Photo of a mid-sized modern home bar in Boston with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Abinger Hammer

User

Darryn Kemper
Mid-sized modern u-shaped seated home bar in Surrey with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback and carpet.

All-Seasonal Sanctuary

Gipman Millwork

Jordan Nering of Artistic Media Productions
Design ideas for a mid-sized modern single-wall wet bar in Calgary with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, carpet and beige floor.

Denstedt Bar

Corell Custom Cabinetry

Small modern l-shaped seated home bar in Toronto with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Capp

Leo Claudio Cabinets

Bar doors and drawers are painted with a high gloss finish.
This is an example of a mid-sized modern single-wall home bar in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops and dark hardwood floors.

Home Bars

Tobias Design LLC

Small modern single-wall home bar in Philadelphia with no sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, porcelain floors, black floor and black benchtop.

Appartement calme au cœur de la ville

Mayya Durand - Architecte d'intérieur

This is an example of a small modern l-shaped seated home bar in Toulouse with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown splashback, marble splashback, ceramic floors, white floor, white benchtop and an integrated sink.

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 and light hardwood floors.

Steve's Bar

Frontal Kitchens

Design ideas for a mid-sized modern wet bar in Other with flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface benchtops, mirror splashback, vinyl floors and grey 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.

Noir Desir Naturali Collection

Ollin Stone

The distinguishing trait of the I Naturali series is soil. A substance which on the one hand recalls all things primordial and on the other the possibility of being plied. As a result, the slab made from the ceramic lends unique value to the settings it clads.

FIA Villa

INJ Architectcs

Inspiration for a small modern galley home bar in Other with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and beige benchtop.

Gramercy Duplex

Shenton Architects LLP

This three bedroom duplex apartment is uniquely located at the corner of Gramercy Park. The project involved the renovation of one apartment and expansion into the unit above. The one bedroom apartment upstairs was converted into a Master Suite, while the original Master Bedroom was absorbed into the living room, creating a larger entertainment space to accommodate a piano and a custom bar with a cantilevered counter. A new staircase connecting the existing apartment with the Master Suite is tucked away to maximize open social area. The dark wood floors were continued through the stair to suggest that this had always been part of the original design. Upstairs, the new Master Bedroom faces south overlooking the park with integrated millwork on either side of the fireplace. A built-in bed floats off the floor and adjacent wall. Her closet used space flanking the fireplace for built-in shoe storage, providing a functional yet colorful display when lit. Cove lighting, stretched fabric and frosted glass were employed to provide a warm glow for the spaces when not illuminated by the abundant daylight on both levels. Project by Richard Meier & Partners, Architects LLP

Home Bar Project Cheltenham

Contour

A beautiful basement bar perfect for entertaining.
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern u-shaped wet bar in Gloucestershire with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets and solid surface benchtops.

Shift

User

The bar was designed to be elegant yet practical and to modestly fit into the surrounding spaces. The back cabinet was design with singular doors for individual bottles.

Luxe -Claremont, Ca.

HK Custom Cabinets

Luxe by Alvic. Roble Frappe high gloss cabinets with integrated stainless steel FILO handle and stainless steel toe kick.
This is an example of a modern single-wall wet bar in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops and ceramic floors.

All-Seasonal Sanctuary

Gipman Millwork

Jordan Nering of Artistic Media Productions
Photo of a mid-sized modern single-wall wet bar in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, solid surface benchtops, carpet and beige floor.

Spacious sanctuary

New Zealand Certified Builders Association

Polished concrete floors glimmer, and a bespoke kitchen cleverly integrates all the appliances while showcasing a black galaxy granite bench.
Photo of a large modern l-shaped home bar in Christchurch with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, solid surface benchtops, concrete floors, multi-coloured floor and black benchtop.

Home Bar/Game Room Wall

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.

建築家照明プラン

Atelier avril

Photo of a modern home bar in Kyoto with an integrated sink, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, timber splashback, plywood floors, beige floor and black benchtop.

Modern Home Bar Design Ideas with Solid Surface Benchtops

A modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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.