4 Easy Ways to Upgrade Your Home Bar

"To make a bar last, I'm a believer in concrete and steel," says Beers. "If you’re using wood, I personally like teak and a Brazilian wood called ipe. In the stone family, granite is the most common and safest because it is dense and resistant to stains like spilled red wine. Yet, personally, I find it boring and prefer to work with quartzite that looks more like marble. Marble, as well as zinc, are beautiful, but keep in mind they give a very traditional, European aesthetic, and require a fair amount of upkeep." Recommendation: Marlow Felix Bar Cart with forged iron, stone, marble and mirror. $394 at Houzz. (Houzz.com / StyleCaster.com)

"I'm a fan of stainless steel for its resilience, its crisp, nautical feel, and its low-maintenance quality: It never rusts," says Beers. "If you pair stainless steel hardware with wood, you have a very yacht-club feel; otherwise it looks cool and modern against concrete and polished steel." Recommendation: Easton Stainless Steel Serving Tray. $49.95 at Crate & Barrel. (CrateandBarrel.com / StyleCaster.com)

"Brass is the iconic metal for bars and I love it, but it does demand a lot of upkeep and polishing as it easily discolors," says Beers. "It can be worth it if you like the look." Recommendation: Oscarine Lucite Bar Cart. $695 at Anthropologie. (Anthropologie.com / StyleCaster.com)

"Mirrors are fantastic, and a key component to the design of any bar," says Beers. "They're normally placed with the back bar display; the mirror goes on the back wall first and the shelves are installed onto it. I'll often take a strip of mirror and angle it 15 to 20 degrees in order to reflect the whole bar scene." Recommendation: Rosette Wall Mirror. $527 at Ethan Allen. (EthanAllen.com / StyleCaster.com)