The Good Design Journal
The Bar Is Set With 15 Design-Led Barware Essentials Worth Toasting To
You’ve got great taste in interiors, so why is your bar setup still borrowing from the back of the cupboard? If you’ve ever stirred an Old Fashioned with a dessert spoon, this one’s for you.
Whether it’s spontaneous drinks or an “everyone’s coming over” moment, your barware deserves a little boost in the design department. And here’s the thing: the right tools do plenty more than just look good. They make you feel like a host who has it together. They make guests linger longer. They make sparkling water feel like an event.
This is your signal to upgrade the shelf, stock the cart, and make the pour. From smoked glass to sculptural trays, these are the barware essentials worth clearing space for.
Ready? Glasses up! Here are the barware essentials we’d happily toast with.
1. Sculptural Sips
TOM DIXON Tank Decanter 1L, Black
Mouth-blown and heavy with presence, this one’s not hiding in the back of a cabinet. The Tank Decanter turns every pour into theatre, with exaggerated proportions and a weighty stopper to match. Leave it on display, it deserves the attention.
2. Low, Dark, and Handsome
TOM DIXON Tank Low Ball Glasses, Black (Set of 2)
Bold black rims and architectural silhouettes make these feel more like design objects than drinking vessels. Match them with the Tank Decanter or use them solo for whisky, negronis, or late-night soda with a twist.
3. Ice to Meet You
TOM DIXON Cloud Bowl Ice Bucket, Aluminium
Formed from highly polished aluminium and finished with crumpled, reflective curves, this ice bucket is pure sculpture. It’ll keep your prosecco cold and your table talking.
4. Shaken, Not Boring
EVA SOLO Liquid Lounge Cocktail Shaker
All the utility, none of the kitsch. This sleek shaker has a drip-free pouring spout, integrated strainer, and double walls to keep things cool. Even if your mixology skills need work, it’ll still look like you know what you’re doing.
5. Curves for Days
NORMANN COPENHAGEN Whiskey Glasses (Set of 2)
Gentle undulations make these glasses a dream to hold, and harder to drop, even after round two. The weight feels considered, the lines are clean, and the look is unmistakably Scandi.
6. Shiny Service
STELTON ARNE JACOBSEN Cylinda Serving Tray 33.5cm
Designed in the ’60s and still iconic. This circular stainless steel tray makes everything on it look cooler. Use it to serve cocktails, anchor a bar setup, or give your glassware a worthy base.
7. Smoke Show
FERM LIVING Ripple Carafe Set, Smoked Grey
Decant with style. This fluted carafe and glass set brings instant mood to a bar cart or bedside, especially in that moody smoked grey. Water, wine, or something more mischievous, it handles it all.
8. Tall Drinks Only
FERM LIVING Ripple Long Drink Glasses, Smoked Grey
The matching tall glass set is stackable, tactile, and always photogenic. Use them for cocktails, mocktails, or iced lattes when the party lasts through brunch.
9. Fizz, But Fancy
AARKE Carbonator Pro, Steel
Sparkling water gets a design-world upgrade. This steel-bodied carbonator delivers crisp bubbles at the push of a button with no awkward twist-lock required. The bottle’s glass, the styling is sleek, and the presence is absolutely premium.
10. Sip Responsibly (and Colourfully)
DESIGNSTUFF Curve Glass Straw, Mixed Mist/Lemon/White/Cinnamon (Set of 4)
Not just reusable, desirable. These wavey glass straws add colour, curve, and charm to any drink. A little softening to go with your hard spirits.
11. Solid Ice, Zero Drama
Set the Mood, and the Room
DESIGNSTUFF Sphere Riplet Ice Cube Tray, Black
Sphere-shaped ice is more than a vibe. It melts slower, looks better, and clinks with confidence. This tray makes four, with a rippled design that fits the DESIGNSTUFF mood to a tee.
12. Drinks on Wheels
ZONE DENMARK A-Collection Drinks/ Cocktail Trolley, Black
Your bar station, mobile and modern. Clean lines and powder-coated steel keep it minimal, while the smooth-rolling wheels make it easy to bring the party wherever it needs to be. Setup, pour, wheel away.
13. Shake, Stir, Style
ZONE DENMARK Rocks Bar Set (3 Parts)
It’s all here: shaker, stirrer, and jigger, designed to match and made to mix. Streamlined forms and matte finishes make this set more design piece than party tool.
14. Colour Me Curious
MAISON BALZAC Aperitif Jug, Clear/Amber
Part vintage, part pop, this hand-blown jug brings the personality. Serve sangria, lemon soda, or use it as a vase between gatherings. And those amber-toned orange wedges? Pure joy.
15. Tiny Tool, Big Moment
FERM LIVING Fein Bottle Opener, Brass
Small, sculptural, satisfying. This brass bottle opener feels good in the hand and even better on the counter. It’s the kind of detail that earns compliments before the drink even starts.
What are the must-have barware essentials for entertaining at home?
The non-negotiables? A reliable cocktail shaker, a set of well-weighted glasses, a carafe or decanter for table presentation, and an ice cube tray that doesn’t make sad half-moons. But great barware essentials do more than function. They create atmosphere. Look for tactile glassware that feels good to hold, trays that frame your setup like a still life, and statement pieces like the Aarke Carbonator or Maison Balzac Jug that spark conversation. It’s not just about what you serve — it’s how you serve it.
How do I style a bar cart using barware essentials?
Think of your bar cart as an extension of your interior style — not just a storage surface. Start with structure: group your barware essentials by type (glasses, tools, serveware), then layer in height variation and texture. Stackable glassware like the Ripple range creates visual interest, while sculptural items like the Tom Dixon Ice Bucket double as art. Add personality with pops of colour — a glass straw set, a brass opener — and don’t forget something organic like citrus, herbs, or a low vase to soften the setup. The best bar carts look curated, not crowded.
Do I really need a decanter if the bottle already looks good?
It depends what kind of experience you want to create. A decanter isn’t about hiding labels — it’s about elevating the moment. The Tom Dixon Tank Decanter, for instance, transforms a simple pour into a design statement. It’s one of those barware essentials that adds presence to a shelf or table, even when it’s empty. And for those who love ceremony or hosting, the act of decanting becomes part of the ritual. Bonus: it can also improve taste through aeration, especially for red wine or aged spirits.
What makes design-led barware essentials better than standard options?
Design-led barware essentials do two things at once: they perform well and look exceptional. That means a cocktail shaker that feels weighty and pours cleanly, a bottle opener that doubles as sculpture, or an ice bucket that works like a centrepiece. You’re investing in pieces that hold their own in a styled space — not something you hide in a drawer until guests arrive. They also tend to age better, thanks to quality materials and timeless silhouettes. It’s a long-term shift from “this will do” to “this belongs here.”
Ready to raise your standards?
You’ve put care into every corner of your home, so why let your bar setup lag behind? Clunky tools, novelty glasses, and last-resort ice trays aren’t cutting it. This edit of barware essentials is your nudge to bring that same design attention to the party zone.
From sculptural decanters to fluted glasses and carbonators you’ll want to display, these pieces do more than mix drinks. They shape the mood. They anchor your styling. They turn casual drinks into something worth remembering, even if it’s just you, a spritz, and a Tuesday night.
It’s not about having it all. It’s about having the right few that feel good to use and even better to look at.
Shop our Barware Essentials, and set your bar, your way.
