A sophisticated blend of form and function, the bar cabinet is having a moment in high-end home design.

Unlike the ubiquitous bar cart, in which drinks are displayed out in the open, bar cabinets provide spacious storage solutions while serving as impressive showpieces. Some, like one from Louis Vuitton, come souped-up, full of bling and glassware. Others, like a version from Ralph Lauren, are empty and it’s up to the owner to fill the insides with the right bar accouterments.

Aside from serving the practical purpose of containing a little liquid luxury, “they offer a surprise when you open them,” said Jennifer Cohler Mason, owner of J Cohler Mason Design, a boutique interior design firm on the Upper East Side, N.Y. They can also be used “decoratively to put books, vases, even a TV” on top.

Over the past few years, Ms. Cohler Mason has noticed an uptick in the number of clients requesting bar cabinets for their dwellings. “People are hosting more at home. They’re looking for additional ways to connect on a human level,” she said. “Having a drink, whether there’s alcohol involved or not, and making drinks, is a ritualistic, community-oriented activity. That’s not going away.” And the bar cabinets provide a particularly stylish way for people to gather for a drink.

For those looking to add one to their home, Ms. Cohler Mason had some advice on what to look for. If you have a small or dark space, “choose a cabinet with a mirror or high shine lacquer exterior, which will make your space feel larger because it will reflect and bounce off the light in your home,” she explained, adding that bright whites or creams lighten a room while “brown woods feel heavier and darker.”

Those who want to breathe new life into their space should gravitate to brightly colored cabinets. “These become welcoming and visually exciting focal points,” she said, “and will take attention away from existing furniture,” like pieces that have lost their luster.