Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped wet bar in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, stone tile splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Riverdale Kitchen & Powder room

Palmerston Design Consultants

Lisa Petrole
Mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in Toronto with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, dark hardwood floors, brick splashback and red splashback.

Wamuran

Civic Steel Homes

Well stoked bar cleverly hidden behind a panel sliding door. Lovely touch by the owner with quality modern art.
Photo of a small contemporary single-wall home bar in Brisbane with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, ceramic splashback and porcelain floors.

Bridgetown Pass 2

Trellis Residential

Contemporary wet bar in Charleston with no sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

House in Port of Spain, Trinidad

Dickinson Woodworks

Bar installation with Walnut folding doors incorporating Brass shelving and leather upholstered linings. American Black Walnut veneered panelling to the walls and ceiling. Black steel and Walnut front bar. Architect: Jamie Fobert Architects Photo credit: Hufton and Crow Photography

Contemporary Home Bar

Inspiration for a contemporary seated home bar in Denver with an undermount sink, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets and red splashback.

Industrial Pub Room Remodel

Interior Trends Inc. Design & Remodeling

An unused closet was turned into a wet bar. Reclaimed wood shelves are suspended by industrial rods from the ceiling. The backsplash of the bar is covered in a paper brick veneer product usually used for set design. A distressed faux paint technique was applied over the embossed brick surface to make it look like a real worn brick wall. Photo By Fred Lassmann

D + A Residence

The Dept of Design

H Creations - Adam McGrath
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Canberra - Queanbeyan with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, brick splashback, vinyl floors, multi-coloured floor, grey benchtop and red splashback.

River Watch

Scott Christopher Homes

Mike Buck
Photo of a large contemporary single-wall home bar in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, red splashback and glass sheet splashback.

New Construction, Old Greenwich, CT

Lehmann Creative Studio Llc.

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in New York with no sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and brown benchtop.

Wine Bar

Luitjohan's Flooring America

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped seated home bar in St Louis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Pantries & Wine Bars

California Closets, San Francisco

Contemporary Wine Bar Design
Photo of a small contemporary single-wall home bar in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, red splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Eclectic kitchen, dining and Bar space

Ayelet Designs

Miri Ekshtein
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, red splashback and porcelain floors.

Bar

Schmidt Holzinger Innenarchitekten

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in Frankfurt with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, red splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Décoration Salon/salle à manger

SOPHIE RODRIGUES DECORATION

Rénovation et décoration de l'espace bar suivi du coin cheminée, remplacement de l'ancienne cheminée en pierre par un nouveau foyer bois 3 faces, Rénovation des poutres.

CabinetMakers - Bars & Islands

CabinetMakers - Fine Cabinetry

Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in Cleveland with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, subway tile splashback and light hardwood floors.

Gallery 1

Paul Janzen Design Inc.

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Calgary with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, matchstick tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Our Custom Homes

Faye Crowe Architect LLC

This is an example of a large contemporary galley seated home bar in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, concrete floors, brick splashback and brown floor.

West End Flat

Lauren Rubin Architecture

Alyssa Kirsten
Design ideas for a small contemporary galley home bar in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, brick splashback, medium hardwood floors and red splashback.

Ponatahi House

architecture +

This is an example of a large contemporary home bar in Wellington with red splashback.

Contemporary Home Bar Design Ideas with Red Splashback

A contemporary home bar can provide a spot of indulgence for one, or be a central hub you gather round when entertaining. Whether you’re thinking of planning a wine bar, outdoor bar, or just making room for a bar cart, browse these images for inspiration, and ask yourself the following questions.

Where should you position your home bar?

The most popular location for a contemporary home bar is in or near the kitchen or dining room. If you prefer entertaining outdoors, however, an outdoor bar can be a dream addition to any Aussie backyard – and imagine the luxury of swimming up to your very own pool bar! If you're building from scratch, a landscape architect can help you work out the ideal design for your space.

What type of home bar is best suited to your needs?

Home bars come in all shapes and sizes, and with an array of practicalities. Utilise an awkward corner with a cabinet bar; maximise floor space with a trunk bar, which unfolds to create a bar counter; or conveniently turn any space in your house into a bar room with a mobile bar such as a fun bar cart. If you prefer a more grandiose option, or all the amenities of a real bar, you can’t go past a built-in contemporary home bar.

What home bar functionalities do you want to include?

Decide how you will use the bar and whether you will need sinks, storage and refrigeration. Including a sink in your contemporary home bar design is a practical addition if you choose a location far from your kitchen. If you’re a wine connoisseur, you may want to include additional wine storage, whereas a mini bar fridge within the kitchen may need no extra storage at all. Home bars that will be used infrequently – perhaps an outdoor bar in the cooler months – may not need refrigeration and could suffice with large ice buckets.

What bar furniture will you need?

Seating is essential to any home bar and will impact the style of your home bar design. Bar stools, for example, come in an array of materials and styles, from traditional wooden bar stools, to resort- and industrial-style stools. Storage is another important element, so look for a liquor cabinet and wine racks. Next, if you are creating a freestanding station, you will need a bar table, which are taller and shallower than regular dining tables. Check that your stools and table height work together before you finalise any home bar designs.

How can you personalise your bar design?

Bar tools and accessories are an easy and interchangeable way to personalise your bar design. You may want to create a wine bar, tavern-style bar or retro bar, so look for wine glasses and tumblers, for instance, that will help carry this style. Coasters, bar mats or signage will help you to further achieve your desired look.