Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | Meg Mulloy, Photography | Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For info about our work: design@oharainteriors.com

Historic Home Renovation & Addition

Joy Martin Architecture

Inspiration for a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops and mirror splashback.

Point Loma Casita

Ike Kligerman Barkley

William Waldron
Inspiration for a midcentury single-wall seated home bar in New York with an undermount sink, open cabinets, solid surface benchtops, light hardwood floors, beige floor and mirror splashback.

Clairemont Whole House Renovation

Terracotta Design Build

Jeff Herr
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary home bar in Atlanta with black cabinets, marble benchtops, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, white benchtop and glass-front cabinets.

Stunning dark and moody bar

Broswick Builders Ltd

A sneaky little home bar is hidden behind this monochromatic kitchen.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern galley home bar in Auckland with black cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Windsor Square Residence - Photos by David Phelps Photography

Tommy Chambers Interiors, Inc.

Design ideas for a traditional galley seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, blue cabinets, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Movie and Bar Basement

Harbour Towne Construction

This rustic basement bar and tv room invites any guest to kick up their feet and enjoy!
This is an example of a small country galley seated home bar in Atlanta with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Timber Frame Home - Meadow Creek Residence

PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes-Southwest Idaho

Colorful bottles and fun chandeliers add character to this exciting home bar. PrecisionCraft Log & Timber Homes. Image Copyright: Longviews Studios, Inc

Skyway Belvedere

ECHT-ARCHITECTS

Looking across the bay at the Skyway Bridge, this small remodel has big views. The scope includes re-envisioning the ground floor living area into a contemporary, open-concept Great Room, with Kitchen, Dining, and Bar areas encircled. The interior architecture palette combines monochromatic elements with punches of walnut and streaks of gold. New broad sliding doors open out to the rear terrace, seamlessly connecting the indoor and outdoor entertaining areas. With lots of light and an ethereal aesthetic, this neomodern beach house renovation exemplifies the ease and sophisitication originally envisioned by the client.

Walnut Kitchen

Sanctuary Kitchen and Bath Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped home bar in Denver with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, porcelain floors, white benchtop, mirror splashback and grey floor.

Hidden Lake

Amy Storm & Company

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall home bar in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Lawrence

AHD&Co

Photo of a small transitional galley wet bar in New York with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, yellow splashback, mirror splashback, vinyl floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Hickory Hill | Rustic Modern Cottage

Vision Interiors

This cozy lake cottage skillfully incorporates a number of features that would normally be restricted to a larger home design. A glance of the exterior reveals a simple story and a half gable running the length of the home, enveloping the majority of the interior spaces. To the rear, a pair of gables with copper roofing flanks a covered dining area and screened porch. Inside, a linear foyer reveals a generous staircase with cascading landing. Further back, a centrally placed kitchen is connected to all of the other main level entertaining spaces through expansive cased openings. A private study serves as the perfect buffer between the homes master suite and living room. Despite its small footprint, the master suite manages to incorporate several closets, built-ins, and adjacent master bath complete with a soaker tub flanked by separate enclosures for a shower and water closet. Upstairs, a generous double vanity bathroom is shared by a bunkroom, exercise space, and private bedroom. The bunkroom is configured to provide sleeping accommodations for up to 4 people. The rear-facing exercise has great views of the lake through a set of windows that overlook the copper roof of the screened porch below.

Manhasset Charm

True North Development

Photo of a traditional single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Lakeview Orono Home

Swanson Homes

Spacecrafting Photography
This is an example of a large transitional galley seated home bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, mirror splashback, ceramic floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Uptown Brownstone 2

Mowery Marsh Architects LLC

A fresh and inviting bar space was added to the basement level to offer a lovely spot to entertain next to the Media Room. A mirrored backsplash with steel & glass shelving, and discreet LED lighting brighten this space that otherwise been dark at the lower level. Photo Credit: Blackstock Photography

Garrison Road Remodel

Roomscapes Cabinetry and Design Center

Photo of a small traditional single-wall home bar in Boston with no sink, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, mirror splashback and grey benchtop.

Fun Midcentury Bar

Design One Cabinetry

Floating shelves with integrated lighting work with the mirrors to keep the display area open and bright. Orange was a signature color of Frank Sinatra, one of the original "Rat Pack" celebrities who lived, played (and drank) in Palm Springs!

FLA3, Private Residence NYC by Stefania Skrabak, Art Home Garden

Planika Fires

This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped seated home bar in New York with mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Providence Country Club Attic

DiFabion Remodeling, Inc.

Multi-faceted custom attic renovation including a guest suite w/ built-in Murphy beds and private bath, and a fully equipped entertainment room with a full bar.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Mirror Splashback

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.