5 Steps to the Ultimate Stylish Drinks Station
As Brits gear up for a massive summer of home hosting, from backyard BBQs to Wimbledon and the World Cup, drinks can quickly create kitchen clutter. From bottles and cans taking over the fridge to glasses, mixers and serving extras spread across different cupboards and worktops.
According to home water filtration specialists Our Taap, whose Home Water System II offers UV-purified chilled and hot water from a single countertop appliance, a dedicated drinks station can help keep everything in one easy-to-use place.
Our Taap said: “A good drinks station should do three things: reduce traffic through the kitchen, ease pressure on the host and keep drink making essentials contained in one place. The best setup is usually away from the hob, oven and main prep space, but still easy for guests to reach.
“The key is to think about the drinks adults and children actually reach for in summer. Ice-cold water, cordials, mixers, fruit, herbs and hot drinks are all useful to have in one defined zone, so the setup feels practical.”
How to create a summer drinks station at home
1. Choose a sociable drinks zone
Pick one section of the kitchen, utility room or sideboard and keep glasses, drinks and serving extras neatly grouped together, ideally somewhere sociable that guests can reach without getting in the way. Use a tray, basket or labelled jars to make everything easy to find, from cups and stirrers to cordials and mixers.
2. Free up that fridge space
A countertop system such as the Home Water System II keeps chilled filtered water available on demand, reduces the need to fill fridge shelves with bottled water and keeping space free for food, desserts and anything that needs to stay cold.
3. Make it kid friendly
Keep squash, fruit slices and reusable kids’ cups in one easy-to-reach spot so children are not constantly asking adults for refills. If hot and chilled water are part of the same station, child-lock features can give hosts extra peace of mind when younger guests are helping themselves.
4. Create a better option for non-drinkers
Non-drinkers can easily end up with the least exciting option, so make their drinks feel just as well thought through. Keep a small mix of glassware nearby for chilled water, mocktails or summer spritzes. Fresh fruit, herbs and a small selection of flavoured or iced teas can make the station feel more complete.
5. Add a summer of sport twist
With Wimbledon and the World Cup both giving households more reasons to host this summer, a themed drink can make the station feel more fun and memorable. Try sliced British strawberries, fresh mint, cucumber or citrus for guests to add to their serve or set out a simple recipe card for a crowd-pleasing mocktail.