Home Bar/Rec Room
Photo of a large beach style l-shaped seated home bar in Boston with medium wood cabinets, zinc benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Ashdale Lane

Mark Langos Interior Design

Photo: Meghan Bob Photo
Photo of a mid-sized country galley seated home bar in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, medium wood cabinets, zinc benchtops, grey benchtop and light hardwood floors.

Acoustic Barn - Redding

Blansfield Builders, Inc.

Jim Fuhrmann
Inspiration for a large country u-shaped seated home bar in New York with light hardwood floors, dark wood cabinets, an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, zinc benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback and beige floor.

Old Lyme Coastal Casual

Covenant Kitchens & Baths, Inc.

Photo of a home bar in Boston with zinc benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, light hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

Extreme Renovation

Young & Borlik Architects, inc.

A home office was converted into a full service sports bar. A large temperature controlled wine cellar is the backdrop. Walls are covered in brick arches and herringbone, while floors are soft tile pavers. This room has space to seat 20. It has three televisions, a refrigerated wine room, a fireplace and even a secret door. The ceiling tiles are authentic stamped tin. Behind the counter are taps for two kegs, soda machine, custom ice makers, glass chillers and a full professional service bar.

Parade of Homes 2014 Grand Hacienda Award Winner

Annie O'Carroll Interior Design

Photo by Wendy McEahern
Photo of a mid-sized galley wet bar in Albuquerque with open cabinets, zinc benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Church Road, Barnes

Catherine White Interiors

Darren Palmer - Traffic Jam Studio
Large modern single-wall wet bar in London with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, zinc benchtops, black splashback and light hardwood floors.

PH Lounge Chair and Lounge table at Furniture Villa

PH Furniture

In 1932, the minimalist design and elegant lines of these pieces began to transform spaces all over Denmark. Equally at home in nearly any room or setting, the single piece of bent steel in this PH Lounge Chair supports and puts you at ease in your body.

Home Bar

Fratantoni Interior Designers

This Italian Villa home bar features a built-in barback with bar seating for four.
Design ideas for an expansive mediterranean single-wall seated home bar in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, zinc benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Mountain Contemporary Residence

Skinnyfish Architects

MOUNTAIN CONTEMPORARY RESIDENCE View from Bar through Kitchen and Breakfast beyond Charles Engelbert Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary galley home bar in Denver with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, zinc benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Basement bar

Mio Metals

This home bar is over the top for wine lovers! Zinc countertops by Mio Metals. Learn more at ZincCountertops.net
This is an example of an expansive eclectic l-shaped wet bar in Minneapolis with dark wood cabinets, zinc benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Summer colors for Little Compton Retreat

Betsy Powers Interiors

Betsy Powers
Photo of a contemporary home bar in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, zinc benchtops, glass sheet splashback and light hardwood floors.

Church Road, Barnes

Catherine White Interiors

Darren Palmer - Traffic Jam Studio
This is an example of a large modern single-wall wet bar in London with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, zinc benchtops, black splashback and light hardwood floors.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Zinc Benchtops and Light Hardwood Floors

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.