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  1. Home Bar
  2. built-in shelves

Home Bar Ideas and Designs

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Rocky Mountain Homes- Mountain Timberframe
Rocky Mountain Homes- Mountain Timberframe
Rocky Mountain Homes/Rocky Mountain Log HomesRocky Mountain Homes/Rocky Mountain Log Homes
This home bar features built in shelving, custom rustic lighting and a granite counter, with exposed timber beams on the ceiling.
Design ideas for a small rustic galley breakfast bar in Other with dark wood cabinets, dark hardwood flooring, raised-panel cabinets, granite worktops, multi-coloured splashback, stone tiled splashback and brown floors.
03103_Private Residence
03103_Private Residence
Pinnacle Architectural StudioPinnacle Architectural Studio
Photo of a contemporary galley home bar in Las Vegas with dark hardwood flooring.
Houston Riverview Way
Houston Riverview Way
Tom Hurt ArchitectureTom Hurt Architecture
Behind the fireplace we designed bar with a wine fridge and sink, a cozy space to entertain.
Photo of a small contemporary galley breakfast bar in Austin with open cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood flooring, a submerged sink and granite worktops.
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Drew McGukin Interiors - East Hampton Residence Family Room
Drew McGukin Interiors - East Hampton Residence Family Room
Drew McGukin Interiors @drewmcgukinDrew McGukin Interiors @drewmcgukin
Inspiration for a contemporary home bar in New York with dark hardwood flooring.
Lake Side Luxury
Lake Side Luxury
Parkyn DesignParkyn Design
A traditional home bar area with a television, built in cabinetry and seating for five.
Design ideas for a large classic home bar in Toronto with medium hardwood flooring.
Modern Boho in Denver
Modern Boho in Denver
Stafford BensenStafford Bensen
All photos courtesy of Havenly. Full article here: http://blog.havenly.com/design-story-amys-600-square-feet-of-eclectic-modern-charm/
Warbler
Warbler
Ferrugio Design + AssociatesFerrugio Design + Associates
Inspiration for a contemporary single-wall home bar in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble flooring and no sink.
Privathaus 8
Privathaus 8
AREA Handelsgesellschaft mbH - Linz OÖAREA Handelsgesellschaft mbH - Linz OÖ
Foto: Florian Stürzenbaum
Photo of a small rustic single-wall wet bar in Other with light hardwood flooring, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, brown splashback and beige floors.
Modern Oasis
Modern Oasis
David Small DesignsDavid Small Designs
Jason Hartog Photography
Design ideas for a medium sized contemporary galley breakfast bar in Toronto with dark hardwood flooring.
Jax Intracostal
Jax Intracostal
Lendry HomesLendry Homes
Inspiration for a contemporary galley breakfast bar in Jacksonville with yellow splashback, stone slab splashback, black cabinets, granite worktops, limestone flooring, beige floors and grey worktops.
Maloof
Maloof
Macaluso DesignsMacaluso Designs
Game room with wine cellar, custom bar, billiard table and pub style seating
Inspiration for a mediterranean home bar in Orange County.
Bar Area
Bar Area
Rogan Allen Builders LLCRogan Allen Builders LLC
This is an example of a classic breakfast bar in Nashville with medium hardwood flooring, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood worktops and brown worktops.
Duplex à Paris
Duplex à Paris
Atelier mepAtelier mep
Atelier MEP
Photo of a medium sized contemporary single-wall breakfast bar in Paris with medium hardwood flooring and open cabinets.
Bow Mar Residential Project
Bow Mar Residential Project
Seek Interior DesignSeek Interior Design
Emily Minton-Redfield Photography
Photo of a classic breakfast bar in Denver.
Mens' Bar
Mens' Bar
Peruri Design CompanyPeruri Design Company
Contemporary galley breakfast bar in San Francisco with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and mirror splashback.

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.
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