Friday, May 16, 2025

Dry Bar Concepts | Redfin

Entering into mixology? Love internet hosting soirees? Have a small nook in your kitchen? A house dry bar would possibly simply be the addition you didn’t know you wanted. Extra than simply an elevated bar cart, a dry bar may also act as a private haven or gathering spot at your subsequent social gathering. Whether or not you’re contemplating including a dry bar to your private home in Scranton, PA or are remodelling your own home in Albany, OR, this text is supplied with solutions and a number of other house dry bar concepts good for any house aesthetic.

a hand pours whisky into a class from a decanter at a dark wooden home dry bar

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What is a dry bar?

A house dry bar is a devoted spot in a home for making ready, making, and serving drinks. Dry bars are sometimes situated in or close to the kitchen, and what makes them “dry” is their lack of operating water or sink. Dry bars additionally sometimes embrace shelving or cabinetry, a countertop, liquids (alcoholic and non-alcoholic spirits, mixers, and many others.), instruments, glassware, and typically a mini-fridge or wine rack.

Dry bar design concepts

In case you’re pondering of including a dry bar to your private home, take a look at these concepts earlier than you begin constructing:

1. Select the proper top

First, it’s a must to determine how tall you need the dry bar to be. Measuring the house and enthusiastic about using the dry bar might help you determine the right top for you.

“Whether or not you’re constructing a bar or putting in a pre-built possibility, having the precise bar top, counter top, and stool top will make you are feeling extra snug mixing drinks – each with confidence and comfortability – and likewise, your friends really feel like they’re at an actual bar,” says Bryan Whitaker, proprietor of Kitsap Bartending Providers. Getting the peak actual is “the simplest solution to make your friends (and your self) really feel snug and revel in their expertise as when it’s off, it could possibly really feel unsettling,” continues Bryan.

2. Have enjoyable with patterned tile

“Designing a dry bar is the right alternative to be daring,” and Josh Turgut, designer at My Kitchen And Bathtub, likes to “deal with it like a little bit jewel field.” His suggestion? Patterned tile. “Introducing patterned tile might be an effective way so as to add some fashion and elevate your dry bar. Whether or not you go for a geometrical look or one thing Moroccan-inspired, don’t be shy about including some aptitude with a enjoyable backsplash or flooring. Plus, the added texture, shade, and visible curiosity might be extra complementary than you would possibly anticipate.”

3. Retailer and show on floating cabinets

Probably the greatest dry bar concepts is so as to add floating cabinets. How else are you presupposed to retailer your whole bottles and glassware? Tanuj Shroff, managing director at The Sink Boutique, suggests “incorporating floating cabinets with refined lighting to show your favourite spirits and barware.”

Extra than simply an accessible storage resolution, they might help make that clear, fashionable look whereas offering house for decor that “ties the look along with finishes that complement your private home’s current fashion for a seamless, upscale really feel,” provides Tanuj.

several alcohol bottles and glasses sit on a floating wooden shelf at a home dry bar

4. Preserve organized with hidden storage

Whereas open shelving is aesthetically pleasing, it is probably not sufficient for your whole gadgets. “Simply as essential, add hidden storage under the bar to maintain issues tidy — best for storing further glasses, instruments, or perhaps a built-in ice nicely when you’re feeling fancy,” suggests Ben Goodwin, blogger of The Rusty Bartender.

5. Add a wine fridge

Though not a necessity, “contemplate incorporating a wine fridge or beverage cooler to maintain drinks chilled and inside attain,” says Derrick Radford, proprietor of Indianapolis-based customized table-making and accent wall enterprise Radford Woodworks. Since dry bars lack a sink (for ice), a wine fridge can add some much-needed comfort for each private enjoyment and internet hosting goal – to not point out a contact of luxurious.

6. Go for one thing classic

Whether or not or not you’re designing your dry bar from scratch, contemplate taking some inspiration from the previous. For instance, “There’s a variety of ‘out of the field’ pondering within the dry bars from the Artwork Deco eras and such smooth types from mid-century fashionable designs,” says Andrew Silla, proprietor of superb vintage retailer Silla. Going with a classic possibility “not solely gives quite a lot of persona alongside useful and intelligent designs, however may also develop into a strike-point of the room and a dialog piece,” provides Andrew.

