Home Bar Design Ideas for the Perfect Happy Hour Oasis at Home

Home bar design ideas aren’t just about the right color swatches and the accessories—it’s about a lot more. Storage, finishes, hardware, and utility are all things you need to keep in mind when thinking about the perfect home bar design for you.

Home Bar Design Essentials

Entertaining guests often means organizing a constant stream of traffic in and around your kitchen—which can cramp the overall flow of your get-togethers. A separate bar area is just what you need to deflect kitchen traffic and create a new, unique focal point in your home. Remember that truly versatile home bar ideas are both stylish and functional.

 

Whether you have a small space or a large one, storage is always needed. With home bars come many new accessories and other needs that may not be something you want to display year round. The good news? Cabinets and wall units are the perfect solution to help maximize space and function.

Cabinets come in all shapes and sizes—open, corner, single door, double door, blind corner, etc. Custom cabinetry is what it sounds—cabinetry made custom to fit the needs of your home and your space. Pre-fabricated cabinets may not fit where you need them and can have limited finish options which means you may be left with a less than perfect fit.

We suggest custom cabinetry above the bar space. A mix of open uppers or uppers with a clear glass door with wall units with solid doors means you can display things like stemware and tumblers while openers, cocktail mixers, and other items can be stored out of sight.

Laminate, solid surface, or natural granite finishes add that extra design element that can take your home bar from a utility space to a design focal point. Extend a countertop along the length of a wall or conserve space with a countertop that wraps around a corner. Remember that necessity is the mother of invention, so regardless of the size of your space, a custom-made countertop can be cut and shaped to the right dimensions.

Base cabinets under a countertop increase your storage abilities. You can create an open cabinet, shelves without a door, or create a more design-centric look with a high gloss finish with a pop of color like ruby red or metallic charcoal. Check out our full list of finishes to see how you can bring your own personal touch into your home bar ideas. For a more traditional look, like the one shown above, try a solid wood or thermofoil finish in a woodgrain.

Adding drawers with full extension means you have easy access to everything, even those pesky olive toothpicks that may be stored way in the back. Nothing is out of reach and the right finish can help your home bar blend in with your original architecture and design.

Depending on your design, shelves and racks can either go above or below the countertop space. Open shelves and wine racks can add both storage and design elements to your home bar so you can be both stylish and pragmatic.

A rack can store wine bottles and shelves can display liquor bottles and other accessories that you don’t mind having on display. Think about the finish that makes sense for your style—would a wood or metal rack suit you the best? Make sure to think about how and what you’ll be using your racks for before you speak to your design specialist.

Is an added countertop for your bar not practical for your space? Meet the drop-down desk, a small home bar’s best friend. The drop down desk is a handy tablespace that can be folded and stored in a cabinet when not in use, ensuring that you’re maximizing space and utility at the same time. Use the desktop as your countertop when the home bar is in use and fold it away when you need the space for other things. Add some custom cabinetry and you can have a small home bar that doubles as additional desk or counter space!

Home Bar Ideas Start with Customization

Your home is a reflection of your personality and your style. Don’t let a pre-fabricated piece cost you—contact our design experts for design help at affordable prices. We pride ourselves on building relationships with our clients and giving them more space to live their lives.

Hopefully, these home bar ideas get you started towards creating the perfect space for your home. Be sure to reach out to one of our design experts for the inspiration you need to get your home bar ready to serve up good times for friends and family.