For most home bars, a display cabinet between 80cm and 120cm wide and around 35cm to 45cm deep is the most practical size. That is wide enough to hold a good selection of bottles and glassware, and shallow enough not to crowd a living room, dining room or kitchen corner. Height depends on the room, but a tall cabinet gives you more storage on a smaller footprint, while a lower cabinet doubles as a serving surface.
The right size for you comes down to what you want to store, how many people you usually serve and how much floor space you can spare. Our range of modern display cabinets UK covers slim, wide, tall and low designs, so the sections below are about working out which proportions suit your bar.
Before measuring the room, take stock of what you actually own. Count your bottles, including spirits, liqueurs, wine and mixers, and note any that are unusually tall or wide. Then count your glassware by type. A collection of tumblers, highballs, wine glasses, coupes and flutes takes up more space than people expect, especially once you allow room to lift glasses out without knocking their neighbours.
Add any extras you want on display: decanters, cocktail shakers, ice buckets, bar tools and books. Some of these can live in drawers or cupboards, but if you want them visible, they need shelf space.
As a loose guide, a small collection of a dozen bottles and a couple of sets of glasses fits comfortably in a single door cabinet. A more serious collection, or a household that entertains regularly, usually needs a two door cabinet or a combination of a cabinet and a sideboard.
Cabinets around 40cm to 60cm wide suit alcoves, the end of a kitchen run or the space beside a fireplace. They hold a modest collection well and work in flats and smaller houses where wall space is limited. The downside is that glasses and bottles tend to be stacked in single rows, so you may need to reach past items at the front.
Cabinets between 80cm and 120cm wide are the most versatile size for a home bar. They usually have two doors, which means you can dedicate one side to bottles and the other to glassware. This separation keeps things tidy and makes it easier to find what you need.
Anything over 120cm starts to feel like a bar back. These suit larger dining rooms, open plan living spaces and garden rooms. They give you space for a substantial collection but need a long, uninterrupted wall and a room big enough for the cabinet not to dominate.
A tall display cabinet, roughly 160cm to 200cm high, packs a lot of storage into a small footprint. It also puts glassware at eye level, which looks good and makes everyday items easy to reach. Keep heavier bottles on the lower shelves for stability and use the top shelf for lighter, less frequently used items.
A low cabinet, closer to sideboard height, gives you a worktop for pouring and mixing. It suits rooms with windows or artwork above, and it leaves the wall above free for a mirror or shelving. If you prefer this approach, it may be worth looking at a dedicated drinks cabinet or a bar table as well.
Some people combine both: a tall display cabinet for glassware and special bottles, and a low surface nearby for serving. This works particularly well in dining rooms.
Depth matters more than it first appears. A cabinet that is too shallow will not take larger wine glasses or wide bottles. One that is too deep wastes space at the back and makes items harder to reach. For most bars, a depth of around 35cm to 45cm is comfortable.
Shelf spacing is equally important. Spirit bottles vary greatly in height, and some premium bottles are much taller than standard ones. Adjustable shelves let you set the spacing to suit your collection, so measure your tallest bottle and allow a little extra above it for lifting it out.
Weight is the final consideration. A row of full spirit bottles is surprisingly heavy, so check the shelf material and thickness. Glass shelves should be toughened, and solid shelves in the lower section are often a better home for heavy bottles.
Once you know roughly what size cabinet you need, measure the space you have in mind. Note the width of the wall, the height to the ceiling and any obstacles such as sockets, light switches, radiators, windows and doors. Mark the cabinet footprint on the floor with masking tape and live with it for a day or two. This is a simple way to see whether it blocks a walkway or feels too large.
Remember the doors. Hinged glass doors need clearance in front, so allow space for them to open fully without hitting a sofa, chair or table. Sliding doors save space but limit access to half the cabinet at a time.
Check delivery access too. Older homes with narrow stairs and tight landings can make it difficult to move tall cabinets into upstairs rooms.
A display cabinet is often the centrepiece of a home bar, but it works best as part of a small group of furniture. Our modern living room furniture UK sale range includes cabinets, sideboards and occasional tables that can be combined into a cohesive bar corner.
If you want guests to sit at the bar, add a bar table or a counter with stools. Our modern bar stools UK include fabric, leather and wooden designs in counter and bar heights. Choose the stool height to match the surface, as counter stools and bar stools are not interchangeable.
A tall cabinet benefits from a nearby surface for preparing drinks. A compact bar table, a sideboard or even a sturdy console can do the job. Our bar tables UK sale include high gloss, wooden and glass options that sit well beside a display cabinet.
Leave enough space for someone to stand at the cabinet, open the doors and step back with a tray. In practice, around a metre of clear floor in front of the cabinet keeps things comfortable. In smaller rooms, a slightly narrower cabinet with more clearance often works better than a larger one squeezed in.
If you are adding stools, check the gap between seat and surface before you buy. Our guide to UK bar stool heights explained sets out how to match seat height to counter and bar height so guests sit comfortably.
A slim, tall cabinet is usually the best choice. It holds a respectable collection without taking much floor space. Choose glass doors and a light finish to keep the room feeling open. For typical heights and depths to compare against your wall, see our guide to UK display cabinet dimensions and shelf spacing.
Dining rooms can often take a medium or wide cabinet. Placing it against the longest wall, away from the table, gives you a dedicated drinks area that does not interfere with seating.
In open plan homes, a display cabinet can help define a bar zone between the kitchen and living area. A medium cabinet with a low surface nearby creates a natural stopping point for guests.
Converted garages and garden rooms often have more wall space but can be cooler and more humid. Choose finishes that cope with temperature changes and keep spirits and wine out of direct sunlight.
Built in lighting makes a home bar feel special. LEDs show off glassware and bottle colours without heating the contents. Arrange the cabinet with glassware at eye level and bottles grouped by type or colour, and leave a little space between items so the light can move around them.
Keep the display edited. A home bar looks best when it holds what you actually use, with a few special bottles and pieces given room to stand out.
The right size display cabinet for a home bar balances what you own with the space you have. Most homes are well served by a medium width cabinet of moderate depth, with adjustable shelves and a nearby surface for serving. Measure carefully, plan the area as a whole and leave space to move. Browse cabinets, bar stools and bar tables together at Furniture in Fashion to build a bar corner that suits your home.
Around 35cm to 45cm suits most collections. It fits larger wine glasses and wider bottles without making the cabinet bulky.
A tall cabinet gives more storage on a small footprint, while a low cabinet provides a serving surface. Many people combine a tall cabinet with a nearby table or sideboard.
Allow enough room for the doors to open fully and for someone to stand and step back. Roughly a metre of clear floor is comfortable in most rooms.
Yes. Keep heavier bottles on lower shelves, store corked wine on its side if possible and use upper shelves for glassware.
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