With Summer on its way, having a home bar is the perfect setting to host a gathering with family and friends, and having a functional and totally modern home bar will allow you to do so!

Aerie Point

Birdseye Building

Jim Westphalen Photography

Stefani

Faulkner Perrin Custom Homes

Farmhouse Home Bar

Belmont-Hillsboro Bourbon Bar

Sara Ray Interior Design

Photo by Gieves Anderson

Modern Marvel

Creative Design Construction, Inc.

A basement renovation complete with a custom home theater, gym, seating area, full bar, and showcase wine cellar.

Chanhassen Lake Charmer

Boyer Building Corporation

This creative walkway is made usable right off the kitchen where extra storage, wine cooler and bar space are the highlights. Library ladder helps makes those various bar items more accessible.

Driftwood Cottage

Home at 2 Design

This wet bar is situated in a corner of the dining room adjacent to the screened porch entrance for easy warm weather serving. Black shaker cabinets with antiqued glass fall in with the old glass of the original Dutch door.

Parade of Homes Rough Hollow

Texas Hill Country Photography

Fossil Creek Bar

Haven Design and Construction

This small but practical bar packs a bold design punch. It's complete with wine refrigerator, icemaker, a liquor storage cabinet pullout and a bar sink. LED lighting provides shimmer to the glass cabinets and metallic backsplash tile, while a glass and gold chandelier adds drama. Quartz countertops provide ease in cleaning and peace of mind against wine stains. The arched entry ways lead to the kitchen and dining areas, while the opening to the hallway provides the perfect place to walk up and converse at the bar.

Bars, Wet Bars & Wine Cellars

Christian Brothers Cabinets

2018 Auburn Basement Remodel

Otero Signature Homes

Parker, Colorado

Lucy Gold Interiors

Beautiful Finishes and Lighting

Urban Farmhouse

DK Homes

This home is full of clean lines, soft whites and grey, & lots of built-in pieces. Large entry area with message center, dual closets, custom bench with hooks and cubbies to keep organized. Living room fireplace with shiplap, custom mantel and cabinets, and white brick.

Country New build

Harriet Hughes Interior Design

This classic contemporary home bar we installed is timeless and beautiful with the brass inlay detailing inside the shaker panel.

David Cannon - photographer

PB Kitchen Design Showroom - Geneva, IL

PB Kitchen Design

Bar in Walnut by QCCI, New Holland, PA

City Stunner

WatchCity Kitchens LLC

What was once a closed up galley kitchen with awkward eating area has turned into a handsome and modern open concept kitchen with seated waterfall island.Glass wall tile adds texture to the space. A mirrored bar area finishes off the room and makes it perfect for entertaining. Glass tile by Dal Tile. Cabinetry by Diamond Distinction. Countertops by Ceasarstone. Photos by Michael Patrick Lefebvre

Wet Bar with Arched Opening and Glass Fronted Cabinetry

Orren Pickell Building Group

This French country, new construction home features a circular first-floor layout that connects from great room to kitchen and breakfast room, then on to the dining room via a small area that turned out to be ideal for a fully functional bar. Directly off the kitchen and leading to the dining room, this space is perfectly located for making and serving cocktails whenever the family entertains. In order to make the space feel as open and welcoming as possible while connecting it visually with the kitchen, glass cabinet doors and custom-designed, leaded-glass column cabinetry and millwork archway help the spaces flow together and bring in. The space is small and tight, so it was critical to make it feel larger and more open. Leaded-glass cabinetry throughout provided the airy feel we were looking for, while showing off sparkling glassware and serving pieces. In addition, finding space for a sink and under-counter refrigerator was challenging, but every wished-for element made it into the final plan. Photo by Mike Kaskel

Home Bar Design Ideas with Grey Benchtop

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.