7. Flip to AI

If classic isn’t your fashion, one other nice dry bar concept is bringing yours nicely into the twenty first century with a robotic. “Specializing in each performance and persona, implementing voice-activated expertise just like the BarBot to deliver your bar to life and impress friends with customized cocktails,” says Brandon Wheat, founding father of B.J. Wheat Co. Choices like this are positive to raise your dry bar and make the expertise really feel luxurious–despite the fact that you’re simply at house.

two coupe glasses with color cocktails sit in front of a shaker and next to a stack of books at a home dry bar

8. Combine supplies and pure parts

No matter your private home aesthetic, choose to “introduce pure parts, reminiscent of crops, so as to add a contact of vibrant freshness to your dry bar, “suggests Vilasa Residence Accents. Contemplate additionally “including heat supplies like wooden and brass to create a refined and comfy environment,” they proceed. This mixture of textures might help deliver some much-needed life and magnificence to your bar house in addition to improve each rustic and fashionable design aesthetics specifically.

9. Add a personalized effect to your dry bar

One in all our favourite dry bar concepts is including in your individual private aptitude. Whether or not within the type of monogrammed glasses, framed cocktail recipes, journey souvenirs, or a Smiski, the decor choices actually are infinite. If you would like one thing greater you can see from afar, go for novelty string lights or a big artwork print – each extraordinarily customizable. Small or massive, including a private contact can tie in all the dry bar parts and actually make it yours.

Dry bar stocking concepts

Now that you just’ve designed your dream dry bar, it’s time to inventory it. See under for our high three stocking suggestions:

10. Get located with the important dry bar instruments

“The inspiration of any nice house bar is the precise set of instruments — and high quality makes all of the distinction,” says Jackie Mallory, senior supervisor at drinkware model Viski. In case you don’t have any instruments, she recommends beginning with the necessities: “a shaker, double-sided jigger, Hawthorne strainer, and a mixing glass for stirred cocktails.” For extra instruments, she suggests “a muddler for contemporary herbs, a bar spoon for layering, and a Lewis ice bag for completely crushed ice.” Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or are a seasoned bartender, “With the precise instruments at your fingertips, even a small dry bar turns into a vacation spot for elevated at-home mixology,” says Jackie.

a person wearing a dark blue long sleeve pours a drink into a glass from a silver shaker with other bartending tools on the wooden home dry bar
picture courtesy of Viski

11. Select some distinctive glassware

“Don’t underestimate the ability of lovely glassware to set the tone,” reminds Emma Ros, advertising and marketing supervisor of Orrefors. Past perform, aesthetic glassware might help set the tone of your dry bar by including shade, texture, and persona. For instance, you possibly can “show glasses on open cabinets with built-in lighting to spotlight the crystal’s brilliance and switch your bar right into a standout design function that’s at all times prepared for entertaining,” says Emma.

12. Seize some booze

Now that you just’ve obtained the correct instruments and vessels, it’s time to get the substances. In case you’re ingesting alcohol, ensure that to get quite a lot of spirits like vodka, gin, rum, and tequila together with liqueurs like triple sec, amaretto, and bitters.

For each alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, inventory mixers like tonic water, sodas, ginger beer, and contemporary juices. Lastly, don’t overlook garnishes like citrus fruits, olives, and herbs like mint or basil. Whether or not you’re craving a basic cocktail or making an attempt a brand new recipe for a non-alcoholic buddy, you’re positive to have all the required substances for regardless of the event.

Is a dry bar proper on your house?

Sadly we will’t reply that query for you, however we suggest enthusiastic about your house. In case you entertain lots, have the additional room, and wish to enhance your private home worth, including a dry bar is perhaps the addition for you.

For instance, Kaitlyn Parness of Gather Like Kaitlyn, had a nook in her eating room that was the right spot for a dry bar, and went for it. “Our house was additionally only some years previous, so I used to be capable of work with the builder to simply supply the cupboards and counter tops to match our kitchen,” she provides.

a hand pours a drink into a crystal glass from a silver shaker onto a the marble countertop of a home dry bar

What’s the distinction between a moist bar and a dry bar?

The important thing distinction is {that a} moist bar features a sink with operating water which requires plumbing set up that may add price and complexity. Since a moist bar is probably not potential or obtainable for everybody and each house, Charlotte-based Italian furnishings retailer Woodnluxury suggests “having that accessory-like an ice bin, a sink that’s plugged, or transportable sink-to nonetheless have the flexibility to carry ice, chill beer, or empty unused drinks.”

How a lot does it price so as to add a dry bar?

“Dry bars are an effective way to broaden your private home’s entertaining house with out breaking the financial institution as they don’t require pricey plumbing hookups and might be situated in just about any space of your private home with out many main modifications,” says Cory Hershberger of My Outdated Kentucky Residence Restore. Relying in your cabinetry, countertop, and backsplash decisions, including a dry bar might be comparatively cheap. Whereas the associated fee ranges relying when you DIY the bar, rent contractors, or go for one thing high-end, you possibly can anticipate a worth starting from $1,500 to $4,000.

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