Traditional Home Bar Ideas

Interior design by Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living. Photography by Laura Hull.
Large elegant galley dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar photo in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, blue cabinets, wood countertops, brown countertops, glass-front cabinets, blue backsplash and wood backsplash

Water View Darien, CT

Vicente Burin Architects

Barry A. Hyman
Example of a mid-sized classic single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in New York with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface countertops, mirror backsplash and gray countertops

Traditional Home Bar

Large elegant l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor wet bar photo in Portland with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops, metal backsplash and brown countertops

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Mud room Pantry

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Example of a classic single-wall wet bar design in New York with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, beige backsplash and subway tile backsplash

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Home bar - small traditional single-wall dark wood floor home bar idea in Los Angeles with white cabinets, quartzite countertops, no sink and shaker cabinets

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Mid-sized elegant single-wall dark wood floor home bar photo in Orange County with beaded inset cabinets, blue cabinets, wood countertops and wood backsplash

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Custom bar built for the homeowner, with butcher block countertops, custom made cabinets with built-in beverage fridge, & 8 lighted floating shelves. The cabinets color is Behr cracked pepper and the brick is Mcnear Greenich.

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Plain City, OH

Kuhns Contracting, Inc.26 Reviews

Central Ohio's Trusted Home Remodeler Specializing in Kitchens & Baths

First Place - National Kitchen and Bath Association Design Competition - Mequon,

PB Kitchen Design

The key to this project was to create a kitchen fitting of a residence with strong Industrial aesthetics. The PB Kitchen Design team managed to preserve the warmth and organic feel of the home’s architecture. The sturdy materials used to enrich the integrity of the design, never take away from the fact that this space is meant for hospitality. Functionally, the kitchen works equally well for quick family meals or large gatherings. But take a closer look at the use of texture and height. The vaulted ceiling and exposed trusses bring an additional element of awe to this already stunning kitchen. Project specs: Cabinets by Quality Custom Cabinetry. 48" Wolf range. Sub Zero integrated refrigerator in stainless steel. Project Accolades: First Place honors in the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s 2014 Design Competition

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Example of a small classic single-wall medium tone wood floor wet bar design in Orlando with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, laminate countertops and multicolored backsplash

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Example of a classic single-wall dark wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, wood countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash and brown countertops

Washington, DC

Liz Levin Interiors

Butler's pantry/bar makeover using existing millwork and cabinetry. High gloss finish, wallpaper, marble countertops and refinished floors.
Example of a classic home bar design in DC Metro

Traditional Home Bar Ideas

Everyone has their favorite spot to enjoy a glass of wine or a shot of whiskey. For some people, that spot is right in the comfort of their own traditional home bar. In-home bars can act as a central hub for entertainment, and can easily bring with them the fun atmosphere of a tavern or cocktail lounge. When browsing photos for classic home bar ideas, ask yourself the following questions to make sure you create exactly what you want and need:

I want to build a home bar. Where do I start?

First, pick a location. Generally, people will build a basement bar or corner bar in an area near the kitchen or dining room. If you are limited in terms of available indoor space, an outdoor bar is an excellent option, especially during warmer seasons. Once you have secured a location, decide on what functionality you want to include in your space, such as sinks, storage and refrigeration. This will help you with the overall layout of your home bar design, and then you can start picking materials and finishes that will coordinate with the rest of the space.

Do I need a wet bar or portable bar?

Including a sink in the functionality of your new watering hole makes it a wet bar. Sinks are convenient for home bars if you choose a location far from your kitchen. Don’t need running water? You might think about going with one of the many portable home bar design ideas, which will enable you to conveniently turn any space in your house into a timeless barroom or cantina. For portable options, try a fun bar cart.

What elegant home bar furniture should I get?

Choose furniture that will coordinate well with the rest of your home’s traditional decor. Seating and storage are essential to home bar designs, so look for bar stools and a liquor cabinet of some sort. If you are creating a freestanding station instead of using existing countertops, you will need a bar table, which are taller and shallower than regular dining tables. Check that your stool and table height work together before you finalize any home bar designs. Once you’ve found all of the right furniture pieces, you can implement your favorite decorative elements based on the home bar ideas that inspire you the most.

How should I decorate my traditional home bar?

Accessorizing is the fun part of finalizing traditional home bar designs. Find a theme that you want to incorporate — think about what you might see at your favorite traditional pub or alehouse. There are infinite bar decorating ideas to choose from, but don’t stress too much about finding the right barware pieces, as these are easy to change out. Bottle openers, decanters, ice buckets, cocktail shakers and glassware are a few of the functional accessories to remember to pick up. Coasters, neon lights or signage are all great home bar ideas that will help you achieve the traditional look you want, whether it’s a futuristic lounge or a historical saloon. Last, but not least, don’t forget to stock up on your beverage of choice!