William Hefner Architecture, Erika Bierman Photography
Design ideas for a transitional seated home bar in Los Angeles with dark hardwood floors, white splashback, stone slab splashback, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Westview Cliffside

Shoberg Custom Homes

Design ideas for a modern single-wall wet bar in Austin with beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, medium hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Fox Hill Place Kitchen & Bath Remodel

H & H Company of Rochester LLC

Inspiration for a small transitional single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Hermosa Beach - Kitchen

Concept Renovations, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional single-wall wet bar in Los Angeles with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, no sink, marble benchtops, stone slab splashback and grey benchtop.

Boston, MA - White High Gloss Kitchen

Newton Kitchens & Design

White High Gloss Lacquer Cabinets with Calacatta Quartzite Countertops. Photography by Greg Premru
Photo of a small contemporary u-shaped home bar in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback and stone slab splashback.

Greeley, CO Residence

User

The small, yet statement-making bar is located in a great area: between the living room and around the corner from the kitchen. This way, you won't miss a segment of your favorite TV show or sports team playing. The large drawers keep cups and utensils out of site until they're ready to use. The open shelving can display more interesting accessories or your favorite drinks. And the small sink ensures your dishes are clean and ready for the next get-together.

Guilford Road

Cantley & Company, Inc.

This is an example of a small traditional wet bar in Birmingham with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Functional Calacatta Bar

Integrated Resources Group

This modern Calacatta bar was designed with functionality in mind. White oak sliding doors match the bar cabinetry and allow for bar to be entirely closed off so the room it resides in can be utilized for kid-friendly activities. Design by Lindsay Gerber Interiors Photography by Paul Dyer

Alpine Court

Karly Kristina Design

The waterfall counter is the main feature for this bar area. With it being highlighted in strip lighting below, it creates an ambiance while accenting this beautiful bar feature off of the kitchen. Builder: Hasler Homes

Berkeley Modernism

User

ASID Design Excellence First Place Residential – Kitchen: Originally commissioned in 1977 by our clients, this residence was designed by renowned architect Donald Olsen whose life's work is thoroughly documented in the book Donald Olsen: Architect of Habitable Abstractions. Michael Merrill Design Studio was approached three years ago to do a comprehensive rethinking of the structure, spaces and the exterior envelope. We hope you will enjoy this preview of the greatly enlarged and updated kitchen and home office.

Basement Redux

BARRETT STUDIO architects

An unfinished basement in a suburban home transforms to house a masculine bar, wine cellar, home theater, spa, fitness room, and kids' playroom. The sophisticated color palette carries into the kids' room, where framed wall panels of chalkboard, metal, and cork bring order while inviting creativity. Ultimately, this project challenged conventional notions of what is possible in a basement in terms of both aesthetic and function.

HARMONY home

Design Harmony

Inspiration for a transitional l-shaped home bar in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Prairie Luxury

Redl World Class Kitchens

Design - Atmosphere Interior Design
Design ideas for a large contemporary seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor, black benchtop and open cabinets.

Tweed Heads

Earthborne By Design

Design ideas for a beach style single-wall wet bar in Gold Coast - Tweed with raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, porcelain floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Polished Traditional

PB Kitchen Design

The light filled space has large windows and four doors, but works well in the strategically configured floor plan. Generous wall trim, exquisite light fixtures and modern stools create a warm ambiance. In the words of the homeowner, “it is beyond our dreams”.

Carroll Gardens Corner Brownstone - Wet Bar

Ben Herzog

Design ideas for a transitional single-wall wet bar in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback and white benchtop.

Entertaining with Color

Tailored Spaces, Natalie Spiniolas

Opened this wall up to create a beverage center just off the kitchen and family room. This makes it easy for entertaining and having beverages for all to grab quickly.

Home Bar in Kitchen

Benvenuti and Stein

Elegant home cocktail bar in kitchen with full height wine refrigerator for convenient in-home entertaining. Norman Sizemore photographer
Design ideas for a large transitional u-shaped home bar in Chicago with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Interior decorating

My Studio R

Transitional single-wall wet bar in Jacksonville with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback and brown floor.

Arcadia

Bita Interior Design

Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped wet bar in San Diego with an undermount sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood floors, grey floor and white benchtop.

Home Bar Design Ideas with White Splashback and Stone Slab Splashback

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.