Home bars are an excellent way to entertain guests or unwind after a long day. However, before you get started, it’s important to understand the fundamental differences between a wet bar and a dry bar. As the name suggests, a wet bar has a water supply and drain, making cleaning up messes and refilling ice trays a breeze. A sink is handy, but it requires the help of a professional plumber for installation. A dry bar, on the other hand, is a simple DIY option for storing alcohol and glassware, but you’ll need to make multiple visits to your kitchen for water. The choice is yours! In this article, we’ll provide you with 51 unique home bar ideas to transform happy hour into a fun and stylish experience.
Placement
The first factor to consider when creating your home bar is placement. Will your home bar be used frequently enough to make it a part of your living room, or would it make more sense as a feature in your dining room? Here are some ideas to inspire your home bar placement:
1. Glass Island Home Bar: This home bar is paired with a glass island and a set of electric blue chairs to create the illusion of a night out.
2. Shaped Alcove Home Bar: Fit your home bar right inside of a shaped alcove and apply a colorful tiled backsplash to enhance its curved silhouette.
3. Colorful Wallcovering Home Bar: Create a party atmosphere with a brightly colored wallcovering. Pair it with zigzag gold wall shelves and monkey-themed wall sconces.
4. Peninsula Home Bar: Define your bar area from the rest of your living space by installing a peninsula. Flank your wet bar with wine storage refrigerator cabinets to keep your favorite wines at optimum serving temperatures.
5. Chic Bar Cart Home Bar: If space is extremely tight, then a chic bar cart can suffice for storing your drinks.
6. Futuristic Home Bar: If you’re a sci-fi fan, then opt for a futuristic home bar design.
7. Tall Shelves Home Bar: Don’t be afraid to take your wine storage shelves all the way up to the rafters to keep those special occasion bottles stored safely.
8. Rugged Rock Home Bar: This relatively narrow wall comes alive under a covering of rugged rock and LED lights for the perfect cozy home bar feel.
9. L-Shaped Home Bar: An L-shaped bar provides extra space for guests. Add a TV to make this into a great hangout during sports seasons.
10. Skylights Home Bar: Open up your home bar to a pleasant skyscape by installing skylights above it.
11. Chandelier Home Bar: Elevate your home bar by crowning it with an exquisite chandelier.
12. Leather Home Bar: Muted green and cognac leather create a mature color scheme for a sophisticated home bar design.
13. Mirrors Home Bar: Back your bar shelving with mirrors to introduce a bright plane of light.
14. Kitchen Diner Home Bar: If you’re most likely to indulge in something a little stronger in the kitchen diner area, integrate a home bar into this space.
15. Pegboard Home Bar: A pegboard is excellent for displaying multiple types of glasses.
16. Curved Canopy Home Bar: Build a room within a room with a modern bar design featuring a curved canopy that differentiates it from the rest of your space.
17. Metal Worktop Home Bar: Try a sturdy metal worktop to set your home bar apart from the rest.
18. Dining Room Home Bar: A dining room home bar makes a convenient addition to dinner parties. Tuck it away neatly into the corner if it detracts from the food.
19. Black Home Bar: Unique black bar stools are the main focus of this stylish home bar area creating a stark contrast with an elegant white marble counter.
20. Hanging Drinks Bar Home Bar: Hang a drinks bar from the ceiling above your kitchen island if you’re maxed out on space.
21. Wall Shelves Home Bar: Make wall shelves as long as possible to accommodate all of those bottles and numerous drinking vessels.
22. Showcase Home Bar: If you have prized bottles to show off, then build a showcase right in the heart of your home bar design.
23. Strip Lights Home Bar: Guide guests towards the celebration area with a series of recessed strip lights that bridge the walls and ceiling.
24. Tub Chairs Home Bar: So that your guests will never want to leave, place tub chairs instead of bar stools for utmost comfort.
25. Rustic Home Bar: Set up a rustic home bar with a beautiful stone wall, chunky timber shelves, and a traditional brass faucet.
26. Backlit Home Bar: Make practical wine storage the star of the show with a magical backlit configuration.
27. Panoramic View Home Bar: A bright blue LED strip makes an excellent accompaniment to a panoramic view of an ocean horizon or an illuminated infinity pool.
28. Intricately Patterned Wallpaper Home Bar: Jazz up your home bar with intricately patterned wallpaper.
29. Industrial Home Bar: Construct an industrial home bar aesthetic with metal pipe shelf brackets and reclaimed wood worktops.
30. Petrol Blue Home Bar: A brass pipe and glass shelf unit pairs well with a petrol blue bar unit for a statement look.
31. Wine Holder Home Bar: A wine holder and spirit shelf unit look fantastic in multiples.
32. Wide Walkway Home Bar: Some home bar designs fit perfectly into unlikely nooks and crannies. However, if you have a more significant walkway, a home bar might be possible.
33. Double-Height Wall Home Bar: For vertical wine storage, install double-height living rooms.
34. Tag a Tall Bar Unit: To make serving guests a breeze, tag a tall bar unit onto the end of your kitchen run.
35. Full-Height Doors Home Bar: Conceal the bar area behind full-height doors and racks of door-mounted shelving for a stylish and dust-free occasional kitchen bar.
36. Sloping Bottle Shelves Home Bar: Create a geometric statement by adding sloping bottle shelves to your home bar design.
37. Pastel Colors Home Bar: Pastel colors and light woods provide the ideal sweet aesthetic for summertime cocktails.
38. Tiny Nook Home Bar: A well-thought-out, small home bar can fit into unlikely nooks and crannies. This tiny nook fits 36 bottles of wine, a full drinks fridge, an edge-to-edge glass rack that holds up to 24 vessels, and even a couple of cute decor shelves.
39. Metallic Edging Home Bar: Illuminate a bright and ultra-modern beacon of fun with metallic edging and perimeter lighting.
40. Decorative Bowls and Sculptures Home Bar: Use a few of the bar shelves to display decorative bowls and sculptures for added interest.
41. Wall-Mounted Drinks Cabinet Home Bar: This discreet wall-mounted drinks cabinet looks like a piece of wooden wall decor until it opens on a central hinge.
42. Glass Door Home Bar: A glass-fronted drinks fridge builds a true bar aesthetic.
43. Sliding Doors Home Bar: Sliding doors offer a flexible solution for a home bar. When closed, it’s a simple and cozy room. Once open, the room transforms into a sleek, celebratory zone.
44. Globe Home Bars Home Bar: Build a luxury home bar with glossy walnut cabinets and bold black marble countertops. Use bright blue LED strips to enhance the effect.
45. Patterned Wallpaper Home Bar: A busier patterned wallpaper can balance out the natural wood tones.
46. Metal Pipe Shelf Brackets Home Bar: Metal pipe shelf brackets create an industrial home bar aesthetic.
47. Tall Shelving Home Bar: Make use of vertical space with tall shelving.
48. Panoramic View Home Bar: A panoramic view makes an excellent backdrop for a blue LED strip.
49. Sloping Bottle Shelves Home Bar: Create geometric patterns with sloping bottle shelves.
50. Pastel Colors Home Bar: Light woods and pastels make a sweet summertime aesthetic.
51. Tiny Nook Home Bar: Turn small nooks and crannies into a functional home bar area.
In Conclusion
Home bars are an excellent way to entertain guests or create a comfortable space for relaxation. The design options are infinite, from a shaped alcove to a metal worktop home bar to a pastel-colored home bar. With the right placement and design, you can create a functional, stylish home bar that caters to your needs.
