Affordable Home Bar Ideas and Designs

Cottage 2016

This is an example of a small traditional galley wet bar in Other with a submerged sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, composite countertops, grey splashback, stone tiled splashback and medium hardwood flooring.

Transitional Home Bar

This is an example of a small classic single-wall wet bar in Chicago with white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, porcelain flooring, glass-front cabinets, beige floors and white worktops.

Carmel Valley Renovation

Anne Rae Design

Found Creative Studios
Medium sized classic home bar in San Diego with recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble worktops and dark hardwood flooring.

Roswell Breakfast addition/Kitchen Expansion

J. Vann, Residence Designer

Garrett Anderson Photograpy
Design ideas for a small traditional single-wall wet bar in Atlanta with dark wood cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, no sink, glass-front cabinets and dark hardwood flooring.

Custom upgrades for a New Construction Home

Design Harmony

This is an example of a medium sized traditional single-wall home bar in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, dark hardwood flooring and brown worktops.

Terrace Grove

Nikole Starr Interiors

This is an example of a medium sized classic home bar in Houston.

Lakewood Condo

Modern Smart Homes

Photo of a medium sized modern single-wall wet bar in Cleveland with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, marble worktops, mirror splashback, marble flooring and white floors.

Finished Basement in Northville, MI

Finished Basements Plus

Inspiration for a large classic u-shaped wet bar in Detroit with a submerged sink, quartz worktops, white splashback, wood splashback and white worktops.

Ombre Hexagon Backsplash

Fireclay Tile

Creative use of our Hexagon tile to create an eye-catching ombre kitchen backsplash! DESIGN Jkath Design Build + Reinvent PHOTOS Chelsie Lopez LOCATION Wayzata, MN TILE SHOWN 6" HEXAGON in Daisy, Morning Thaw, and Peacock

Custom Beverage Center

ZFE Renovations

A custom built beverage center featuring wine glass storage, tall shelving for larger bottles, and glass panel doors with LED lighting inside.
Photo of a medium sized modern single-wall dry bar in Dallas with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, engineered stone countertops and white worktops.

Tiverton Wet Bar

D&G Construction

Dining Room Entertainment Bar
This is an example of a medium sized classic single-wall dry bar in Denver with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, grey splashback, metro tiled splashback and white worktops.

Parkmeadow

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

We created a space for our homeowners to house their modest wine collection directly off of the kitchen. This is a custom unit with wooden top and pulls. For character and storage we added black box shelves above.

R. Laden: Lakeville, MN

HELMÜT

Wing Ta
This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped home bar in Minneapolis with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, grey splashback, metro tiled splashback, ceramic flooring, grey floors and white worktops.

Outdoor Bar and Grill

DeGoey Designs

This is an example of a small contemporary breakfast bar in Other with open cabinets, light wood cabinets, concrete worktops, brick flooring, grey floors, grey worktops and a built-in sink.

Storm Grey Kitchen

White Wood Kitchens

This storm grey kitchen on Cape Cod was designed by Gail of White Wood Kitchens. The cabinets are all plywood with soft close hinges made by UltraCraft Cabinetry. The doors are a Lauderdale style constructed from Red Birch with a Storm Grey stained finish. The island countertop is a Fantasy Brown granite while the perimeter of the kitchen is an Absolute Black Leathered. The wet bar has a Thunder Grey Silestone countertop. The island features shelves for cookbooks and there are many unique storage features in the kitchen and the wet bar to optimize the space and functionality of the kitchen. Builder: Barnes Custom Builders

Beverage Center

Claude C. Lapp Architects, LLC

Serving Center
Design ideas for a small traditional single-wall home bar in DC Metro with raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite worktops, beige splashback, travertine splashback and medium hardwood flooring.

Espresso Wet Bar

User

This is an example of a large classic single-wall wet bar in DC Metro with a submerged sink, glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, laminate countertops, red splashback, brick splashback and dark hardwood flooring.

Flooring Showroom

User

FLOORING SHOWROOM
Inspiration for a medium sized traditional single-wall wet bar in Other with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite worktops, brown splashback, stone tiled splashback and ceramic flooring.

Enfield Way Basement

Carla Bast Design

Home Bar with exposed rustic beams, 3x6 subway tile backsplash, pendant lighting, and an industrial vibe.
This is an example of an expansive industrial u-shaped breakfast bar in Minneapolis with concrete worktops, white splashback, porcelain splashback and vinyl flooring.

Hidden Cove Kitchen and Living

Alair Homes Plano

This house has a cool modern vibe, but the pre-rennovation layout was not working for these homeowners. We were able to take their vision of an open kitchen and living area and make it come to life. Simple, clean lines and a large great room are now in place. We tore down dividing walls and came up with an all new layout. These homeowners are absolutely loving their home with their new spaces! Design by Hatfield Builders | Photography by Versatile Imaging

Affordable Home Bar Ideas and Designs

A home bar is one of the ultimate indulgences for a homeowner. By no means essential but all the more satisfying for that very reason. Whether your home bar ideas would be having the boys round to watch the big match in a pub-style atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon, ‘going uptown’ to sip an espresso martini in your home cocktail bar in the loft, or hoping to recreate the vibe of an intimate speakeasy in your basement, a style home bar is a treat that’s guaranteed to lift your spirits. A place where you are always guaranteed a seat.

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.

United Kingdom

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