An alcove becomes a moody bar scene drenched in a deep rich black paint, black stone countertops, accented with warm wood floating shelves and copper antique mesh. Under shelf lighting illuminates the display area on the shelves and extra bottles are stored neatly in the custom diagonal open shelving rack to the side of the wine fridge.

Suburban Walkout Basement Remodel

The Cleary Company

Photo of a small transitional single-wall home bar in Columbus with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, porcelain floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Forest Hill

gamble + design

Design ideas for a transitional single-wall home bar in San Francisco with no sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, black splashback, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Bright Eclectic Remodel

Studio M Kitchen & Bath

This home bar is included in the kitchen design and features a mini refrigerator with a glass door front as well as a hidden cabinet that lifts up to display liquor bottles and glassware.

Wakefield Wine Bar and Fireplace

Griffin Design

Designed By: Robby Griffin Photos By: Desired Photo
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall home bar in Houston with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Reclaimed and Painted Brick Creole Style

Wyrick Residential Design

Design ideas for a small single-wall home bar in Houston with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen -- John Marshall

Bullseye Wood Specialties, L.L.C

Custom inset cabinets in same finish as island flank wine and beverage under counter refrigerators. Floating shelves were custom matched to floor stain.

Bouldin Pied-Á-Terre

Ashby Collective

This is an example of a small modern single-wall home bar in Austin with blue cabinets, soapstone benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback and grey benchtop.

Pinnacle Entertainment Unit

Incredible Home

Custom entertainment unit in luxurious penthouse, offering a place to display wine, serve dishes, and store glassware.
Small transitional single-wall home bar in Other with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, brown floor and white benchtop.

An Island for Days

TruKitchens

The coffee bar features cabinets from Grabill Cabinets in Glacier White on their Aberdeen door style. It is topped with a Walnut wood countertop from Grothouse. It looks like a beautiful piece of furniture and serves as a great location for overflow serving in the event of a large gathering.

New Rosedale Home With A Classic Renovation Vibe

CG&S Design-Build

Photo of a small transitional single-wall home bar in Austin with no sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, black splashback, medium hardwood floors and black benchtop.

Crystal Cove Newport Coast

Interiors By Patrick

This is an example of a small mediterranean single-wall home bar in Orange County with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, mosaic tile splashback and multi-coloured benchtop.

Dimensional Kitchen - Elm Grove

Callen Construction, Inc.

This corner is dedicated to their mini home bar. Between the counterspace and storage in the cabinets, there is plenty of room for their beverage needs.

23rd Street

Wyant Architecture

Kitchen bar cabinetry with pull-out dog gate. Photo: Jeffrey Totaro.
Small contemporary single-wall home bar in Philadelphia with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, timber splashback, porcelain floors and grey floor.

Airy Transitional Kitchen Renovation

Gardner/Fox Associates, Inc

Inspiration for a small transitional single-wall home bar in Philadelphia with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback and white benchtop.

Distillery District Condo

AC Interiors Design & Build

This bar was created in an unused hallway space. It also provides extra storage for kitchen over flow.
This is an example of a small modern single-wall home bar in Toronto with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, black splashback, porcelain splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Navy St

High Touch Remodeling

Custom Walnut Bar for a complete home remodel in Santa Monica
This is an example of a large beach style single-wall home bar in Los Angeles with no sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, green splashback, light hardwood floors, beige floor and green benchtop.

FIDDLETOWN KITCHEN

Tomlinson Kitchen and Bath

Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall home bar in San Francisco with medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Prairie Modern Home

West Rose Design

Built-in dry bar & drink making station
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall home bar in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and white benchtop.

Tonka Bay Beach House

Studio M Kitchen & Bath

In terms of functionality, the dry bar includes an under-cabinet wine refrigerator and unique drawers for bottle storage.
Photo of a small single-wall home bar in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback and multi-coloured benchtop.

Dry Bar Single-wall 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.