Home Bar Ideas and Designs
How big should my home bar be?
The ideal style of your home bar will depend on your lifestyle and entertaining habits as well as the amount of available space. If big groups come round regularly then you should consider dedicating a part of your living room or basement to a larger seating area – complete with a bar table, bar stools and wet bar section – to keep everyone suitably comfortable and merry. If TV is essential, check if there is a wall nearby that’s a big enough to mount it on without restricting anyone’s view. A key feature of home bar ideas is the storage – gleaming wine racks and low-lit glass shelves. Make sure you can afford these little delights after you have built the basic structure. Alternatively, if space is limited, a freestanding home cocktail bar would give you somewhere to prepare cocktails that is out of the way – in the corner of your dining room or under the stairwell for instance. Also, mirrored surfaces can help to create the illusion of space. Sketch the layout of the room in which you would like to place the bar and think about where all those bottles, cans and snacks are going to go. Then speak to either a home bar specialist about your home bar ideas, or to a joiner about adapting a vintage bookcase or creating something bespoke.
What style of home bar should I choose?
Try to play off the interior decor of the surrounding area. A kitsch Manhattan-inspired home cocktail bar will look out of place in a country cottage, for example. Similarly, a long white walnut home bar would jar against a bright red contemporary kitchen. That said, contrast might be something that you accentuate, not least through the choice of flooring, which would help to make your home bar stand out. Collect home bar ideas in an Ideabook, settle upon a theme and then discuss the design with your home bar specialist or joiner. Lighting sets the mood in bars, particularly late at night, so pay special attention to placement, intensity and how you want your guests to feel. Dim underbar lighting creates a warm, intimate atmosphere, while spotlights brighten and energise.
Which home bar accessories and facilities should I include?
This really does depend on how far you are willing to go. A home bar can replicate almost everything you see in your local, from running water and refrigerated wine cabinets to draught beer pumps and bespoke lighting and a sound systems. Again, the most important thing is to work with what’s there – available space and home decor. Is that black lizard effect leather flooring really going to go? How about the turquoise splashback? Do those flowers look out of place or will they help to soften up what’s fast becoming a man cave? There are several ways to make a home bar more visually interesting without spending big on fixtures and fittings. Select furniture that’s comfortable but also sparks interest, such as salvaged chairs or a second-hand leather sofa. Add a touch of glitz and glamour through your choice of glassware, drinks trolley, ice bucket, shaker and spirit bottles if you want the home cocktail bar look. Then scatter a few curios around the bar – ornaments, lamps, artwork, photos and travel mementos are great home bar ideas to get the conversation started.
Whether you want inspiration for planning a home bar renovation or are building a designer home bar from scratch, Houzz has 66,026 images from the best designers, decorators, and architects in the country, including MATT architecture LLP and McCarron & Co. Look through home bar photos in different colours and styles and when you find a home bar design that inspires you, save it to an Ideabook or contact the Pro who made it happen to see what kind of design ideas they have for your home. Explore the beautiful home bar ideas photo gallery and find out exactly why Houzz is the best experience for home renovation and design.
Hayley & Mark needed to create a space to spend time with family & friends. They also wanted to make the most of the amazing views. Hayley had strong views on what she wanted to achieve, we built several glass extensions which opened up the house & gave lots of options for socialising. We also renewed the patio areas which now allows the better use of the outside space.
Architects - Kotsmuth-Williams Architects
'It's been an absolute pleasure working with Wayne, Gareth and the guys from Moore Construction. It started with a small job and I was so impressed with the quality of the work that they ended up redesigning my house and garden and spending the year with me! Two extensions, numerous door and window replacements and the hugest patio ever - a very happy customer who keeps adding work as we go along and nothing is too much trouble with Moore Construction.'
Hayley Parsons OBE
C - luv everything in that pic - webuser_539963076
Photo of a bohemian bar cart in Berkshire with dark hardwood flooring and brown floors.
flamingo - mernie_cabading
The furniture in this stunning wine wall is enhanced with the subtle lighting.
Inspiration for a contemporary home bar in London with light hardwood flooring.
built in wine shelf and extra cabinets - leo_betthauser
Darren Chung Photography Ltd
Photo of a contemporary single-wall wet bar in Berkshire with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, mirror splashback, grey floors and grey worktops.
handles - agathajay
Design ideas for a large classic single-wall home bar in Hertfordshire with beaded cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz worktops, grey splashback, ceramic flooring, grey floors and mirror splashback.
We need this bar in our living room - isabella_allen83
Unique Home Stays
Photo of a medium sized bohemian breakfast bar in Hampshire with light hardwood flooring and beige floors.
Love the front - kate_pendergast
Popular Filters to Try:
All shelves are made with invisible fixing.
Massive mirror at the back is cut to eliminate any visible joints.
All shelves supplied with led lights to lit up things displayed on shelves
Striking in their indigo denim tones, these Harlequin Takara fabric bar stools bring an alluring burst of colour to our indulgently rich wine room design, the thick satin feel adding another layer of luxury.
Background - burns301274
Will Pryce
Design ideas for a contemporary home bar in London.
staged drinks a good idea so can view all bottle - olwyn_godden
Photo of an urban galley home bar in London with white splashback, metro tiled splashback, concrete flooring and grey floors.
like the wood in the bar but nothing else - mohamed_sadek97
Bloomsbury encaustic tiles from Artisans of Devizes.
Design ideas for a large contemporary single-wall home bar in Wiltshire with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood worktops, ceramic flooring and brown worktops.
Will need to be able to lock stuff away - lopajunck
This is an example of a traditional home bar in Other.
glass door to office area for light - webuser_594335258
Cassandra Jackson-Baker
Inspiration for a medium sized classic single-wall breakfast bar in London with open cabinets, mirror splashback, light hardwood flooring, beige floors and black worktops.
Fantastic gin bar! - edzhoy
Home bar with beautiful Bronze Casement window fitted into an oak frame.
Rural galley breakfast bar in Other with grey cabinets, light hardwood flooring and raised-panel cabinets.
Image No 33463544 - Architectural Bronze Casements - Barn Conversion - karen4049
Photographed by Christian Banfield
This is an example of a contemporary home bar in London.
Radiator - webuser_327292966
Medium sized contemporary single-wall breakfast bar in London with open cabinets, dark wood cabinets, mirror splashback, carpet, beige floors and glass worktops.
Pleaseeee, next to the patio doors..... - webuser_67520528733
Stylish Drinks Bar area in this contemporary family home with sky-frame opening system creating fabulous indoor-outdoor luxury living. Stunning Interior Architecture & Interior design by Janey Butler Interiors. With bespoke concrete & barnwood details, stylish barnwood pocket doors & barnwod Gaggenau wine fridges. Crestron & Lutron home automation throughout and beautifully styled by Janey Butler Interiors with stunning Italian & Dutch design furniture.