Photo of a small country single-wall home bar in Louisville with no sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback and light hardwood floors.

Main Streets and Back Roads

Windhill Builders

Main Streets and Back Roads... The homeowners fell in love with this spectacular Lynnfield, MA Colonial farmhouse, complete with iconic New England style timber frame barn, grand outdoor fireplaced living space and in-ground pool. They bought the prestigious location with the desire to bring the home’s character back to life and at the same time, reconfigure the layout, expand the living space and increase the number of rooms to accommodate their needs as a family. Notice the reclaimed wood floors, hand hewn beams and hand crafted/hand planed cabinetry, all country living at its finest only 17 miles North of Boston. Photo by Eric Roth

Haymarket Basement Pub

Grace Thomas Designs

Custom Irish Basement Pub
Design ideas for a mid-sized country l-shaped seated home bar in DC Metro with an undermount sink, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, brown floor, medium hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

Mediterranean in Silverleaf

La Casa Builders Inc.

Mark Bosclair
This is an example of a large mediterranean galley seated home bar in Phoenix with glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, mirror splashback, ceramic floors and brown benchtop.

African Wenge and Metal

Joseph and Curtis Custom Wine Cellars

CONTEMPORARY WINE CELLAR AND BAR WITH GLASS AND CHROME. STAINLESS STEEL BAR AND WINE RACKS AS WELL AS CLEAN AND SEXY DESIGN
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in New York with glass benchtops, white splashback, dark hardwood floors and black cabinets.

Built-In Cabinets

Mayne Construction, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized traditional l-shaped wet bar in New York with no sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Simply Perfect Shaker Kitchen, Coffee bar & Laundry

The Wood Shed

Inspiration for a traditional home bar in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops and brown benchtop.

Wet Bar

Mavrovic Architects P C

Design ideas for a traditional single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Dickson, TN Porch/Garage/In Law Suite Addition

Noble Johnson Architects

Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com
This is an example of a small transitional galley home bar in Nashville with no sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Transitional Chicago Condominium

Grove Gallery & Interiors

Design ideas for a transitional single-wall wet bar in Chicago with medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback and brown benchtop.

Transitional Transformation

Meechi Design

Design ideas for a small transitional home bar in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

Modern Rustic Retreat

Victoria Highfill

Photo of a large industrial l-shaped wet bar in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Vincente Shoot

User

Jean Bai / Konstrukt Photo
This is an example of a transitional bar cart in San Francisco with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Dublin OH Basement

J.Holderby - Renovations

Mid-sized country single-wall seated home bar in Columbus with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Historic Home Renovation & Addition

Joy Martin Architecture

Inspiration for a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Minneapolis with dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops and mirror splashback.

Modern Home Bar

Covenant Kitchens & Baths, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, brown benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

Addition Featuring Full Bar and NanoWall

Amiano & Son Construction, LLC

Design ideas for an expansive country single-wall seated home bar in Philadelphia with dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback, concrete floors and shaker cabinets.

Refined Rustic in Carlisle

Roland Builder, Inc.

Alan Wycheck Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized country single-wall wet bar in Other with no sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Greek Revival Restoration and Additions

Beck Architecture, Inc.

Photo of a mid-sized traditional single-wall wet bar in Cincinnati with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, blue splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

Bars & Bonus Rooms

Building Concepts

Inspiration for a small single-wall wet bar in Other with wood benchtops and carpet.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Wood Benchtops and Glass 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.