It is that time of year when we typically welcome family and friends into our homes for some festive evenings full of catching up, reminiscing and toasting to all that the holiday season brings. After a long Covid hiatus, we are dipping our toes back into holiday entertaining. Setting up a beautiful bar in your home just takes a few simple steps and we’ll dive into them here.
If you don’t have true built-in bar (don’t worry, most folks don’t!), a bar cart is the perfect solution. A quick search of your favorite home goods vendors will provide a huge variety of bar carts. You’ll definitely be able to find one that matches your personal style - popular these days are glass/brass combos, rattan or vintage. Bonus points for flexibility - roll that cart to wherever you’re hosting the party. When it’s not party time, the cart can easily be styled with a lamp, coffee table books and a pretty bowl for catchall.
We also love turning a chest, low bookcase or credenza into a bar. A pretty tablecloth or runner and the right styling can put your piece into entertaining mode quickly.
Whether it’s a cart, built-in or piece of furniture, here are our top tips for a festive bar display:
1. Function first. Depending on your offerings, corral the appropriate glassware on a tray or in a grouping, put out your nicest ice bucket and tongs and make the booze or mocktail elements easy for self-service. Decanting some of your liquors is pretty and a nice touch - just be sure to label them. A pitcher of water (glass is nice so it’s evident that it’s H2O) with some lemons or limes is great for keeping guests hydrated and a small, pretty garbage can nearby helps too. Cocktail napkins round out the necessities — they can be stacked in a pretty bowl or if you have secret napkin-fanning skills by all means break those out.
2. Seasonal Elements. Depending on the time of year, it’s fun to layer in some seasonal elements. Easy options include feathers and gourds for fall, greens and ribbon for holiday, confetti at New Years and seasonally appropriate foliage for other times of year. Feel free to raid those holiday bins for unexpected elements - some flags on the Fourth of July or a few of your Christmas nutcrackers can add just the right touch.
3. Flowers and Fruit. We always start with raiding the backyard for whatever branches or greens are in season. From there a few vases with flowers can be layered in - we like a variety of sizes and heights mixed in among all the other elements. A bowl of citrus is always pretty and a few sliced wedges in a smaller bowl are nice for adding to beverages.
4. Repurpose and Reuse. As always, we recommend shopping what you already have first and being creative about how you can repurpose items - switch up your art or layer in additional frames or canvases, put out a pretty table lamp, or layer some textiles are all simple ways to bring a special touch.
Whether your gatherings this holiday season are indoors, outdoors, masked or just close family - we raise a glass for good cheer with those you love.