Home Bar, Whitewater Lane, Photography by David Patterson
This is an example of a large country single-wall wet bar in Denver with an integrated sink, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, subway tile splashback, slate floors, grey floor, white benchtop, shaker cabinets and green splashback.

Home Bar/Game Room

Carver Creek Woodworks

Unique pine-crafted bar area/game room. Brings a warm feel to this basement!
Mid-sized modern seated home bar in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Cove Neck Kitchen

Packard Cabinetry of Sea Cliff

the bar transitioning from the kitchen to the formal dining room was visible coming down the hallway from the front foyer so it had to reflect the antiques in the home and stand on its own. ---Matthew Adam Photography

Ski Barn

Vermont Barns

Reclaimed wood bar in recreation and game room above garage and ski tuning area.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Suncadia Mountain Retreat

Ben Trogdon Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Seattle with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, matchstick tile splashback, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Casas Adobes Renovation

Desert Earth and Wood, LLC

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and terra-cotta floors.

Lancaster Modern Rooms

Stimmel Consulting Group

This is an example of a small modern single-wall wet bar in Philadelphia with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, light hardwood floors and purple benchtop.

Pandemic Playroom on the Peninsula

Sabrina Alfin Interiors

Detail shot of horizontal-grain walnut cabinetry and waterfall counter edge.
Photo of a large modern galley wet bar in San Francisco with dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and beige benchtop.

Verdant Drive

Renovations Group Inc

An integrated panel hides the ice maker, while a glass-front beverage refrigerator makes it easy for guests to serve themselves. Slate subway tiles laid vertically mimic the panes in the adjacent cabinetry, while incorporating natural tones of the stone fireplace and kitchen backsplash.

At-home bar

Creation Cabinetry

Here is an up close photo of the pillars that surround the seating in the living area portion of the room. As you can see, the pillars, and stone and brick that it rests upon, are as elegant as the rest of the room.

Garcia Residence, Oakland Hills, CA

Komorous Towey Architects

Small transitional single-wall wet bar in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, mirror splashback, beige floor and white benchtop.

Home Bar/Game Room

Carver Creek Woodworks

Unique pine-crafted bar area/game room. Brings a warm feel to this basement!
Photo of a mid-sized modern seated home bar in New York with recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Home Bar Design Ideas with 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.