Corey Gaffer
Photo of a traditional galley wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Mixed Transitional

Vanguard Studio Inc.

This is an example of a mediterranean seated home bar in Austin with open cabinets, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Traditional Wine Cellar

Photo of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Miami with marble floors, recessed-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

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Stairway Wine Nook

Sneller Custom Homes and Remodeling, LLC

Photo of a transitional single-wall home bar in Houston with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Living Room In-Home Bar

Fratantoni Interior Designers

This French Villa wet bar features unique wall art above the fully stocked glass shelving for beverages. Three silver velvet bar stools match the steel-colored countertops adding to the overall industrial look of the bar.

Repurposed Dining to Wine Bar

Gingerwood

Repurposing an unused Dining Room transformed prime square footage into an inviting “wine bar” with custom pieces, plush fabrics and textures to create conversational groupings for a fun and functional entertaining space. Jerry Hayes Photography

Woodway Interior House Remodel

Northlight Custom Builders, LLC

Mid-sized country single-wall home bar in Seattle with glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

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Hamptons Woodfield Country Club Addition and Remodel

NMB Custom Homes & Renovations

Photo of a transitional seated home bar in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Cord Shiflet Modern Mediterranean

Cord Shiflet

Inspiration for a mediterranean u-shaped seated home bar in Austin with dark hardwood floors, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and mosaic tile splashback.

West 76th Street

1625 DB

Inspiration for a contemporary single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, light hardwood floors, beige floor and white benchtop.

Interior Renovation

Cardello Architects

Inspiration for a traditional seated home bar in New York with medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Enchanting Countryside European Estate

Linda Sansone & Associates

Mediterranean u-shaped seated home bar in San Diego with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Elegant Sanctuary Home - Omaha, NE

Eurowood Cabinets, Inc

Photos by Amoura Productions, Custom Cabinetry by Eurowood Cabinets. Home built by Arjay Builders.
Photo of a traditional galley seated home bar in Omaha with raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets and brown splashback.

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.