Photo of a mid-sized country l-shaped seated home bar in Detroit with no sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops and porcelain floors.

This is What Kitchen Dreams are Made Of

EdgeWork Design Build

This is an example of a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with no sink, glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

23rd Street

Wyant Architecture

Kitchen bar cabinetry with pull-out dog gate. Photo: Jeffrey Totaro.
Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall home bar in Philadelphia with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, timber splashback, porcelain floors and grey floor.

Chicago - Erie St.

Bobbi Packer Designs

Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall wet bar in Chicago with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, light hardwood floors and brown floor.

West Lake Gem

Heller Construction, Inc.

Photo of a contemporary home bar in Other with no sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, limestone splashback, light hardwood floors, grey floor and beige benchtop.

This is What Kitchen Dreams are Made Of

EdgeWork Design Build

Small traditional single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with no sink, glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

LaGrange Whole House Remodel - By Leslie Lee at Normandy Remodeling

Leslie Lee

Mid-sized transitional single-wall home bar in Chicago with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Home Bar & Entertainment Room

LNDesigns

Design ideas for a small contemporary l-shaped seated home bar in Hampshire with no sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, carpet, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Boatwright Road 2

SHELTER Custom-Built Living

Photo of a small modern single-wall home bar in Charleston with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

2015 Homearama Spring Farm Lakes House #3

Cherry House, Inc.

This is an example of a large transitional galley seated home bar in Louisville with no sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, stone slab splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Mid-Century Renovation

Ducy Design

This kitchen renovation features custom rift white oak cabinetry and painted cabinetry in Benjamin Moore Narragansett Green HC-157. The slab cabinet doors and drawers with concealed pulls creates a clean minimalist look with beautiful horizontal tile. This kitchen uses an interesting mixture of metal finishes including a custom copper hood and back splash with other black accents. Seating was maximized with the use of a custom wood banquette. The use of specialty inserts such as a pot and pan pullout, peg drawers for dishes, cutlery divider, oil and spice pullouts ensure that everything has its proper place and maximized functional storage.

Home Bar Design Ideas with No Sink and Light 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.