Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, black cabinets, glass benchtops and timber splashback.

Beverly Hills Contemporary

Crespo Design Group

A modern home bar we custom designed for this Beverly Hills client. The exposed brick accent wall and aqua blue SoHo Concept bar stools stand out the most, while the other features are subtle but unique. With a double layered glass top table and custom designed acrylic shelving, the overall look is simple but powerful, colorful but clean. Home located in Beverly Hill, California. Designed by Florida-based interior design firm Crespo Design Group, who also serves Malibu, Tampa, New York City, the Caribbean, and other areas throughout the United States.

Picturesque Cabin Retreat

Bruce Birkeland Group / Coldwell Banker Burnet

Rustic Cabin Home Bar | Spacecrafting photography
Small country galley seated home bar in Minneapolis with open cabinets, distressed cabinets, wood benchtops and brown benchtop.

Engerman

Engerman Companies

Photo by John Engerman Custom Bar created from sail boat.
Large beach style u-shaped seated home bar in Chicago with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, porcelain floors and brown benchtop.

Below Buchanan

Ventures Design

Below Buchanan is a basement renovation that feels as light and welcoming as one of our outdoor living spaces. The project is full of unique details, custom woodworking, built-in storage, and gorgeous fixtures. Custom carpentry is everywhere, from the built-in storage cabinets and molding to the private booth, the bar cabinetry, and the fireplace lounge. Creating this bright, airy atmosphere was no small challenge, considering the lack of natural light and spatial restrictions. A color pallet of white opened up the space with wood, leather, and brass accents bringing warmth and balance. The finished basement features three primary spaces: the bar and lounge, a home gym, and a bathroom, as well as additional storage space. As seen in the before image, a double row of support pillars runs through the center of the space dictating the long, narrow design of the bar and lounge. Building a custom dining area with booth seating was a clever way to save space. The booth is built into the dividing wall, nestled between the support beams. The same is true for the built-in storage cabinet. It utilizes a space between the support pillars that would otherwise have been wasted. The small details are as significant as the larger ones in this design. The built-in storage and bar cabinetry are all finished with brass handle pulls, to match the light fixtures, faucets, and bar shelving. White marble counters for the bar, bathroom, and dining table bring a hint of Hollywood glamour. White brick appears in the fireplace and back bar. To keep the space feeling as lofty as possible, the exposed ceilings are painted black with segments of drop ceilings accented by a wide wood molding, a nod to the appearance of exposed beams. Every detail is thoughtfully chosen right down from the cable railing on the staircase to the wood paneling behind the booth, and wrapping the bar.

My Kind of Town

Laurie Demetrio Interiors

Photo of a contemporary seated home bar in Chicago with an integrated sink, open cabinets, grey splashback, light hardwood floors and grey benchtop.

Carmel Valley

Laura Abrams Design

Natalia Robert
Inspiration for a mediterranean u-shaped seated home bar in San Diego with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, mirror splashback and light hardwood floors.

Baroque Modern Condo

Charles Neal Interiors

Luxury Wine Bar
Small transitional single-wall seated home bar in Miami with dark hardwood floors, black cabinets, marble benchtops and open cabinets.

Serrano Luxury

Nar Design Group

In this luxurious Serrano home, a mixture of matte glass and glossy laminate cabinetry plays off the industrial metal frames suspended from the dramatically tall ceilings. Custom frameless glass encloses a wine room, complete with flooring made from wine barrels. Continuing the theme, the back kitchen expands the function of the kitchen including a wine station by Dacor. In the powder bathroom, the lipstick red cabinet floats within this rustic Hollywood glam inspired space. Wood floor material was designed to go up the wall for an emphasis on height. The upstairs bar/lounge is the perfect spot to hang out and watch the game. Or take a look out on the Serrano golf course. A custom steel raised bar is finished with Dekton trillium countertops for durability and industrial flair. The same lipstick red from the bathroom is brought into the bar space adding a dynamic spice to the space, and tying the two spaces together.

2018 Hinckley Custom Home

Otero Signature Homes

Large transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Columbus with an undermount sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, glass benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, light hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Minnesota Private Residence

Lappin Lighting

Country galley seated home bar in Minneapolis with open cabinets, wood benchtops, timber splashback, light hardwood floors and brown benchtop.

2015 Midwest Home Luxury Tour

City Homes, LLC

Photo of a traditional seated home bar in Minneapolis with open cabinets and grey cabinets.

Luxury Staging - Hills of Kingswood, Frisco

Keti Abazi

Inspiration for a contemporary seated home bar in Dallas with open cabinets, mirror splashback and beige floor.

Home Bar

Hive Home

Photo of a mid-sized eclectic seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, light wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stone slab splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Transitional Family Room and Bar

Fran Kerzner- DESIGN SYNTHESIS

The clients also wanted to be able to eat dinner in the room while watching TV but there was no room for a regular dining table so we designed a custom silver leaf bar table to sit behind the sectional with a custom 1 1/2" Thinkglass art glass top. We designed a new coffered ceiling with lighting in each bay. And built out the fireplace with dimensional tile to the ceiling. The color scheme was kept intentionally monochromatic to show off the different textures with the only color being touches of blue in the pillows and accessories to pick up the art glass.

Basement Sports Bar

Boss Design Ltd

A basement sports bar! In this house, is definitely a great addition. Also that you can watch mutliple games at once and keep everyone happy! No more expensive beers out at the busy bars, you can sit and relax and enjoy it all from home. Loving the detail of the decor sheet metal around the front of the raise bar top. Also that the bar stools are the same as what is in the kitchen, just a darker grey. Again bringing consistency throughout a home just brings all the rooms together, especially with the open concept home being so popular at this time.

Westlake Modern

M the Builders

This is an example of a modern seated home bar in Dallas with glass benchtops, medium wood cabinets and open cabinets.

Pub Style Barroom

Mary Shipley Interiors

Drink anyone?
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped seated home bar in Columbus with concrete floors, open cabinets, black cabinets and granite benchtops.

Stone Canyon

Kym Rodger Design

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

Factor Residence

(fer) studio

Joshua White
Contemporary galley seated home bar in Los Angeles with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets and grey floor.

Seated Home Bar Design Ideas with Open Cabinets

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.