This is an example of a modern home bar in Los Angeles.

The decadent “juice room” is our client’s favorite entertaining space off the kitchen, with an awning window for service to the grilling area beyond and ample refrigeration, storage and serving space for mixing delicious concoctions. Photography by Chris Murray Productions

Mango + Pear Place

Surfside Home Co.

Design ideas for a small beach style single-wall wet bar in San Diego with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, vinyl floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

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CHELSEA II

Krantz Designs

Chelsea II was a bar area project we completed alongside the kitchen. Subtle brass accents and a mottled bronze antique mirror splashback work really elegantly, adding a touch of luxury. We love the use of black American walnut on the carcasses and bespoke sliding ladder, which we had specifically commissioned for this scheme. Such attention to detail in every part of the design, and we even commissioned the bespoke champagne cork handles for the client.

Sculptural Desert

Iconic by Kaitlyn Wolfe

Contemporary home bar in Phoenix.

New Classic

Sanctuary Kitchen and Bath Design

Transitional home bar in Denver.

Secret Listening Room

Banner Day Interiors

Photo of an eclectic home bar in San Francisco.

Project The Best Bar None

m studio interior design

What once was a great room lacking purpose and meaning is now a redefined environment fit for fun conversation and entertaining. With a blank canvas, a single piece of art was used to serve as the inspirational driver for this bar design. A wall bump-out was incorporated to anchor the entire bar within the massive great room. Symmetrical balance was formed by use of mirrored open shelves flanking the central piece of artwork. Layers of subtle wall textures from the mother of pearl wallcovering to the washed porcelain tile offer dimension. The rich wooden tones of the millwork highlight the touch of ornamentation and not only contrast against the translucent appearance of the natural quartzite counter but ground the overall design amongst the existing travertine floor. To further compliment the lustrous tones from the art piece, hints of brass and gold are seen in the pendants, bar stool bases and the metal detail intersecting the wall shelves. A deep sage accent wall is introduced to further accentuate the space and create a moodier vibe. Sophistication paired with intriguing elements breathe new life into this transformed great room space.

Bar

Boston Counters

Cambria Portrush quartz and slate blue cabinets in a home wet bar area.
Contemporary single-wall wet bar in Boston with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, engineered quartz splashback, medium hardwood floors and multi-coloured benchtop.

ASC With A Slice of Glam

Amy Storm & Company

This is an example of a large transitional single-wall wet bar in Chicago with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and black benchtop.

Sleek Modern Pub Room

Stonewater Architecture & Interior Design

Striking, modern home bar with dark walls, marble accents, and gold tone hardware.
Beach style home bar in New York.

Rustic Bar for Entertainment

Haute Designs

Space for entertainment with plenty of smart storage.
Design ideas for a small country u-shaped wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, travertine splashback, vinyl floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Sundance

Laurie Demetrio Interiors

Transitional home bar in Chicago.

Butler's Pantry Liquor Pullout

Great Rooms Building Group

Design ideas for a mid-sized galley home bar in Chicago with no sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Transitional Home Renovation in Rockville, Maryland

Four Brothers Design + Build

Photo of a contemporary home bar in DC Metro.

SILL RESIDENCE

Tate Studio Architects

The bar area features a tiered counter for separate dining and prepping space. Architecture and Interior - Tate Studio Architects, Builder - Builders Showcase, Photography - Thompson Photographic.

OASIS AT HOME

Dona Rosene Interiors

Photo of a large transitional single-wall wet bar in Dallas with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, marble splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Bonita Springs Contemporary Kitchen, Living Room and Dry Bar Remodel

Progressive Design Build

New white Dura Supreme Highland Panel Plus cabinets were topped with beautiful Calacatta Laza Quartz – with its dramatic movement, milky white background, and soft brown veining. The clients chose a traditional clear mirror backsplash in lieu of tile that matched the dry bar and selected stunning Duverre cabinet hardware in satin nickel, which provided a silvery muted finish and coordinated well with the white cabinets.

Bunker Hill House

Flavin Architects

Modern Row House For this new home in Boston’s oldest neighborhood, Flavin Architects imagined an elegant structure that capitalizes on the natural light and beautiful views abundant in Charlestown. Our firm sought to respect the historic fabric of the city while designing for the 21st century. The façade, with its projecting two-story bay, divided windows and vertical proportions respect the adjacent urban pattern. Stripped down and elegant detailing, devoid of ornament, connects the structure to today’s modern Boston. The exterior combines cedar shingles and shiplap boards with jet mist granite. This dark grey exterior contrasts with a bright white interior washed with sunlight. Each floor is accessed by a stairwell illuminated by a Wasco skylight. Sunlight pours down and refracts through glass paneling run underneath a natural wood handrail down the stairwell. The dining room and adjacent sitting room are bathed in warmth and light from a double-sided fireplace. In the dining room, floor-to-ceiling windows open to the street, and frame a view of the stained glass windows in St. Mary’s Church. Above the bedrooms and master suite on the third floor, a rooftop deck provides our client with views of Charlestown, Boston, and the Bunker Hill Monument.

Home Bar Design Ideas

A 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 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 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 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.

Sleek Modern Dry Bar

Shepel Homes - Kitchen and Bath

This project repurposed a plain white closet into a convenient and dry bar cabinet that nails that modern look with its sophisticated warm black color. With elongated hexagon mirrors in the backsplash, light strips in the corners, and light beaming from the design, the lighting effect appears as if it is naturally well-lit. Modern style always requests sleek, current details, like a finger pull drawer. This Sleek Modern Dry Bar has a built-in fridge and drawers perfect for the wine setup. Last but not least, we also converted the door beside the sleek modern dry bar to a modern design accentuated by a glass. Door trims were removed, and we painted the door's jambs with warm black color that matches the modern dry bar awesomely, enhancing the sleek and modern look even further.