Jack Brennan
This is an example of a small transitional l-shaped wet bar in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets and concrete benchtops.

Modern Rustic Bar

Karen B Wolf Interiors, Associate ASID

JM Lifestyles Concrete, Nancy Coutts Metalwork, C Garibaldi Photography,
Photo of a small country single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, distressed cabinets, concrete benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, metal splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Gull Lake 1 - Bar

Lands End Development - Designers & Builders

Photo of a large traditional galley seated home bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, louvered cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, slate splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Bar next to media room

KuDa Photography

Private residence. Photo by KuDa Photography
Photo of a large industrial galley seated home bar in Las Vegas with distressed cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, dark hardwood floors and black floor.

Custom Basement Remodel | Hickory

Jay Miller General Contractors, Inc.

Custom Basement Renovation | Hickory | Custom Bar
Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped seated home bar in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone slab splashback and light hardwood floors.

Ultimate Basement Man Cave Renovation

Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc

Gardner/Fox created this clients' ultimate man cave! What began as an unfinished basement is now 2,250 sq. ft. of rustic modern inspired joy! The different amenities in this space include a wet bar, poker, billiards, foosball, entertainment area, 3/4 bath, sauna, home gym, wine wall, and last but certainly not least, a golf simulator. To create a harmonious rustic modern look the design includes reclaimed barnwood, matte black accents, and modern light fixtures throughout the space.

Leathered Titanium Granite Bar

Boston Counters

Leathered Titanium granite home bar in Natick, MA.
Design ideas for a country home bar in Boston with glass-front cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback and black benchtop.

French Villa Phoenix Residential Architects

Fratantoni Design / Residential Architects

Drinking by our architects is for sure prohibited but sometimes it might help when trying to solve some of the most difficult problems faced by Phoenix residential architects! Sometimes an luxury house designer can get so involved in their design that they lose track of time.

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.

Abbey Birmingham Michigan

PRM Custom Builders

Inspiration for a large country wet bar in Detroit with distressed cabinets, marble benchtops, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Rustic Home Bar

Design ideas for a small country single-wall wet bar in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, slate floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Transitional-150505

Rice Residential Design

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped wet bar in Houston with shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets, timber splashback and grey floor.

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.

The Cottage

Parkyn Design

Rustic home bar.
Photo of a mid-sized country galley seated home bar in Toronto with medium hardwood floors, wood benchtops, glass-front cabinets, distressed cabinets, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Industrial Basement

JR Custom Living

Inspiration for an industrial galley seated home bar in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, brown splashback, brick splashback, medium hardwood floors and grey floor.

Bordley

Thompson Custom Homes

Photographer: Steve Chenn
Design ideas for a mediterranean single-wall wet bar in Houston with terra-cotta floors, an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets and orange floor.

Bay Lake Project

Big Wood Timber Frames, Inc.

Design ideas for a country single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets and brown benchtop.

European Cottage

Pillar Homes

Builder: Pillar Homes - Photography: Landmark Photography
Inspiration for a large traditional wet bar in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, medium hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

Unwined Guest Living

LMOH Home

A lake-side guest house is designed to transition from everyday living to hot-spot entertaining. The eclectic environment accommodates jam sessions, friendly gatherings, wine clubs and relaxed evenings watching the sunset while perched at the wine bar. Shown in this photo: guest house, wine bar, wine fridge, kitchen, wine barrel table, custom copper tabletop, stacking ant chairs, oxidized metal pendant lights, clients accessories, finishing touches designed by LMOH Home. | Photography Joshua Caldwell.

Rustic Barnwood Bar

Gooding Carpentry LTD

Photo of a country home bar in Edmonton with distressed cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback, laminate floors and brown benchtop.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Distressed 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.