white oak coffee station built-in cabinet
Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall wet bar in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone slab splashback and multi-coloured benchtop.

Residence in Taos

Henry Architects

bar
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern single-wall wet bar in Albuquerque with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, grey splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Monogram Parade

American Kitchen Cabinets

Small transitional single-wall home bar in Sacramento with recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Menlo Park Project

Supple Homes, Inc

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped seated home bar in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Gallery

HTS Systems

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, concrete floors and grey floor.

Forest Rustic/Modern Farmhouse

Oakley Home Builders

This is an example of a mid-sized country galley seated home bar in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback and light hardwood floors.

DJ equipment

Red Studio Furniture

Design ideas for a mid-sized l-shaped wet bar in London with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and brown benchtop.

Idlewild Contemporary

DW Distinctive Properties

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback and light hardwood floors.

Wet Bar

Kingswood Kitchens

Design ideas for a small traditional l-shaped wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, mirror splashback and light hardwood floors.

Completed Projects

Jones Cabinet Shop

This is an example of a small mediterranean single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Art Deco Design

Landmark Kitchen & Bath Design

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped wet bar in Chicago with glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and ceramic floors.

Turkey Farm

Akar ARchiTecture

Farshid Assassi
Mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in Cedar Rapids with an undermount sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, mirror splashback, marble floors and black floor.

Modern Basement Bar

R & R Custom Carpentry & Cabinetry

The mirrors behind the bar are not the typical silver backed ones. These are black mirrors. They do not reflect as much as the normal silver ones.
Photo of a large modern u-shaped seated home bar in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

Beacon Loft

Elizabeth Strianese Interiors LLC

Photography by Meredith Heuer
Mid-sized modern single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

CPS Kitchen/Pantry Alteration

Lilian H. Weinreich, Architects

© Francis Dzikowski
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, light hardwood floors and solid surface benchtops.

Menlo Park Project

Supple Homes, Inc

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped seated home bar in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Modern Basement Bar

R & R Custom Carpentry & Cabinetry

Here is a modern style bar fully equipped with a sink, mini fridge and an ice maker. This space includes solid Maple cabinets with granite tops and solid maple free floating shelves. The custom shelves have LED lighting built in to the front edge to provide accent lighting behind the bar. The main bar has a curved wall with a curved top. The bar also features stainless steel uprights and base trim along with a custom curved footrail.

Kitchens

Lori Dennis, ASID, LEED AP

A stunning Basement Home Bar and Wine Room, complete with a Wet Bar and Curved Island with seating for 5. Beautiful glass teardrop shaped pendants cascade from the back wall.

Modern Winter Park

FG Schaub Custom Homes

Tiffany Findley
Photo of a large contemporary single-wall wet bar in Orlando with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Home Bar

Donna Guyler Design

Home Bar, Cabinetry and Joinery design by Donna Guyler Design
Photo of a mid-sized scandinavian single-wall home bar in Gold Coast - Tweed with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, mirror splashback and vinyl floors.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Light Wood Cabinets and Solid Surface 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.