Photography by Cristopher Nolasco
Seated home bar - mid-sized 1960s u-shaped light wood floor seated home bar idea with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and turquoise countertops

Wooden Basement Bar

Forward Design Build Remodel

This is a custom walnut wood bar and counter! We also used walnut for the floating wooden shelves and bar stools. The walls are painted Tint of Honey 1187 from Sherwin-Williams.

Mid-Century Modern Man Cave

Fran Kerzner- DESIGN SYNTHESIS

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Midcentury Modern Style House in Santa Cruz, CA

Howland Built

The mid-century style of the bar area involves exposed ceiling beams that add amazing detail to the ceiling. The white shaker cabinets combined with the beige tiles add a bright contrast to the darker walls.

Hughes Project

Steven M Roche Design Build

Example of a mid-sized 1950s single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor wet bar design in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash and green countertops

Wooden Basement Bar

Forward Design Build Remodel

This is a custom walnut wood bar and counter! We also used walnut for the floating wooden shelves and bar stools. The walls are painted Tint of Honey 1187 from Sherwin-Williams.

Midcentury Modern Style House in Santa Cruz, CA

Howland Built

A closeup view of the countertop shows the exquisite grain of the wood.
Seated home bar - mid-sized 1950s u-shaped ceramic tile seated home bar idea in San Francisco with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

Lori & Jim's Mid Century Modern Whole House Renovation

Americraft, Inc

Wet bar - mid-sized 1950s single-wall vinyl floor and brown floor wet bar idea in Chicago with no sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash and gray countertops

Seminole Heights Mid Century Beauty, Staged by Cardinal Designs

Cardinal Designs Home Staging

David Sibbitt
Example of a mid-sized 1960s l-shaped porcelain tile seated home bar design in Tampa with an undermount sink, granite countertops, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

Hughes Project

Steven M Roche Design Build

Wet bar - mid-sized 1960s single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor wet bar idea in Other with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash and green countertops

Hughes Project

Steven M Roche Design Build

Wet bar - mid-sized 1960s single-wall medium tone wood floor and brown floor wet bar idea in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, green backsplash, subway tile backsplash and green countertops

Hillwood Kitchen Renovation

Building Company Number 7, Inc.

Example of a 1960s u-shaped light wood floor home bar design in Nashville with a drop-in sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash and white countertops

Barr Custom Home

Alair Homes Red Deer

This home features an open concept living space and kitchen, with a complete master suite and spacious patio.
Mid-sized 1950s u-shaped home bar photo with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash and subway tile backsplash

YEG Acreage

LCF Flooring Ltd.

Basement bar with stainless steel mini fridge and dishwasher, chrome bar sink, tiled backsplash wall, and beautiful wood cabinetry.
Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern single-wall carpeted and beige floor wet bar design in Edmonton with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash and white countertops

#Ross_Haus

25:8 Research + Design

A massive kitchen island makes it the perfect place to gather.
Inspiration for a mid-sized 1950s l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor seated home bar remodel in Ottawa with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, solid surface countertops, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash and white countertops

Wooden Basement Bar

Forward Design Build Remodel

This is a custom walnut wood bar and counter! We also used walnut for the floating wooden shelves and bar stools. The walls are painted Tint of Honey 1187 from Sherwin-Williams.

Mid-Century Modern Man Cave

Fran Kerzner- DESIGN SYNTHESIS

Photography by Cristopher Nolasco
Example of a mid-sized mid-century modern u-shaped light wood floor seated home bar design with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash and subway tile backsplash

Wooden Basement Bar

Forward Design Build Remodel

This is a custom walnut wood bar and counter! The walls are painted Tint of Honey 1187 from Sherwin-Williams and the accent wall is painted Moody Blue 6221 from Sherwin-Williams.

Mid-Century Modern Home Bar with Subway Tile Backsplash 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 mid-century modern 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 1950s 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 1960s barroom or cantina. For portable options, try a fun bar cart.

What mid-century modern home bar furniture should I get?

Choose furniture that will coordinate well with the rest of your home’s 1950s 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 mid-century modern home bar?

Accessorizing is the fun part of finalizing retro home bar designs. Find a theme that you want to incorporate — think about what you might see at your favorite mod 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 mid-century modern 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!