Ready to Buy a Wine Rack ~ Tips for choosing the right one

Wines racks—wrought iron, maple, stainless steel, pine—which one to buy? Well, the answer to that question will depend on a number of considerations and will be unique for every wine rack buyer.
There are some features which are considered requirements for a good wine rack for your home, and others that you might consider options in your specific situation. Wine racks can serve a purely practical purpose or they can also contribute a decorative element to the interior decor of your kitchen, dining room, entertaining room, living room or family room. Reviewing some essentials before you purchase a wine rack will ensure you make the best choice possible amongst many, many choices!

First let's look at what every good wine rack should have.

Important features for all wine racks you buy:

Stability: is the most important characteristic—does the design of the rack ensure it will be stable whether it has one bottle or is completely full. The wine rack must also remain stable when wine bottles are added or removed.
Strength: good quality materials and good workmanship in construction will provide the strength needed to support the weight of full wine bottles. Hanging or wall-mounted wine racks may also require additional support in cupdboard or walls.
Capacity: will the wine rack hold the number of wine bottles you typically have on hand and allow for extra bottles for occasional special events.
Size/Dimensions: measure your intended location for the wine rack and make sure you choose one that will actually fit and be easily accessible. Remember to allow for extra space required to add and remove wine bottles.
Features: does the wine rack have additional features you require such as a stemware rack or wine accessories storage
Style: does the design and material of the wine rack compliment your interior decor

Location, location, location—applies to wine racks too!

Choosing a place in your interior decor for your wine rack is the first step in determining the which wine rack to purchase. Ask youself a few questions:

How much space do you have for a wine rack? Can it sit on the floor? Does it have to go on a counter or sideboard, hang from the wall or beneath or cupboard? Allow space for the wine rack and for moving wine bottles in and out of it.
Will your wine collection grow over time, requiring additional space as it grows? Do you have space to build up in height?
Do you needthe wine rack to be mobile or stationary? Do you entertain in different rooms of your home? On your deck or patio? Do you need to store it out of sight or out of the way when not in use?
Is your wine rack primarily for display or storage? Can you combine the wine rack feature with other furniture requirements, such as a serving table or bar, or cabinet?

Plan for the future when you buy your wine rack

If you enjoy the occasional glass of wine with friends, you may think a small 3-4 bottle wine rack will do the trick, but don't forget the other times of the year when you regularly purchase and serve more wine—Christmas, Thanksgiving or birthday celebrtions. When purchasing wine racks for home use, the biggest mistake poeple make is buying a wine rack that ends up being too small. You may not need 50-bottle storage, but if you've ever held a dinner party or special event in your home, you know the most common gift brought for a host or hostess is a bottle of wine. Suddenly you have ten lovely bottles of wine and no place to put them. As a general rule, buy a wine rack with at least one third more storage than you typically use on a daily basis.

Buy wine racks with extra features

Buying a wine rack will solve your wine storage needs, but be sure to explore the wide variety of options and features available in different styles of wine racks. Simple features that help to organize all of your wine-drinking items include wine glass racks and drawers for storing wine accessories such as corkscrews, wine charms and wine stoppers.

Wine racks are often incorporated into furniture designs that offer multiple practical and decorative uses. Wine cabinets in popular furniture styles compliment room decor and provide the ability to secure your wine bottles with locking doors.

Wine serving tables add ease to your entertaining in providing both storage and serving features. Keep everything you need for your wine enjoyment in one place—when it's handy it will be enjoyed more often! Wine bars are the perfect feature for any entertaining space—indoors or out on the patio! Built in a variety of sizes and designs many offer wine storage cabinets and wine glass racks as well.

Wine carts bring the added convenience of mobility and style to your wine storage solution. Rolling wine carts feature the luxury of casters for easy movement between your dining room, kitchen, or outdoor patio. Built with storage for wine, glasses and accessories—this is a great idea for wine storage flexibility.

Stackable wine racks provide a flexible system of storing your growing wine collection— they offer a modular design to customize to the available space and the size of your collection. Designed both for kitchen, entertainment area or wine cellar, stackable wine racks feature a wide variety of configurations and finishes for any area.

Once you purchase the perfect wine rack for your needs, you're ready to take the most important step—grab your favorite wine and enjoy a glass!