This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in Miami with an undermount sink, brown floor and open cabinets.

Carpet

McLeod Carpet One

This is an example of a mid-sized industrial single-wall seated home bar in Detroit with carpet, no sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, black splashback and brown floor.

Basement Bar

Western Custom Cabinetry

Black Onyx Basement Bar.
Mid-sized arts and crafts galley seated home bar in Cincinnati with medium hardwood floors, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback and stone slab splashback.

Montana Family Compound

Shannon Callaghan Interior Design

This is an example of a mid-sized country galley seated home bar in Other with dark hardwood floors, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tile splashback and brown floor.

Duck, NC - New Construction

Amy Hilliker Certified Designer-The Design Project

Photo of a large beach style seated home bar in Other with ceramic floors, beige floor, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, brown splashback, timber splashback and black benchtop.

Industrial Chic Sports Enthusiast's Basement

c|s DESIGN STUDIO LLC

Bob Narod
This is an example of a transitional galley seated home bar in DC Metro with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, brown splashback, beige floor and brown benchtop.

Farmhouse Home Bar

Photo of a mid-sized country u-shaped seated home bar in San Francisco with recessed-panel cabinets, mirror splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor, black cabinets, quartz benchtops and grey benchtop.

Modern Scandinavian Farmhouse

Lauren Levant Interior

This is an example of a large modern single-wall seated home bar in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light hardwood floors, brown floor, grey benchtop, grey cabinets, grey splashback and glass tile splashback.

Downtown Greenville Residence I

Ridgeline Construction Group, Inc

Inspiro 8 Studios
This is an example of a transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Other with dark wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, brick splashback, recessed-panel cabinets, red splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Wide open transitional home in Spring Texas

By Design Interiors, Inc.

Design ideas for a transitional seated home bar in Other with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige floor and white benchtop.

Eliza and Mike

AHG Interiors

Nick Glimenakis
Mid-sized midcentury u-shaped seated home bar in New York with an undermount sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, mirror splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Faxon

Euroline Steel Windows

Design ideas for a contemporary galley seated home bar in Orange County with dark hardwood floors, brown floor and black benchtop.

30- Park City, Utah Residence

Masterpiece Millwork & Door

Joshua Caldwell
This is an example of a large country u-shaped seated home bar in Salt Lake City with medium wood cabinets, recessed-panel cabinets, grey splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Novak Project

Aurora Technology

Photo of a large industrial single-wall seated home bar in Omaha with open cabinets, brick splashback, concrete floors, grey floor, medium wood cabinets and granite benchtops.

Elk Peak Ranch

Structural Associates

David O. Marlow Photography
Photo of an expansive country seated home bar in Denver with dark wood cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and recessed-panel cabinets.

Downtown Penthouse

Kitchen Distributors, Inc-Arkansas

Mid-sized contemporary galley seated home bar in Other with white cabinets, quartz benchtops, glass tile splashback, multi-coloured splashback, glass-front cabinets, porcelain floors and beige floor.

Design Ideas by Napoleon

Napoleon Products

Large traditional single-wall seated home bar in Toronto with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, marble benchtops and white benchtop.

Stone Canyon

Kym Rodger Design

Design ideas for an expansive contemporary seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Trinity Place

User

Inspiration for an industrial l-shaped seated home bar in London with white splashback, subway tile splashback and grey floor.

Bar

R|House Design Build

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Minneapolis with concrete benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and an undermount sink.

Seated Home Bar Design Ideas

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.