Style Tips for a Swanky Home Bar

The "Barmoire"

We took a basic linen closet, painted it inside and out, and gave it a stylish backsplash with smoky mirrored tiles. Scroll down to see the step-by-step tips.

The Details: Farrow & Ball exterior paint, inHagueBlue, us.farrow-ball.com.

Benjamin Moore interior paint, in Sandy Hook Gray, benjaminmoore.com.

Antique Mirror Glass Shoppe commercial antique mirror glass tiles, 12" by 12", $27.50 each, antiquemirrorglassshoppe.com.

Tips: Hang a rack inside a door to have a bar towel at the ready.

Arrange shelves so the items you reach for most often -- liquor and glasses -- are closest at hand.

Building a "Barmoire"

1

Find the right closet

Start with an unfinished closet with adjustable shelves. Then outfit it with clever details, including a pull-out shelf for slicing limes or serving drinks. Gothic Cabinet Craft linen closet with 4 shelves, $909, gothiccabinetcraft.com.
2

Add Wineglass Racks

Brass bar-glass hanger racks, 16", $3.25 each, webstaurantstore.com.
3

Insert a Slide-Out Shelf

Under-the-counter drawer slides, 16", $22 for 2, mcmaster.com.
4

Upgrade the Knobs

Lido Crystal, in French Antique, $19 each, rejuvenation.com.

High Spirits

No need to clutter your cabinet with obscure liquors you’ll use once. Here are our editors’ essential bottles for drinking neat or on the rocks and mixing in cocktails.

1. Gin: You’ll want one with botanicals that don’t overwhelm for martinis and G&Ts. Try Plymouth, which has hints of citrus, cucumber, and vanilla. Pottery Barn rounded decanter, $42.50, potterybarn.com.

2. Vodka: It’s one of the most commonly used spirits in cocktails. Imperia, a Martha favorite, is pure and crisp. Top Shelf pure-lead-crystal decanter, $60, bedbathand beyond.com.

3. Tequila: Choose the silver variety, which is light and versatile. Espolón Tequila Blanco has a clean flavor with a touch of spice. Rogaska Pierpont cut-crystal short decanter, $209, restorationhardware.com.

4. Rum: Unless this is your spirit of choice, you only need to stock one. Appleton Estate Reserve Blend, with hints of caramel and tropical fruit, is neutral enough for mixed drinks but has enough depth to be sipped on its own. Stud decanter, $40, cb2.com.

5. Orange Liqueur: The secret to a delicious margarita, mimosa, or cosmopolitan, it’s also nice in baked goods or drizzled over fruit. Our picks are Grand Marnier and Cointreau. Estate barware decanter, $50, williams-sonoma.com.

6. Amaro: This liqueur adds bitterness and balances out sweet cocktails. We love Campari for one simple reason: It makes a sublime Negroni. Rogaska Pierpont cut-crystal tall decanter, $209, restorationhardware.com.

7. Whiskey: We prefer rye for its flexibility (bourbon can be too sweet in cocktails, Scotch too assertive). Bulleit is smooth enough for both sipping and mixing. Boulevard cut-crystal round decanter, $159, restorationhardware.com.

1. Gin: You’ll want one with botanicals that don’t overwhelm for martinis and G&Ts. Try Plymouth, which has hints of citrus, cucumber, and vanilla. Pottery Barn rounded decanter, $42.50, potterybarn.com.

2. Vodka: It’s one of the most commonly used spirits in cocktails. Imperia, a Martha favorite, is pure and crisp. Top Shelf pure-lead-crystal decanter, $60, bedbathand beyond.com.

3. Tequila: Choose the silver variety, which is light and versatile. Espolón Tequila Blanco has a clean flavor with a touch of spice. Rogaska Pierpont cut-crystal short decanter, $209, restorationhardware.com.

4. Rum: Unless this is your spirit of choice, you only need to stock one. Appleton Estate Reserve Blend, with hints of caramel and tropical fruit, is neutral enough for mixed drinks but has enough depth to be sipped on its own. Stud decanter, $40, cb2.com.
5. Orange Liqueur: The secret to a delicious margarita, mimosa, or cosmopolitan, it’s also nice in baked goods or drizzled over fruit. Our picks are Grand Marnier and Cointreau. Estate barware decanter, $50, williams-sonoma.com.

6. Amaro: This liqueur adds bitterness and balances out sweet cocktails. We love Campari for one simple reason: It makes a sublime Negroni. Rogaska Pierpont cut-crystal tall decanter, $209, restorationhardware.com.

7. Whiskey: We prefer rye for its flexibility (bourbon can be too sweet in cocktails, Scotch too assertive). Bulleit is smooth enough for both sipping and mixing. Boulevard cut-crystal round decanter, $159, restorationhardware.com.

Tools of the Trade

These accessories, plus a shaker, complete a well-outfitted bar. Martha Stewart Collection 7-piece bar-tool set (with stand), $72, macys.com.

Jigger

For measuring booze: 1 1/2 ounces on one side, 3/4 ounce on the other.
Strainer

To keep ice and muddled ingredients in the shaker and out of the glass.
Spoon

For mixing drinks that are stirred, not shaken.

Tongs

For grabbing ice and garnishes without using your fingers.
Pairing Knife

The small size -- and extra-sharp blade -- are designed for slicing citruses.
Opener

A long handle provides extra leverage for popping off bottle caps.

Jigger

For measuring booze: 1 1/2 ounces on one side, 3/4 ounce on the other.
Tongs

For grabbing ice and garnishes without using your fingers.
Strainer

To keep ice and muddled ingredients in the shaker and out of the glass.
Pairing Knife

The small size -- and extra-sharp blade -- are designed for slicing citruses.
Spoon

For mixing drinks that are stirred, not shaken.
Opener

A long handle provides extra leverage for popping off bottle caps.