How to Create a DIY Cocktail Bar at Home for Summer Entertaining

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This post is all about creating a DIY cocktail bar at home for summer entertaining.

Finally! Summer is here and if you’ve been thinking about hosting friends without the eye-watering prices of a night out, then a DIY cocktail bar at home is honestly one of the best decisions you’ll make this season.

The good thing is, a home cocktail bar doesn’t need to cost a fortune. You don’t need a professional setup or a bartender’s qualification. What you do need is a bit of planning and the right bits and bobs to make it feel like a proper experience rather than just drinks on the kitchen side.

Also to save you the thinking, I’ve put together a free downloadable cocktail menu and printable recipe card with 9 easy cocktails that you can make at home — perfect to print off and prop up on your bar so your guests can pick their drink without you having to remember a thing. Grab it below and we’ll crack on.

The most important thing you’ll need though if you’re looking to set the whole thing up without the stress, is a cocktail shaker because you really can’t make a good cocktail without one. I found this brilliant Cocktail making kit with shaker, jigger, strainer and bar spoon on Amazon for under £15, it looks dead smart when you lay everything out. It makes you feel like you know what you’re doing from the off.

Pick Your Spot for Your DIY Cocktail Bar

First of all, think about where you want your home cocktail bar to live.

For summer, if you’ve got a garden or a small patio that would be the obvious choice. I use a Fold-out table outside which works perfectly, but if you’re inside then a corner of the kitchen or a sideboard in the living room does the job just as well.

The key is to keep everything in one place. Bottles, glasses, garnishes, ice. When it’s all together it looks intentional and your guests will be well impressed.

If you’re using the patio, do check out how to transform your garden into a holiday retreat for more ways to make the whole space feel like a proper occasion.

What You Actually Need for a Home Cocktail Bar

You don’t need dozens of bottles. Honestly you don’t. Start with three or four spirits and build from there.

A good starting line up for summer is Gin, Vodka, Rum, and a bottle of Prosecco or Aperol. That covers you for most popular summer cocktails without breaking the bank.

For mixers, think tonic, lemonade, soda water and a fruit juice or two. Elderflower cordial is brilliant and gives everything a proper summery taste.

Now for the bit that really makes a difference. Your garnishes. Fresh mint, sliced cucumber, lemon, lime and frozen fruit for ice. A Mini herb planter on the bar looks gorgeous and means you’ve always got fresh mint and basil to hand. I’ve had one on my kitchen windowsill for ages and it’s genuinely one of those things that just keeps giving.

Every Cocktail needs decoration, and I think you’ll love these cute little Cocktail accessories which include Umbrellas, Stirring Stirrers, reusable paper Straws and Sparkler sticks for under £6- Your Cocktail needs these.

Set Up Your Bar Area to Look the Part

Presentation matters mi darlin. Even on a budget, you can make your home cocktail bar look like something out of a hotel. I spent years working in the hotel trade and one thing I always noticed was how much the setup did the talking before a single drink was poured. The same applies at home.

A trolly bar is a great asset for displaying your cocktail set up, I love this beautiful 3 tier Bar trolley I found on Amazon for under 40 quid, with Mirrored Glass and 3 Shelves which allows plenty of room for all your cocktail bottles on top and glasses below. I’ve had mine for years, I initially bought it for Christmas but it works just as hard as a cocktail bar. It turns your drinks setup from “stuff on a table or kitchen work top” into a proper feature.

Please do add some fairy lights and a few Tea lights in little glasses and maybe a small bunch of flowers, these will help make your whole set up will look really impressive.

If you want a bit of styling inspiration for your bar trolley before you get started, this guide from Homes & Gardens on how to style a bar cart is brilliant for ideas on glassware, layout and finishing touches.”

Make a Simple Summer Cocktail Menu

Nah, you don’t need to know how to make everything. Pick three to five cocktails and write them up on a little card or chalkboard. Your guests love having something to choose from and it takes the pressure right off you as the host.

Here are a few crowd-pleasers that are proper easy to make: but for the full menu guide grab my free Summer cocktail menu and recipe guide above.

Hugo Spritz. Prosecco, elderflower, fresh mint and a slice of cucumber. It’s right gorgeous.

Classic G&T. Gin, tonic and a slice of lemon or cucumber. Never fails.

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri. Rum, lime juice and frozen strawberries blended together. Brilliant for a hot day.

For a non-alcoholic option, do a sparkling elderflower lemonade with frozen fruit. Looks just as special and everyone feels included.

For more inspiration on nailing a summer night in, have a look at these ideas to make your summer evening at home feel special.

A Word of Warning From Someone Who Learned the Hard Way

Can you not get too cocky with the shaker? I say this from painful personal experience. I got a bit overconfident one evening, had already had a few and didn’t fix the lid on properly. One enthusiastic shake later and it went absolutely everywhere. All over me. All over everyone else in the room. Spot on for comedy value. Not so spot on for the soft furnishings.

Check the lid. Every single time. You’re welcome.

Ice. Don’t Underestimate Ice.

Blimey, people always forget about ice until it’s too late. You need more than you think. A lot more.

Get yourself a stylish Ice bucket, I picked this Large insulated ice bucket with tongs. up on Amazon , It’s one that actually keeps ice cold for hours rather than a decorative tin that gives up after twenty minutes. It sounds like a small thing but warm drinks on a hot day are deeply tragic and a good ice bucket solves that problem entirely.

Another good freeze tip I love to do, is freeze fruit in ice cube trays the night before. Strawberries, raspberries and mint leaves. They look beautiful in the glass and do double duty as decoration.

Keep Glassware Simple and Smart

Don/t over stress about your glasses because you don’t need matching glassware. Mismatched vintage glasses actually look brilliant and give the whole thing a relaxed proper summer party vibe.

Charity shops are gold for this. Stock up on wine glasses, tumblers and maybe a few coupe glasses if you can find them.

If you do want to treat yourself, this Set of Cocktail glasses in the £20 range and are perfect for serving all your tropical drinks I keep a set specifically for when people come over and they come out every summer without fail.

The Finishing Touches That Make It Feel Special

A little effort in the details goes a long way. Here’s what I always do.

Have a cocktail menu on a card. It sets the scene before anyone’s even poured a drink.

Have a jug of something pre-made ready for when people arrive. A big batch of Pimm’s or a fruit punch means no one stands around waiting.

Play a summer playlist. Music changes the whole mood.

For more ways to make your home feel like a summer escape this season, have a look at these summer staycation ideas for adults and the ultimate summer spa day at home.

FAQs: DIY Cocktail Bar at Home

What do I need to set up a cocktail bar at home for summer? You need a dedicated surface or bar trolley, three to four spirits, a selection of mixers, fresh garnishes, a cocktail shaker set and plenty of ice. Keep it simple and it’ll look brilliant.

How do I make my home cocktail bar look good on a budget? Use fairy lights, mismatched vintage glassware from charity shops and a cocktail menu card. A few fresh flowers and a herb planter add a professional touch without costing much at all.

What are the easiest cocktails to make at home for a party? Hugo Spritz, gin and tonic and frozen strawberry daiquiris are all crowd-pleasers that require minimal equipment and are hard to get wrong.

Do I need a bar trolley for a home cocktail bar? Not at all. A fold-out table, a wooden crate stack or a sideboard works just as well. A bar trolley is a lovely addition if it’s in your budget but it is absolutely not essential.

How much ice do I need for a home cocktail bar? More than you think. For six to eight guests over an evening, aim for at least two large bags of ice and store it in a good insulated ice bucket to keep it frozen throughout.

Well go on then mi darlin, get that bar set up and let the summer entertaining begin.