Sideboard with Drinks Cabinet – When a Sideboard Becomes a Home Bar
Sideboard with drinks cabinet: construction, dimensions and setting up the home bar, with a restored example with mirror and lighting.
A sideboard with drinks cabinet combines two pieces of furniture in one: storage for tableware and glasses, and a home bar that is barely noticeable when closed. It suits anyone who does not want, or cannot fit, a separate cocktail cabinet. This article shows how a good drinks compartment is constructed, what dimensions you need, how to set it up and when a classic drinks cabinet remains the better choice. For an overview of all sideboard types, see the sideboard buying guide.
What makes a good drinks compartment
A drinks compartment is more than an empty space behind a door. Good old bar furniture has several elements that work together:
- A glass shelf that carries bottles and glasses without obstructing the view or blocking the light.
- A mirror on the back panel, which doubles the bottles and makes the compartment look brighter.
- Lighting that comes on when the door is opened or is switched separately.
- Drawers for accessories such as shakers, bar spoons, corkscrews and coasters.
- Shelves that can be adjusted to the height of the bottles.
You will find mirror, lighting, glass shelf and drawers in our black sideboard with drinks cabinet. It is a large Gustavian sideboard, or drinks cabinet, from around 1960, restored and painted black, with details in solid brass. Inside there are further details, which are given in the product description. It is 200 cm wide, 82 cm high and 50 cm deep and costs €2,300. It is available.
Dimensions: how big does the drinks compartment need to be?
Work from the bottles. Most spirit bottles are 28 to 35 cm tall, sparkling wine bottles somewhat taller. A compartment with 35 to 40 cm of clear height will therefore take almost anything. Glasses need 20 to 25 cm. The depth should be at least 40 cm, which allows two rows of bottles.
| Element | Dimension | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bottle height | 28 to 35 cm | sparkling wine and magnums need more |
| Glass height | 20 to 25 cm | allow for tall wine glasses |
| Depth of the piece | from 40 cm, better 45 to 50 cm | two rows of bottles or glasses one behind the other |
| Overall height | approx. 80 to 90 cm | comfortable working height as a small bar |
At 82 cm high, our sideboard with drinks cabinet sits within the usual range: the top doubles as a surface for glasses and an ice bucket. You can read more about placing a piece like this in a room under Living room sideboard.
Sideboard with drinks cabinet or a drinks cabinet?
A drinks cabinet is taller, often has a fold-out work surface and keeps everything in one place. A sideboard with a drinks compartment stays low and fits into the living room as a piece that does not look like a bar. You choose it when you value storage, calm and an additional purpose. You choose a drinks cabinet when the bar is meant to be the centrepiece. The types and periods are explained in the drinks cabinet buying guide, the black variant in the article Black drinks cabinet, and placement in the post Drinks cabinet in the living room. The Art Deco models from the same era can also be found under Art Deco drinks cabinet.
What to look for in an old piece of bar furniture
With a piece that has a mirror, light and glass, there are three more points to check than with an ordinary sideboard. The mirror should have no blind spots or cracks. The lighting must work and be wired safely; old cables should be replaced. The glass shelf needs clean, undamaged edges and a stable support. Ask about the condition of the electrics and the glass before you enquire.
Setting up the home bar
Less is more here. A practical basic set-up for a drinks compartment consists of:
- two or three basic spirits and an aperitif,
- glasses in three sizes: tumbler, wine glass, cocktail coupe,
- shaker, measure, bar spoon and strainer in a drawer,
- a small tray or ice bucket on the top.
Arrange the bottles so that the labels show. With a mirror on the back panel, it is worth placing the most attractive bottles at the front. Heavy bottles belong on the glass shelf at the bottom and light ones at the top, because glass shelves can only bear a limited load. Check the load-bearing capacity of the shelves before filling them. Store glasses upside down or on a cloth so that no dust collects, and air the compartment about once a year. That keeps the interior fresh and odour-free, even in a piece from the 1960s.
Black, brass and light: why the colour works
A black painted piece of bar furniture makes the bottles glow in the illuminated compartment. The matt surface stays calm when the compartment is closed, and the brass of the fittings provides a warm note. The article Black sideboard describes why black works so well for bar furniture. If you are looking for a piece with Gustavian lines, the post Antique sideboard gives an overview of the periods. A painted sideboard of this kind is, in effect, an upcycled sideboard: the old carcass is kept and given a new finish.
How to buy from us
Plan B Design is a Swedish workshop. Every sideboard is a restored, one-of-a-kind piece, with prices between €1,400 and €2,400. In the Sideboards category you will find the current selection. You enquire without obligation, we clarify dimensions, condition and delivery, payment is by arrangement, and delivery within Germany is free. You can reach us via the contact page; the terms are set out under Right of withdrawal and returns. If you would like a different format, ask about a similar piece.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sideboard with a drinks cabinet?
A low sideboard in which one compartment is fitted out as a home bar, usually with a glass shelf, mirror and lighting. When closed, it looks like an ordinary sideboard.
How deep does a drinks compartment need to be?
At least 40 cm, better 45 to 50 cm. Bottles and glasses then fit in two rows.
Can I store bottles in the sideboard long term?
Spirits, yes; wine only at an even temperature and with no heating nearby. You should avoid direct sunlight and sources of heat.
Is the drinks compartment also available in another colour?
We paint in black, matt black with gold, or graphic black and white. For a different shade, please enquire via the contact page.