With Summer on its way, having a home bar is the perfect setting to host a gathering with family and friends, and having a functional and totally modern home bar will allow you to do so!

Sienna Bordeaux, Midlothian

Capitol Granite LLC

Mid-sized country l-shaped wet bar in Richmond with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Painted Brick Transitional on the Green

Wyrick Residential Design

Photo of a mid-sized beach style u-shaped wet bar in Houston with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Transitional Remodel

Sanning Construction LLC

Photo of a small transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Other with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Storybrook Wet-bar

Currier Kitchens & Baths

Design ideas for a large country galley home bar in Boston with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, light hardwood floors and grey splashback.

Storm Grey Kitchen

White Wood Kitchens

This storm grey kitchen on Cape Cod was designed by Gail of White Wood Kitchens. The cabinets are all plywood with soft close hinges made by UltraCraft Cabinetry. The doors are a Lauderdale style constructed from Red Birch with a Storm Grey stained finish. The island countertop is a Fantasy Brown granite while the perimeter of the kitchen is an Absolute Black Leathered. The wet bar has a Thunder Grey Silestone countertop. The island features shelves for cookbooks and there are many unique storage features in the kitchen and the wet bar to optimize the space and functionality of the kitchen. Builder: Barnes Custom Builders

Panasuk

State Interiors Custom Cabinetry & Design

Design ideas for a small transitional single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, carpet and brown floor.

DS Chicago to Birmingham

Amy Storm & Company

Joe Kwon Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional seated home bar in Chicago with dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, ceramic floors, recessed-panel cabinets and grey floor.

Shallow Depth Floating Shelves made with reclaimed wood

Denise Quade Design

A bar was built in to the side of this family room to showcase the homeowner's Bourbon collection. Reclaimed wood was used to add texture to the wall and the same wood was used to create the custom shelves. A bar sink and paneled beverage center provide the functionality the room needs. The paneling on the other walls are all original to the home.

Colorado Entertainment Basement

HŌM Solutions, Inc.

Phil Wegener Photography
Mid-sized traditional single-wall wet bar in Denver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and travertine floors.

Man Cave

Daniel Manning

Photo by Everett Regal http://eregalstudio.com/
Photo of a large country l-shaped wet bar in New York with granite benchtops, porcelain floors, brown floor, dark wood cabinets and recessed-panel cabinets.

Wetbar

CMM Custom Homes

David Lau, Jason Lusardi, Architect
Inspiration for a beach style single-wall wet bar in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops and light hardwood floors.

WATERWAY INTRACOASTAL HOME

Waterview Kitchens

Jack Bates Photography
Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops and porcelain floors.

Wills Company Nashville Kitchens

Wills Company

Wiff Harmer
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional single-wall wet bar in Nashville with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback and light hardwood floors.

706 Deertrail

Patrick Plunkett Architectural Design, Ltd.

Exterior Covered Pool house bar area. Groin vaulted masonry ceiling. Outdoor TV's on back stone wall of bar area. Outdoor grill and kitchen.
Photo of a large traditional galley seated home bar in Chicago with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stone tile splashback and slate floors.

Rustic Basement Bar

Capital Granite Inc

Burano Leathered Granite - Kitchen Countertops
This is an example of a large country seated home bar in Other with recessed-panel cabinets, granite benchtops, medium wood cabinets and grey floor.

The Ultimate Man Cave

Metke Remodeling & Luxury Homes

Quartz and textured granite countertops provide a sophisticated feel while allowing for ease of maintenance after those late night poker parties. A retractable exterior door system can be fully-pocketed to provide great integration of the indoor & outdoor spaces.

Creek home

Felder & Associates

After, photo by Gretchen Callejas
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts single-wall wet bar in Other with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Basement Custom Bar

That Design Studio

Photo of a large traditional wet bar with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback and porcelain floors.

Ravello II

User

Design ideas for a large transitional single-wall wet bar in Orlando with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Recessed-panel Cabinets and Granite Benchtops

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.