This stand-alone custom wet bar is wonderful for entertaining and features a built-in beverage fridge and wine fridge. William Manning Photography
Inspiration for a traditional single-wall wet bar in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, brown splashback, timber splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Colorado Serenity

Tiffany Homes

Photo of a mid-sized country galley seated home bar in Denver with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, copper benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback, concrete floors and brown floor.

Hideout Canyon

Tall Pines Construction

Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall wet bar in Salt Lake City with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback and porcelain floors.

Full Home Remodel in Surprise AZ

Todd Whittaker Drywall Inc.

This home bar fits perfectly in an under utilized great room niche featuring a dedicated area for wine, coffee and other specialty beverages. Ed Russell Photography.

Tuscan Inspired Home in Paradise Valley

La Casa Builders Inc.

Dino Tonn Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean l-shaped wet bar in Phoenix with dark wood cabinets, raised-panel cabinets, concrete benchtops, beige splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and stone tile splashback.

Great Falls Home Bar

Cedar Forest Cabinetry & Millwork

This client had an existing wall of cabinets that he wanted to integrate into a new bar in the basement of his home. However, he did not want to do the same color cabinetry all around the space. So we had all the new cabinetry made in cherry with a Shale Truetone and pewter glaze. Then to make the existing cabinetry tie in, we had the Chicago Bar rail top make and stained to the shade of the existing cabinetry. With all the detail work that Vince from Still Waters did, this came out perfectly!

Villanova Kitchen

Stimmel Consulting Group

Design ideas for a large country u-shaped seated home bar in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Custom Whiskey Bar & Other Custom Work | Edmonton, AB

Scott Arthur Millwork & Cabinetry Ltd

Design ideas for a large country u-shaped seated home bar in Edmonton with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Broadmoor

Schoener

Walnut wet bar done by Wood-Mode with LED lit glass displays. Classic corbels and wood paneled back with an arabesque bordered backsplash. Hammered undermount sink with a gold Rohl faucet. Built in wine fridge and paneled ice maker in lower cabinets.

Pennsylvania Exotic Home

Avanti Marble & Granite Inc.

Rainforest brown floor with backlit onyx bar top
Photo of a large traditional galley seated home bar in DC Metro with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and brown floor.

Wine Room Collection

Roger Turk/Northlight Photography

Roger Turk/Northlight Photography
This is an example of a traditional single-wall wet bar in Seattle with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback and beige floor.

Billiard Room Refreshment Center

Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets

Custom designed refreshment center for billiards room. Materials: Belgian Chocolate Thermally Fused Laminate with Thermofoil fronts and high-pressure laminate countertop. Designed, manufactured and installed by Valet Custom Cabinets - Campbell, CA. Special thanks to homeowners for allowing us to photograph.

Bar with Wine Storage

The Kitchen and Bath Gallery, Inc

The entertainment center, paneled walls, and the bar cabinetry are the same knotty alder finish. The upper bar countertop is Mombassa granite with a 6cm laminated full bullnose edge. Photograph by Patrick Wherritt.

Transitional

Candelaria Design Associates

Photo of a large traditional single-wall wet bar in Phoenix with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Hasse Lower Level

Rebecca Ryan Design

Photo of a country u-shaped home bar in Minneapolis with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, grey splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Traditional Home Bar

This is an example of a traditional single-wall wet bar in Charleston with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, dark hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Chimney Rock Residence

Locati Architects

Roger Wade Studio
Design ideas for a country seated home bar in Other with dark hardwood floors, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops and brown benchtop.

Classic New Construction

Castle Design

Alise O'Brien Photography
Inspiration for a traditional galley seated home bar in St Louis with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, carpet, white floor and brown benchtop.

Basement Bar

Cyclone Contracting Corp

K&E Productions
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mirror splashback, vinyl floors and grey floor.

The Back Road

Talie Jane Interiors

Brad Scott Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized country galley seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, onyx benchtops, grey splashback, metal splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and green benchtop.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Raised-panel Cabinets and Dark 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.