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Bar Ideas

Jump into the roaring twenties with these bar ideas, which will create a social space for all your celebrations, while providing valuable storage for barware and cocktail-making essentials. Forget pre-booking bars and instead turn to your own home for a party-ready layout full of your favourite tipples. Packed with tips from our team of expert designers, and real examples from customer’s homes, these home bars will make your house the go-to for get-togethers or casual evenings in.

10 inspiration ideas for at-home bars

1. Go for grey

Neutral shades, like grey, are a sure choice for a bar design, as they will easily pair with existing decor around the home for a coordinated look.

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1. Go for grey

At home, bars can double up as a multi-functional spot for evening drinks or morning coffees, so choosing a versatile colour scheme will make it simple to switch up how you use it. This grey bar idea is a great option for matching with an existing interior, whether your aesthetic is bold or pared-back. It also offers an opportunity to accessorise with barware for a customised design.

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2. Make it streamlined

Making drinks can get messy quickly, so it is important to keep the design clutter-free. Handleless cabinetry offers a pared-back look that is also easy to clean.

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2. Make it streamlined

For those aiming to create a sleek space reminiscent of hotel or high-end bar interiors, integrated handle doors will be the way to go. Less is more with this look, as the j-pull reduces adornments for a simple design. For double style points, let a statement palette do the talking, just like @rich.designs2020’s sultry navy scheme, which conceals sticky fingerprints.

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3. Parade your partyware

Show off your best accessories and glassware using glass-fronted cupboards, which adds a decorative element and a display feature to home bars.

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3. Parade your partyware

Bar areas are a fashion-forward addition to the home, making them a good opportunity for including decorative features, such as glass door fronts. @gail_angus_home has broken up banks of cabinetry with stylish clear doors, which will make space appear more open and add valuable storage for all those bar essentials. They also offer a great way to showcase glassware for a luxe touch.

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4. Open for business

Create a speakeasy-style cocktail cupboard with this small bar idea. Tucked within a larder unit, there is ample storage for stowing bottles from view when not in use.

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4. Open for business

Bar areas create a socialise spot for evening tipples and night-caps but come the morning, you may want to hide the evidence. Larder units offer a clutter-free solution as you can close the doors behind you while allowing the bar to blend into the rest of the cooking space. This will make cleaning up easy for a function-first approach and will add a speakeasy style when the bar is open for business.

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5. Go for art-deco

Quartz surfaces are key to achieving a luxury bar design akin to upmarket drinking parlours, as well as offering a practical solution for spilt liquids.

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5. Go for art-deco

Adding on-trend touches will transform a simple bar area into an opulent spot that feels like a treat. Quartz surfaces add a premium touch and are stain-resistant, making them a pragmatic choice for spaces where spills are commonplace. @singinginthereno has the right idea opting for a white and grey veined look that transforms their dove-grey scheme into a high-end home bar.

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6. Sink into the evening

To create a drinks area that prioritises fashion and function, opt for this practical bar idea that includes an inset bowl for washing up glasses and shakers.

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6. Sink into the evening

Curating a dedicated space for a bar within a home provides additional room for cocktail making and cleaning up. @thedubfordrenovation has created a practical area with an inset bowl, which sits in line with the surface, making it simple to sweep debris away. Stainless steel options are contemporary and easy to clean, while an extended depth is great for stacking barware.

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7. Create a luxe look

Take inspiration from The Great Gatsby by adopting glitzy finishes, like copper handgrips, that add glamour to a home bar design.

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7. Create a luxe look

Style-forward touches are a clever way to add personality to a bar area, just like @hopyard_house ‘s round copper handgrips. These small additions can easily be updated as trends change, ensuring your bar stays up to date. When used alongside features such as a marble-effect counters and decorative lighting, a drinks spot has plenty of art-deco appeal.

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8. Tap into black

For those wanting to achieve a statement scheme, black features, such as taps, will make a home bar stand out for maximum impact.

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8. Tap into black

Matt black is a firm favourite in style-conscious homes, as it embodies a bold look characteristic of boutique interiors. @ashwoodhouseprojects has included a matt black tap, which stands out against their quartz surface, and matches dark cabinetry. The velvet finish is also great for busy lifestyles, as it disguises fingerprints and is easy to clean.

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9. Win with a wine fridge

Update your social space with the latest tech by adding a wine fridge. This modern bar idea will make accessing and chilling bottles a breeze when entertaining.

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9. Win with a wine fridge

An at-home bar is not complete without storage for your favourite bottles, so why not update this with a temperature-controlled environment that will serve drinks at their best. Available in a variety of sizes, there will be a cooler to suit any bar size, as well as sleek designs that will complement any interior. Follow @mollieking’s lead by positioning your cooler within arm’s reach of seating.

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10. Illuminate the night

Use lighting to add visibility to storage areas and shed light on your latest infusions. This will also set the mood for an evening spent with good company.

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10. Illuminate the night

When entertaining, it is essential to find smaller sources of light that create a warm and relaxing ambience. Adding strip lights inside cabinetry will create a lavish bar scene full of character and one that feels like a night on the town. Additional lighting on shelves also makes it easy to store and grab your favourite glassware.

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