Photo of a small modern u-shaped seated home bar in Philadelphia with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, brown splashback, ceramic splashback, slate floors and brown floor.

Miralis on 30a

User

Photo of a small modern single-wall wet bar in Miami with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white floor and white benchtop.

Boulevard 2016 Front Cover

Troico

Inspiration for a midcentury single-wall home bar in Vancouver with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige splashback, cork floors, beige floor, white benchtop and timber splashback.

South Norwalk Beach Renovation

Michael Smith Architects

Design ideas for a large beach style single-wall wet bar in New York with medium wood cabinets, zinc benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback and recessed-panel cabinets.

Kitchen Cabinetry

Decorum Designer Cabinetry & Flooring

Mid-sized country single-wall wet bar in Jacksonville with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, ceramic floors, laminate benchtops and multi-coloured floor.

Irish bar

Casa Flores Cabinetry

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Calgary with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, grey splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Traditional Home Bar

Mid-sized traditional wet bar in Other with a drop-in sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, brown splashback and ceramic floors.

Polished Zinc Bar Top

Brooks Custom

Mirror polished zinc bar top with a cold cast zinc edge profile in our Allentown style. The cold cast edge is applied to the polished sheet metal countertop for a durable and stylish look that enhances this modern rustic home bar.

2017 Parade of Homes

Genesis Custom Homes

Photo of a large contemporary single-wall seated home bar in Austin with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Offsite 1

User

Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped seated home bar in Columbus with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Billiard Room Refreshment Center

Valet Custom Cabinets & Closets

Custom designed refreshment center for billiards room. Materials: Belgian Chocolate Thermally Fused Laminate with Thermofoil fronts and high-pressure laminate countertop. Designed, manufactured and installed by Valet Custom Cabinets - Campbell, CA. Special thanks to homeowners for allowing us to photograph.

Home Cinema & Bar

I & K BUILDING designs

This is an example of a modern seated home bar in Sydney with laminate benchtops.

Howard

YourStyle Kitchens Ltd

This kitchen is a shaker style kitchen finished in Benjamin Moore CC-666 BONSAI. The kitchen features cove moldings, beveled light rails and beveled base moldings. All drawer boxes are solid birch dovetail joinery. The main countertops are LG Viatera quartz Bella with a square edge. The raised countertop is solid walnut butcher block. The bar is Stained white oak cabinetry with raised shadow box bar top. Designer is our very own Tiana Gillingham Photography DandeneauPhoto

West 22ND, Vancouver

Tangrace Construction Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall seated home bar in Vancouver with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, laminate benchtops, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Lower Milford Basement

Lehigh Valley Interior Construction

Large contemporary single-wall seated home bar in Philadelphia with dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, brown splashback and timber splashback.

Knights Bridge

Mansfield Custom Homes

Best use of the space under stairs? How about a beautiful brick cased wine cellar!
Large traditional single-wall wet bar in Dallas with no sink, glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige splashback, brick splashback, limestone floors, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Espresso Wet Bar

User

Photo of a large traditional single-wall wet bar in DC Metro with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, laminate benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Sedgwick

Mobili Mobel

Forma Mentis by Valcucine with integrated grip recess. Doors finished in Ice White Matt Lacquer. Wall Panel in Wood-texture Melamine. Top in White laminate

2014 Parade

SK Cabinetry & Design

Design ideas for a large arts and crafts l-shaped seated home bar in Cedar Rapids with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, laminate benchtops, a drop-in sink and travertine floors.

MANHATTAN AVE

Scala Construction Inc.

Catherine Tighe
Inspiration for a mid-sized beach style wet bar in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, white cabinets, zinc benchtops, mosaic tile splashback and dark hardwood floors.

Home Bar Design Ideas with Zinc Benchtops and Laminate 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.