Unique at-home bar stations to flaunt your mixology skills
Whether celebrating a special occasion or watching a sports event with friends, some people prefer to drink in the comfort of their own home. With a well-stocked cabinet and classy glassware, you can enjoy a happy hour with (or without) guests in your humble abode.
From grand renovations to quick and easy DIYs, check out these 50 stylish home bars to upgrade your space.
Want to renovate the basement into something trendy? These cool basement bar ideas will make your guests never want to leave.
Love the art deco Roaring ’20s era? With dim lights, vintage elements, and plush seating, you can hire local basement remodelers to transform the space into a classy speakeasy lounge.
Prefer a cozy space to store your wine? The cost to build a wine cellar can range from $5,000 to $100,000, depending on the size, cellar type, and necessities.
Who said game rooms were just for kids? With classic games, comfy seating, and a built-in bar, you can design an at-home arcade for adults to enjoy. Consider a pool table, dartboard, and the drinking game below to entertain your guests:
Looking for TV room ideas? With mounted TVs and decor of your favorite team memorabilia, your basement can become a cozy sports den.
This is an easy way to provide kitchen access to in-laws or visitors, especially for a cozy guest room in the basement.
Building a home theater in your basement? Make it a family-friendly bar with popcorn, snacks, and a mini fridge for juices and sodas.
For more inspiration, check out our extended list of basement bar ideas.
Not at all bar designs require room renovations. Here are a few space-saving home bar ideas to try.
As a fun DIY, you can upcycle an old wine barrel into a small, rustic-chic table. Give it a glass top for functionality and add a couple of bar stools.
Instead of dishes, use the china cabinet to display and store your wine bottles and glassware.
As dedicated storage space for your wine glasses and bottles, an industrial bar cart adds a stylish yet functional touch to any space. Easily push and roll the cart to any room and tuck it away when not in use.
Use a bookshelf as easy, accessible storage space for your liquor and cocktail supplies. Include a few cocktail recipe books and florals as lovely decor.
Is there an awkward nook in the living room? You can install storage shelves and add a mini fridge to transform it into a neat bar nook.
Keep your drinks concealed and out of children’s reach with a mounted liquor cabinet in the kitchen or den.
Do you have an unused closet? Clean it out to store your liquor and wine cooler.
If you have a large kitchen or extended countertop, use the corner space to flaunt your liquor and wine bottles. Place them on a tabletop wine rack or simple serving tray as decor.
Install backlight LED panels or strips underneath bar tops or wall shelves for a radiant view.
If you have confined space, keep it simple and minimal with a stylish wall bar. Mount a few wall shelves and floating countertop to store your wine glasses and bottles.
Don’t let the under-stair space go to waste. Instead, hire cabinet makers near you to install custom cabinets that fit within the niche. Add glasses and a bucket of chilled wine there as a quick and easy dry bar.
A console table is aesthetically pleasing and functional for any room. You can use it as a wine rack for your favorite bottles as well as a serving table during gatherings.
As the warmer season approaches, these outdoor home bar ideas will make a great addition to your backyard barbeque.
Do you have a pool house? Add a bar counter and stools beneath the window to prep and serve refreshing cocktails.
Place a portable mini bar next to your patio lounge chairs for outdoor sips and drinks. Consult with a landscaper in your area for plant and design recommendations.
Repurpose recycled pallets to build a bar at home, great for both indoor and outdoor use.
Use a potting bench in your garden to mix and serve cocktails. Add a couple of bar stools to enjoy the blissful outdoors and greenery.
Conveniently mount a fold-down bar, also known as a Murphy bar, to an exterior wall. Pull it down as a quick outdoor bar when hosting parties, and easily fold it away when not in use.
For the aspiring mixologists out there, consider converting your shed into a backyard serving bar.
Make your outdoor kitchen versatile by adding a two-tier bar. This will create separate surfaces, one at normal table height and one at standing height, great for dining and casual conversation.
Throwing a tropical-themed party? Decorate a tiki-style bar on wheels for a fun backyard luau.
Creating a coffee station at home can help you save time during busy mornings and make for a fun home improvement project. Here are a few at-home coffee bars you can try.
What’s an at-home coffee station without an espresso machine? You can hire an electrician to install an outlet directly into your kitchen cabinets for easy storage and access.
Make your morning coffees quick and easy with a visual menu:
Mount a rack or row of hooks to the wall to display your favorite coffee mugs.
Keep an espresso bar cart on wheels as functional storage in your kitchen.
An end table is small and minimal for any space. Place one in a kitchen corner to store your coffee mugs and supplies.
For an older home with a walk-in pantry, you can convert the space into a walk-in coffee station. Simply add a mini fridge, freestanding buffet or cart, and your go-to coffee supplies.
Stylish serving trays to store your coffee or tea make great for great table decor.
Love the cozy, rustic charm of the farmhouse design style? Expand the look for your coffee bar by using a vintage wooden tray. Add a coffee maker, a storage jar of coffee supplies, and a nice plant.
Make your at-home coffee bar pop with a decorative wallpaper backdrop.
A refinished wood buffet table makes a charming coffee station. Use it to store a coffee machine, cups, snacks, and spice jars.
Use mason jars as both storage and a creative display of your coffee beans, sugar, and other favorites.
If you have extra jars, fill them with on-the-go ingredients and gift them to your coffee-loving friends with fun gift tags:
Now that you have the design ideas, the next step is decorating your homemade bar. Below are a few items and styles to make it unique for your space.
Make your home bar stand out by hanging a custom bar sign, such as one with neon lights or a carving of your name.
Give your home bar a pub vibe by hanging traditional pendant lighting above the countertop.
As a thoughtful addition for seating comfort, install a bar foot rail. This also helps protect the wall from shoe scuffs and dents.
Hang a chalkboard or use chalkboard wall paint as a creative and customizable menu.
Level up the liquor or coffee bar wall with a decorative tile design. The average cost of tile backsplash is $25 per square foot.
Mount liquor dispensers to the wall to give your home bar a luxurious touch.
Revitalize the cabinetry of your home bar by adding a fresh coat of paint.
Books are easy decorative elements for tabletops and shelves. Opt for cocktail books with unique recipes to impress your guests.
Laminate countertops are a budget-friendly upgrade to your bar aesthetic. You can hire a local countertop contractor to install affordable options that mimic luxurious designs like natural stone.
Think outside the box. You can create DIY coasters using wine corks, or repurpose old wine bottles into candle holders as bar decor.
Reserve one wall to hang photos, a bar sign, shelves, and more.
Need a theme for your home bar? From posters to bar stool covers, a sports team is an easy way to find and coordinate decor.
Show off your luxurious wine glasses as a decorative wall display.
Houseplants are an easy way to add pops of greenery to the space and create a relaxing ambiance.
By building a bar at home, time spent indoors will be all the merrier. Now it’s time to put together a plan to bring that home bar dream into a reality. An interior designer near you can help map out a look that best suits your space and style.
