Small transitional l-shaped home bar in Denver with granite benchtops, mirror splashback, black benchtop, no sink and open cabinets.

Lila Woods Project

Design Loft Cabinets

Small transitional single-wall home bar in Charlotte with no sink, open cabinets, blue cabinets, mirror splashback, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Wellesley Remodel

Carby's Lumber

This is an example of a large transitional galley seated home bar in Boston with solid surface benchtops, open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback and stone tile splashback.

Vincente Shoot

User

Jean Bai / Konstrukt Photo
This is an example of a transitional bar cart in San Francisco with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, wood benchtops, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Villanova

Denise McGaha Interiors

Suggested products do not represent the products used in this image. Design featured is proprietary and contains custom work. (Stephen Karlisch, Photographer)

Lowel Level Remodel

Taylor Design Studio

David Berlekamp
Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Cleveland with open cabinets and concrete benchtops.

Baroque Modern Condo

Charles Neal Interiors

Luxury Wine Bar
This is an example of a mid-sized transitional single-wall seated home bar in Miami with dark hardwood floors, marble benchtops and open cabinets.

Modern Home Bar

Covenant Kitchens & Baths, Inc.

pantry, floating shelves,
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional single-wall wet bar in Other with an undermount sink, open cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback and medium hardwood floors.

Franklin Lakes Colonial

SEK Architects

Photo of a large transitional galley seated home bar in Orange County with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, mirror splashback, an undermount sink, slate floors and grey floor.

Fort Greene Townhouse Kitchen

Maison Maya

Nick Glimenakis Photography
This is an example of a small transitional home bar in New York with no sink, open cabinets and stainless steel benchtops.

Man Cave

Angela Otten - Inspire Kitchen Design Studio

Emily Minton Redfield; EMR Photography
Photo of a transitional seated home bar in Denver with open cabinets and concrete floors.

Southern Living August 2015 Feature

European Stone Concepts

Photography by Laurey Glenn Limestone butler's pantry
Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped home bar in Other with open cabinets, blue cabinets, black splashback and subway tile splashback.

Island Style Freestanding Saltwater Aquarium with Custom Coral Reef Insert

The Fish Gallery

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional seated home bar in Dallas with open cabinets, granite benchtops, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and dark wood cabinets.

Johns Creek Lodge

Modern Rustic Homes

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Atlanta with an undermount sink, open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, beige splashback, quartz benchtops, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Basement Made for Entertaining - Chaska, MN

Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc.

Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped seated home bar in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, open cabinets, light hardwood floors and beige floor.

Belmont-Hillsboro Bourbon Bar

Sara Ray Interior Design

Photo by Gieves Anderson
This is an example of a small transitional single-wall seated home bar in Nashville with open cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, dark hardwood floors, grey benchtop and metal splashback.

Colorful Contemporary Rebuild

MartinPatrick 3

Design ideas for a transitional seated home bar in Minneapolis with open cabinets, light wood cabinets and carpet.

Proyecto casa Pedralbes

linacabrera

Photo of a small transitional single-wall seated home bar in Barcelona with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Showhome 7

Ultimate Renovations

Mid-sized transitional single-wall wet bar in Calgary with an undermount sink, open cabinets, brown cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, vinyl floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

North Caldwell Basement Renovation

Plan Architecture

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped seated home bar in New York with open cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, porcelain floors and brown floor.

Transitional Home Bar Design Ideas with Open Cabinets

A transitional 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 transitional 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 transitional 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 transitional 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.