:strip_icc()/Drake-Oak-Brook-97bf33f25899424fb049847babcb5871.jpg?w=1920&resize=1920,1267&ssl=1 "7 Home Bar Styling Tricks We’re Stealing from Fashionable Hotels")
When I went on vacation as a kid, the mini bar was always off limits. At the time, many offerings were “You touch it, you buy it,” and I didn’t want to be blamed for the extra $10 M&Ms and pretzels on our bill at checkout.
These days, though, hotel mini bars are occasionally complementary—and a growing number are even turning into a masterclass in design ideas that worth stealing for your own home. If you want to take your hosting game to the next level, read on for a sneak peek inside some of the chicest hotels to help inspire your next home bar refresh.
Tuck the Bar Away in a Cabinet
Fidelity Hotel, Cleveland, Ohio
Another way to seamlessly sneak your home bar into your current design scheme? Position it inside a cabinet. Refined and woven into the fabric of the room, the mini bar at this refreshed 103 year-old Neoclassical landmark keeps the countertop clutter-free and open to display other decorations, like a bronze serving tray, glassware, an ice bucket, or even a stack of coffee table books. For easy access, place the snacks on one low-profile drawer, and the coffee and/or cocktail supplies on another.
Line the Back with Wallpaper
Barnsley Resort, Adairsville, Georgia
This resort is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and many of the design features, including the focal point of this mini bar, are inspired by the nature that surrounds it. The floral wallpaper pops in at the center of a wall infused with more neutral, calm shades. Although a full wall of this intricate pattern might take over the space, an accent wall at the back of the bar feels sophisticated and welcoming.
Designer Charlotte Lucas aimed to blend bold patterns with soft details inspired by a heritage color palette that was selected to exude Southern hospitality. Mission: accomplished, we’d say. Bonus natural elements, including plants, earth-toned ceramics, and wood accents, drive home the pretty and polished vibe.
Consider a Cart (for More Than Just Bottles)
The Drake Oak Brook, Autograph Collection, Oak Brook, Illinois
You don’t need a built-in wet bar to spiff up your space for entertaining. Take a cue from this historic hotel in the Chicago suburbs and showcase your cocktail and coffee amenities on a bar cart.
“We wanted to reimagine the traditional mini bar to reflect The Drake Oak Brook’s storied past, where golden-age icons like Frank Sinatra, Rock Hudson and King Charles have stayed,” says owner Jim Nagle. This vintage gold model is custom-designed, handcrafted and imported from Guadalajara (it’s one of the many ways the hotel showcases Mexico’s renowned craftsmanship).
Disguise the Bar With a Pocket Door
Hotel Saint Augustine, Houston, Texas
Positioned in the heart of Houston’s hip and artsy Montrose neighborhood, this new boutique hotel takes a cue from the museums and businesses that are steps away. Described by many locals as quirky, eccentric, and effortlessly cool, the glassware in this mini bar emanates personality. Zoom in and you’ll spy a brown-stemmed glass with a textural face motif, which plays off the facial features on the clear rocks glasses.
What really catches the eye about this mini bar are the doors. Close them and it disappears into the wall. Open them—and slide them into slots in that wall—and the space-expanding mirrored bar can shine.
“The pocket doors are purely functional,” says Jou-Yie Chou, a partner at the New York and Wyoming-based design studio Post Company, which collaborated with Bunkhouse Hotels on the interior design. “It allows for the quiet muted tones of the millwork to reveal the saturated, high lacquered reflective minibar within on full display, by sliding the doors back flush with the fascia.”
Invest in Statement-Making Accessories
The Loren at Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas
If you prefer more muted, neutral colors as the backdrop, another way to add pizzazz to your home bar is by selecting splashy accessories. At this Austin escape, the design team opted for moody dark stone and natural wood shelves to act as the foundation. From there, they layered on whimsy with a mirrored serving tray and an ice bucket that resembles a pineapple.
Add Fresh Citrus and Herbs
The Global Ambassador, Phoenix, Arizona
A hotel or home bar stocked with drinks and snacks is customary, but at this restaurateur-owned hotel in Phoenix, they take the offerings to a whole new level. The goal: To provide everything someone might want for a full-scale cocktail experience.
True, when you’re using them for cooking and trying to maximize the shelf life of citrus, it’s wise to store lemons and limes in the refrigerator. But when you know your home bar will get used, follow the lead of The Global Ambassador and set out a small cutting board, paring knife, and a few fresh lemons and limes for spritzing and garnishing.
Make the Bar a Focal Point with Floating Shelves
Fenway Hotel, Dunedin, Florida
We’ve featured floating shelves in our pantries, closets, kitchens, and living rooms, yet hadn’t thought to use them as the bar—until spotting this lovely inspiration at Fenway Hotel on the western coast of Florida. The shelves not only keep the counter clear, but they also mean you don’t have to invest in a special piece of furniture to integrate a home bar into even the tightest of spaces.
Simply place the drinks, snacks, and glassware on the shelves, and they can be selected straight off the wall. Since the bar becomes part of the room’s story, rather than a hidden element, this is a terrific option when you’re proud of the bottles or drinks you’re featuring, or when you have snacks or sips from local brands that are meaningful to you.