This is an example of a traditional l-shaped wet bar in Chicago with open cabinets, white cabinets, glass benchtops, white splashback and subway tile splashback.

African Wenge and Metal

Joseph and Curtis Custom Wine Cellars

CONTEMPORARY WINE CELLAR AND BAR WITH GLASS AND CHROME. STAINLESS STEEL BAR AND WINE RACKS AS WELL AS CLEAN AND SEXY DESIGN
Design ideas for a large contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in New York with glass benchtops, white splashback, dark hardwood floors and open cabinets.

Stillwater MN Entertainment Room

NORTH STAR KITCHENS

Builder: John Kraemer & Sons Photography: Landmark Photography Home & Interior Design: Tom Rauscher Cabinetry: North Star Kitchens
Contemporary seated home bar in Minneapolis with glass benchtops, porcelain floors, open cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

Basement & Joinery Work

GP Basement Building & Refurbishment

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall seated home bar in London with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, mirror splashback, carpet, beige floor and glass benchtops.

Beverly Hills Contemporary

Crespo Design Group

A modern home bar we custom designed for this Beverly Hills client. The exposed brick accent wall and aqua blue SoHo Concept bar stools stand out the most, while the other features are subtle but unique. With a double layered glass top table and custom designed acrylic shelving, the overall look is simple but powerful, colorful but clean. Home located in Beverly Hill, California. Designed by Florida-based interior design firm Crespo Design Group, who also serves Malibu, Tampa, New York City, the Caribbean, and other areas throughout the United States.

2018 Hinckley Custom Home

Otero Signature Homes

Large transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Columbus with an undermount sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, glass benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Westlake Modern

M the Builders

This is an example of a modern seated home bar in Dallas with glass benchtops, medium wood cabinets and open cabinets.

Kaanapali Residence

ARQUITECTURA

Architect- Marc Taron Contractor- Trendbuilders Interior Designer- Wagner Pacific Landscape Architect- Irvin Higashi
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional galley seated home bar in Hawaii with an undermount sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, glass benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, porcelain floors and beige floor.

Bel Air Beauty

BuildAppeal Design & Remodel

This is an example of a large contemporary single-wall seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, black cabinets, glass benchtops and porcelain floors.

The Soho Loft

Jennifer Connell Design

This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall bar cart in New York with no sink, open cabinets, black cabinets and glass benchtops.

Westport Residence

LR Lerner Architecture PC

LR Lerner Architecture PC
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped seated home bar in New York with open cabinets, glass benchtops, grey splashback and medium hardwood floors.

ELMWOOD FINE CUSTOM CABINETRY

GT Kitchen & Bath Design Studio

WINE ROOM - WINE RACK
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern l-shaped seated home bar in Toronto with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, glass benchtops and carpet.

O2 Belltown - Model Room #1101, Seattle, WA

Belltown Design LLC

What better place than the sitting area for a bar cart? This lovely piece came from Arteriors Home and can be moved as it is on casters. O2 Belltown - Model Room #1101, Seattle, WA, Belltown Design, Photography by Paula McHugh

MIAMI BEACH HOME

User

Photo of a contemporary galley wet bar in Miami with open cabinets, glass benchtops, mirror splashback and white floor.

Trump Palace

Michael Wolk Design Associates

Soft, gossamer thin curtains by MWS Drapery filter the sunlight that streams through the large windows. Butterscotch bar stools sit adjacent to the elegant bar area, perfect for entertaining.

Midcentury Remix

Brooke Kelly Design Studio

This is an example of a small midcentury single-wall seated home bar in Other with open cabinets, white cabinets, glass benchtops, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Vauxhall Apartment

Eleanor Baines Photography

Eleanor Baines Photography
Photo of a contemporary bar cart in London with open cabinets, glass benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Home bar with barstools

Mark Ransom

A 1970s Italian bar and stools suite, by the esteemed luxury Milanese furniture company Rossi di Albizzate, the circular bar upholstered in vellum throughout, the serving surface with glass panels, open at the back each of the four stools as a padded tub with raised circular metal footrest, with built in record player sound system and speakers, doors opening on the inside for storage.

The 500 Loft

ID EXCLUSIVE

Design ideas for a small modern single-wall home bar with open cabinets, glass benchtops, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Gateway Contemporary

Archetype Design Studio, LLC

Massery Photography, Inc.
Design ideas for a large eclectic u-shaped seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, glass benchtops, limestone floors and open cabinets.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Open Cabinets and Glass 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.