A small bar needs less space than you think and fewer bottles than you'd guess. Six bottles from our reviews cover most classic cocktails, and together they cost $138–$183. Below are 15 ways to fit the bar into a corner, closet, shelf or nook, and the one wiring rule that catches people who add a sink.
The images in this gallery are AI-generated concept renders, not photographs of real rooms or drinks. Save the ones you like to Pinterest; the notes under each one are ours.
1. Corner Bar Cabinet
Corners are the most wasted space in a room. A corner cabinet holds a full bar in about two square feet of floor.
2. Floating Shelf Bar
Two or three floating shelves over a narrow console make a bar with zero floor space. Put the heavy bottles on the lowest shelf, closest to the studs.
3. Closet Bar
Take the doors off a coat closet, wallpaper the inside, add shelves and a counter. It's the most bar per square foot you can get.
4. Under-Stairs Bar
The triangle under a staircase fits stepped shelves that follow the stairs. Tall bottles go at the high end.
5. Kitchen Nook Bar with a Sink
A nook at the end of the kitchen counter with its own bar sink. It's the most useful small bar and the one that needs the most planning (see the outlet section below).
6. Bar Cart in a Niche
A cart in an alcove looks built-in and rolls out for parties. More ideas in our bar cart gallery.
7. Fold-Down Wall Bar
A wall cabinet whose door folds down into a counter. Closed, it's six inches deep.
8. Bookshelf Bar
Give one section of the bookshelf to the bar. A mirror on the back panel makes it look deeper.
9. Sideboard Bar
The sideboard you already own is a bar. A tray keeps the bottles corralled so it doesn't look like clutter.
10. Apartment Wet Bar with Mini Fridge
A bar sink and an under-counter beverage fridge in a four-foot run. It's the full home bar in miniature, sink and all.
11. Window Ledge Bar
A 12-inch ledge under a window with two stools makes a bar and a view at once.
12. Armoire Bar
A thrifted armoire with shelves inside is a bar you can close. Stick-on LED strips light it without wiring.
13. Pegboard Bar Wall
Pegboard holds glasses, tools and a shelf, and you can rearrange it in minutes. Hanging stemware saves a whole cabinet.
14. Mirrored Niche Bar
A shallow niche between studs, backed with antique mirror, doubles the bottles you can see.
15. Coffee and Cocktail Station
Coffee in the morning, cocktails at night, one counter. Most of these stations end up with a sink and an espresso machine, so read the outlet section below.
What Bottles Does a Small Home Bar Need?
Six bottles, one per base spirit, each one we scored well at a modest price:
| Spirit | Bottle | Our score | Price range | Makes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bourbon | Wild Turkey 101 | 88 | $22-30 | Old Fashioned, whiskey sour |
| rye | Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whisky BiB | 86 | $22-30 | Manhattan, Sazerac |
| gin | Tanqueray London Dry Gin | 91 | $20-28 | martini, gin and tonic, French 75 |
| tequila | Cimarron Blanco | 84 | $18-25 | margarita, Paloma |
| rum | Smith & Cross Traditional Jamaica Rum | 90 | $28-35 | daiquiri, mai tai |
| Scotch | Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky | 82 | $28-35 | Penicillin, highball |
Together: $138–$183, at the price ranges on our reviews. The drinks in the right-hand column also need the usual modifiers and mixers: sweet vermouth, an orange liqueur, Angostura bitters, citrus, syrups and soda. Those aren't in the total, so price them where you shop.
Does a Home Bar Sink Need a GFCI Outlet?
Yes, if there's an outlet near it. The National Electrical Code (NFPA 70, section 210.8) requires GFCI protection on receptacles within 6 feet of the edge of a sink in a home. In a bar run only a few feet long, the outlet for the fridge, blender or espresso machine will usually be inside that 6 feet.
That affects 3 of the ideas above (#5, #10, #15). If you're adding a sink, add GFCI protection to the outlets in that run at the same time. Your local building department has the code edition that applies to you and whether the plumbing needs a permit.