Photo Credit: Aimée Mazzenga
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Chicago with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, tile benchtops, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

BOOKER BAY HOUSE 2020

No Chintz

Expansive beach style single-wall wet bar in Central Coast with dark hardwood floors, brown floor, a drop-in sink, brown cabinets, tile benchtops, green splashback, subway tile splashback and green benchtop.

St Kilda Kitchen, Bar & Laundry

The Kitchen Design Centre

Yvonne Menegol
This is an example of a large modern galley seated home bar in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, a drop-in sink, black cabinets, tile benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Meriden Residence

Studio Steinbomer

Wet bar after the renovation. Construction by RisherMartin Fine Homes Interior Design by Alison Mountain Interior Design Landscape by David Wilson Garden Design Photography by Andrea Calo

Evergreen Residence

Revolve Design-Build

Photo by Revolve Construction Inc
Photo of a large single-wall seated home bar in Denver with light hardwood floors, a drop-in sink and tile benchtops.

CH House

the be architecture studio

Photo of a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Philadelphia with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, tile benchtops and light hardwood floors.

Kitchen/Great Room Renovation

Jill Helgeson Interiors

After photo of Kitchen/Great Room Renovation. The kitchen with the blue cabinets and the paneled room with the fireplace are the before pictures. We knocked out a wall between the kitchen and the paneled great room to make one open space.

Grand Estates at Northlake Hills Model Home

True Homes Photography

Hunter Coon - True Homes Photography
Inspiration for a traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Dallas with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, tile benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback and carpet.

Spanish Wet Bar Santa Fe, NM

STATEMENTS IN Tile/Lighting/Kitchens/Flooring

The hand carved wood cabinets in this colorful wet bar set the tone for the Mexican tile counter and backsplash, designed by Gloria Devan of Wiseman & Gayle & Duncan Interiors. Photo by Richard White.

Rosehurst Residence Custom Bar

Wilde North

A custom bar built in a basement with palette wood wall treatment, custom wet bar with stacked stone front and jali custom cabinets. A niche to display crystal decanters backlit and under lit. With a hammered copper sink.

Interior Remodel- Mira Vista

Robinson Builders

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern galley seated home bar in Dallas with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, tile benchtops, yellow splashback, ceramic splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor and yellow benchtop.

A Holiday House By Wilson Lighting's Lashell Hall

Wilson Lighting

Photo of a mid-sized transitional single-wall home bar in Kansas City with a drop-in sink, grey cabinets, tile benchtops, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Modern Wet Bar in Lakeside Park, KY

Kitchen Concepts, Inc.

Design ideas for a small modern single-wall wet bar in Cincinnati with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, tile benchtops, blue splashback and glass tile splashback.

Stonegrain

International Ceramics

'Stonegrain' porcelain tiles. For that timber look, without the maintenance. Ideal for both indoor and outdoor spaces.
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped seated home bar in Sydney with a drop-in sink, open cabinets, brown cabinets, tile benchtops, brown splashback, porcelain splashback, porcelain floors and brown floor.

Penthouse Granada Theater Santa Barbara

Andrew Petrich Photography

Andrew Petrich
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall seated home bar in Santa Barbara with a drop-in sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, tile benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Something for Everyone

MC Design LLC

There are numerous ways to entertain and be entertained in this game room and bar!
Mid-sized eclectic l-shaped home bar in Los Angeles with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, tile benchtops, glass tile splashback and light hardwood floors.

Downtown Gilroy

DreamHome Staging & ReDesign

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped seated home bar in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, tile benchtops, stone tile splashback and light hardwood floors.

Rosehurst Residence Custom Bar

Wilde North

Boulder Country Club

Michael Silbert, Architect

Photo: R. Kimbrough Photograghy
Photo of a traditional wet bar in Denver with a drop-in sink, medium wood cabinets, tile benchtops, black splashback and ceramic splashback.

St Kilda Kitchen, Bar & Laundry

The Kitchen Design Centre

Yvonne Menegol
Inspiration for a large modern galley seated home bar in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, a drop-in sink, black cabinets, tile benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Home Bar Design Ideas with a Drop-in Sink and Tile 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.