A standard approach to kitchen design was not an option for this glamorous open-plan living area. Instead, an intricate bar sits front of house, with attractive and practical kitchen space tucked in behind.

Purple Accent Design

Freestyle Interiors

Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in Miami with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Chestnut Hill

Annie Hall Interiors

Michael Lee
Photo of a small transitional single-wall wet bar in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, black splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, soapstone benchtops and mirror splashback.

Green Oaks Renovation

Briggs Design Associates, Inc.

Alex Claney Photography Glazed Cherry cabinets anchor one end of a large family room remodel. The clients entertain their large extended family and many friends often. Moving and expanding this wet bar to a new location allows the owners to host parties that can circulate away from the kitchen to a comfortable seating area in the family room area. Thie client did not want to store wine or liquor in the open, so custom drawers were created to neatly and efficiently store the beverages out of site.

Castlebay Home

Ellecor Design & Gifts by Haden Long

Design ideas for a large midcentury single-wall seated home bar in Other with flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, ceramic floors and an undermount sink.

Hudnell Basement

Kircher Design & Build

Design ideas for a large transitional galley seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, porcelain floors and brown floor.

Roswell Renovation

Trademark Building Company

Mimi Erickson
Photo of a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Atlanta with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets and distressed cabinets.

Acreage Bayside

Robbins Contracting

Photo of a small arts and crafts single-wall home bar in Denver with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Westwood Modern Mountain

Hendel Homes

This is an example of a country seated home bar in Minneapolis with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, light hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

The Hamilton

Iron Forest Building Company

TammiTPhotography
Small country single-wall wet bar in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, linoleum floors and brown floor.

Meadow Ridge Modern Remodel

Vivid Interior Design - Danielle Loven

Nor-Son Custom Builders Alyssa Lee Photography
Inspiration for an expansive transitional galley wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Craftsman Basement Bar

Meyer Design

Enjoy Entertaining? Consider adding a bar to your basement and other entertainment spaces. The black farmhouse sink is a unique addition to this bar! Meyer Design

The Ultimate Man Cave

Capstone Custom Builders

Michael Duerinckx
Inspiration for a large transitional seated home bar in Phoenix with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops and stone slab splashback.

Kilpatrick Basement

Kristina Kilpatrick

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern u-shaped wet bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and ceramic floors.

A Chef's Craftsman Kitchen

Moxie Design Studio, LLC

Interior Design: Moxie Design Studio LLC Architect: Stephanie Espinoza Construction: Pankow Construction
This is an example of a large transitional home bar in Phoenix with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, travertine floors, brown splashback and matchstick tile splashback.

5650 Comstock

NIH Homes

Spacecrafting
Design ideas for a large traditional home bar in Minneapolis with glass-front cabinets, distressed cabinets, matchstick tile splashback, carpet and beige floor.

Kitchen/ dry bar

Geneva Cabinet Gallery

Traditional kitchen design: Tori Johnson AKBD at Geneva Cabinet Gallery RAHOKANSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Mid-sized traditional wet bar in Chicago with granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, dark hardwood floors, no sink, recessed-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Del Sur Country House Wine Bar

McCullough Design Development, Inc.

This wine bar located in the formal entry room has an authentic "Wine Cellar" feel due to the stone veneer wall and lighting touches, yet has every convenience at hand, including the cooler. Photo by FlashitFirst.com

Fort Lauderdale

Dynamic Designs Furniture

Photo of a tropical u-shaped seated home bar in Miami with dark hardwood floors, recessed-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Open Kitchen Transformation in Bloomfield Hills, MI

MainStreet Design Build

Complementing the kitchen island, a custom cherry bar complete with refrigeration, an ice maker, and a petite bar sink becomes the go-to spot for crafting cocktails.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Distressed Cabinets and Dark Wood Cabinets

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.