Traditional home bar in Charlotte.

Design ideas for a small transitional single-wall wet bar in St Louis with quartz benchtops, grey splashback, a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets and subway tile splashback.

Portland Italian themed Rec Room

Sherrie Lynn Harries

The cabinets in this kitchen/bar are stained maple with a porcelain tile counter and a composite granite sink. It is done in a Transitional style. Some elements of which are Traditional and some more Mediterranean. The Bar includes a fridge and wine cooler. The center top cabinets are antique glass with lighting behind them. photos by Eben Waggoner

Find the right local pro for your project

Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz

Summer Lovin'

Mark Tanner Construction, Inc

This is an example of a home bar in Other.

Modern French Provincial

NEWLOOK Development

This is an example of a modern home bar in Chicago.

English Country - Wichert Spec 1

Impluvium Architecture

Impluvium Architecture Location: El Dorado Hills, CA, USA This is one of many Houses I designed in Serrano in El Dorado Hills, California. I was the Architect and helped coordinate with various sub-contractors. I also co-designed the project with various consultants including Interior and Landscape Design This project was a challenge with the high end finishes and dormers of the English Country Style while keeping it on-budget as a Spec House

Bonus Room Addition - Argyle Building Co.

Cat Wilborne Photography

Cat Wilborne Photography Argyle Building Co.
Photo of a country home bar in Raleigh.

Biltmore Forest Historic Restoration

Judd Builders

Ryan Theede
Design ideas for a traditional home bar in Other.

Bachelor Pad in the Canyon

R-Squared Design

When you are a bachelor and you live in a big ole' house, why not turn the formal living room into a billiards room/cigar lounge? What was once a "blah" white-painted brick fireplace now has a little "edge" courtesy of a coat of black paint. A big screen t.v. for hockey games, leather chairs, a wide variety of scotch, Cuban cigars and a vintage pool table provide the perfect setting for a party. The room is an odd "L" shape, so there wasn't much of an option aside from putting in a pool table. At least, that's what we convinced ourselves of. And "no", that's not a real ivory tusk on the mantel. It's fake and made of many pieces of bone.

Home Renovation - North Vancouver

Goldcon Construction

Beautiful Three Bedroom, Three Bath North Vancouver Home Renovation To The Studs And Top Floor Addition Project Featuring An Open Concept Living And Kitchen Area, Beautiful Entertainment Area On The Lower Floor, And A Fully Landscape Back Yard Including A Spacious Hot Tub. The Finishes Include High End Custom Cabinetry & Millwork, Stone Surround Fireplaces, Marble Tile In The Kitchen & Bathrooms, Cambrian Black Leather Granite Counter-tops, Hand Scraped Engineered Oak Hardwood Through Out, LED Lighting, and Fresh Custom Designer Paint Through Out. North Vancouver Home Builder Goldcon Construction.

Lush Luminescence

JAQUE

Spacecrafting
Contemporary seated home bar in Minneapolis with multi-coloured splashback and carpet.

Kentucky Basement Project

All Things Design, Inc

Photo of a contemporary home bar in Tampa.

Squak Mountain Residence

User

This is an example of an arts and crafts home bar in Seattle.

Living room

Mia Karlsson Interior Design Ltd

Photo of a contemporary home bar in London.

Huntington - Modern Home I

Paul Allen Homes

Contemporary home bar in Austin.

Keller

NIH Homes

Spacecrafting
Inspiration for a transitional home bar in Minneapolis.

Entire Home Design 2010

Lori Jolin Design, LLC.

Bar/Entertaining area of a basement includes unique countertop with ample seating and appliances.
This is an example of an eclectic u-shaped home bar in Milwaukee with black cabinets, quartz benchtops, light hardwood floors and red benchtop.

Annapolis Project

Mitch Allen Photography

AS THE PHOTOGRAPHER I DON'T KNOW PAINT COLORS OR PRODUCTS SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE Builders: Gate One Builders Mitch Allen Photography
This is an example of a traditional home bar in Baltimore.

Pub Basement Project

Midwest Construction Company of Barrington Inc

Brian Koch
Inspiration for a country home bar in Chicago.

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.

San Antonio Parade of Homes

Haven Design and Construction

Custom Cabinetry Design: Jana Valdez, Custom Homebuilder: Artis Lux
Photo of a transitional home bar in Austin.