles. Artificially aged wood as a material will add charm and solidity.
Photo: ianbrownlee.us
Types of solid wood furniture for bar
- Open
. These include all kinds of shelves and racks. Bottles with alcohol in them stand in plain sight, unprotected from sunlight. This bar can be used by placing bottles in it immediately before use. You can store whiskey, liqueurs, gin and cognacs in it for a short time; it is better not to store wine at all. - Closed
. These are the same shelves and racks, but closed with doors. In addition, the doors serve as protection against unauthorized access to alcohol for small children. - Hidden bars
. These include home bars built into various pieces of furniture. Usually these are coffee tables, armrests or backs of sofas and armchairs. - Portable
. These are the already mentioned models of mobile minibars. They are made in the form of various furniture elements (cabinets, tables, bedside tables), usually equipped with wheels. - Wine refrigerator
. Each group of alcohol has its own storage conditions. And if, for example, strong and medium alcohol (vodka, whiskey, cognac, liqueurs) can be stored for a long time in a fairly wide temperature range, then when storing wine (especially dry or sparkling) you must strictly observe the temperature regime (usually from +2 ° C to +12 °С). In this case, of course, you cannot do without a refrigerator. - And if you take the matter very seriously, we recommend that you purchase a cabinet for bottles
,
a bar counter
and all the necessary accessories. The cabinet can be made in either a classical shape or in the form of a globe, a barrel, or a musical instrument, for example, a grand piano.
Such bars are usually made in the form of cabinets and buffets, characterized in that the shelves have dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of standard bottles. In addition, they provide convenient drawers for accessories and folding shelves that turn the cabinet into a miniature bar counter.
Often, bar cabinets are included in a set of furniture for a living room, office or kitchen. This allows you to keep all interior items in the same style. For example, most Italian kitchen furniture sets have pull-out shelves for bottles.
Nowadays you can find quite a lot of models of refrigerator cabinets for wine. There are mono-temperature and multi-temperature cabinets with several sections for different drinks.
Some models, in addition to temperature, also maintain a certain air humidity. Such samples have special compartments for storing cigars. The design of bar refrigerator cabinets is also different. These can be units built into a set of kitchen furniture, separate cabinets, or mini-refrigerators inside a decorative bar cabinet.
By the way, the material for solid wood countertops for a home bar can be:
- Fake diamond
. Products made from it are resistant to moisture and mechanical damage, do not require special care and have a long service life. - Natural wood
. These countertops look stylish and expensive. They are durable and, if handled with care, retain their aesthetic qualities for many years. - A natural stone
. Due to its durability, variety of patterns and shades, this material is ideal for creating countertops. - Glass or metal
. The modern appearance makes these materials attractive for making bar countertops. They are often used in the manufacture of custom bars.
Old suitcase
Another unusual version of a minibar is made from a large old suitcase. To implement this idea, you will need a suitcase itself and a stand from an old table on which this suitcase will fit securely. Choose the interior design to your taste: you can leave everything as is and just put bottles there, or you can make miniature shelves for wine glasses and shot glasses.
Photo: gramha.net
DIY Home Bar Furniture Ideas
What size can a home bar be? Large, compact or very miniature - the way you want it!
- From suitcases and baskets.
If you like vintage things, a wicker basket or an old suitcase can serve as a minibar. This cabinet can be placed on a chest of drawers or even hung on the wall.
- Serving tables.
Additional furniture, for example, a bedside or serving table, can act as storage for alcohol.
- From TV.
Another unusual option is how you can make furniture for your home bar with your own hands. The drinks cabinet inside the TV from the last century is an amazing retro accessory. To make it, you need to remove all the contents from the TV, leaving only the box. Do not remove the switches and other parts on the front part - they are needed for the surroundings. The finishing touch will be the LED strip.
The wooden or plywood parts of the TV may not look very presentable after many years. To hide defects, they can be painted or sanded and varnished.
Carafes and bottles can be placed inside an impromptu home bar, and on top there is a small tray on which drinks can be poured.
- Made from PVC pipes.
It would seem, what connection can there be between PVC pipes and a home minibar. In fact, in a high-tech, minimalist or loft style interior, bottle storage made from such pipes will look very organic. To make it, you will need:
- PVC pipes of different diameters. The quantity is calculated based on how many vessels will need to be placed, as well as taking into account their size.
- Spray paint of the desired shade.
- Acetone.
- Spray primer.
- Double-sided self-adhesive tape.
- Hacksaw or jigsaw.
- Brush.
- Sandpaper.
Any shelf or bedside table can serve as a box in which you place the pipes. The pipes are cut into pieces of appropriate length.
Cutting pipes yourself can be difficult and time-consuming. It’s better to find out the required length in advance and ask the store to cut the products. This is usually done free of charge.
Most likely, after cutting, the edges of the pipes will not look very presentable. In addition, sharp surfaces can scratch your hands. To prevent this from happening, you should carefully sand the edges.
To treat pipes, use acetone first, then a primer and finally paint. This preparation promotes uniform coloring.
Once the pipes are ready, you can begin assembling your furniture. Self-adhesive tape will help hold the pipes together.
What else can you do:
- Convert one of your kitchen cabinets to store drinks. To make it different from the rest, you can use bright paint.
- Make a home bar out of a wooden barrel. There should be several shelves inside, and a convenient door on the side.
