Whether it’s a small alcove for mixing an aperitif before dinner, a cabinet stocked full of wine in the kitchen, or a speakeasy-style wet bar in a cosy, tucked-away room of its own, a luxury home bar is always a good idea.

But where to start? Below, we give all our tips for designing a home bar and where to put it, plus what materials are best for your drinks station. We gather our favourite small home bar ideas, show that a small nook can be just as effective as a large cabinet, and have all the styling inspiration for bar shelves you could possibly need.

First, choose where to put a home bar, its dimensions, and the style you’ll go for. A wet bar includes a built-in sink with running water, so you’ll need to consider plumbing. Built-in bars are a great option for small spaces, like living room alcoves or kitchen corners, while a drinks cabinet is a freestanding bar that can be placed wherever you have space (and where guests will naturally congregate).

Then, think about storage. Do you want to hide certain items of your home bar away and keep others on display? Glassware and bottles could be displayed on open shelving, for example, while spare snack bowls, ice buckets or appliances could be tucked away behind closed doors. Adding warm lighting under shelves or small, soft pendant lights will aid prep and create a warm ambience.

Lastly, a good luxury home bar should be made up of luxury materials. Countertops and backsplashes in marble or natural stone provide a durable surface for mixing drinks, while brass bar hardware adds a long-lasting and timeless touch.

1. Create a built-in home bar

A built-in home bar is the perfect opportunity to use bespoke cabinetry and design to create a space that works for your needs. It also helps you make the most of space in a small home bar, like this one designed by Torn & Cotton Interiors. Here, there’s space for a small bar fridge, elegant glassware storage and to hide things away in the dark brown cabinetry, as well as space to keep the essentials on display through open shelving.

2. Incorporate a home bar into the kitchen

Most of us spend a lot of time in our kitchens, so why not bring your home bar into the kitchen as well? This innovative design by Lori Paranjape involves wraparound cabinetry so no space goes to waste. The ample open bar shelves allow for framed pictures and trinkets to be displayed alongside glassware and bottles, bringing personality and a homely touch to the space. Brass bar hardware and tapware add that all-important luxury.

3. Design a wet bar for entertaining

Do you need a wet bar at home? This space shows just how useful it can be, particularly for entertaining. A wet bar includes a sink with running water; a dry bar doesn’t, so when it comes to hosting guests, a wet bar allows you to make drinks, tip ice or quickly rinse a glass without having to go into the kitchen. Why waste that precious socialising time? And as this project shows, that sink doesn’t need to be huge. Incorporating a small one into built-in cabinetry is all you need.

4. Turn an alcove into a home bar

A small home bar can be just as effective as a large one, and if your home is short on space, you can always find an under-utilised spot to create a wet or dry bar. In this project designed by Ashley Montgomery, an alcove was turned into a luxury home bar. Part hidden, it’s a welcome surprise to stumble across, with built-in cabinets, open shelving for bottle and glassware storage kept in place with a brass gallery rail, and luxury natural materials that make sure style is also at the forefront of this small home bar.

5. Create a hidden home bar or drinks cabinet

If you’re short on space and want a luxury home bar that’s only on display during special occasions, consider creating a hidden home bar or drinks cabinet. In this project, cabinet doors open to reveal a space strictly for grown-ups, with storage, open shelving, a small sink, and clever use of lighting to illuminate the drink prepping area.

6. Add open shelving to a drinks station

Open shelving in a home bar does two things: it allows for easy access to glassware and bottles, and it creates a stylish display out of them too. In this project, dark wood shelving sits above the wet bar and matching built-in cabinetry with brass hardware, creating a space that is timeless and functional.

7. Make a statement with colour and materials

Just as you could choose to hide a home bar away, you could opt for making it the focal point of a room. In this lounge area, Lindsay Laine Home created a built-in home bar complete with light teal cabinetry, bold brass hardware, and statement wallpaper that acts as the backdrop to open glassware storage.

8. Use brass hardware as the finishing touch

No matter how big or small your home bar is, luxury often lies in the details. Brass bar hardware always acts as that finishing touch, whether that’s cabinet knobs like this project, a gallery rail on open shelving, or cabinet handles on larger cupboard doors.

Home bars differ by size, type, location and need, so it’s a good idea to decide on those elements first. Next, think about what you’ll stock it with. Do you want bespoke cabinetry that will turn your home bar into a mini wine cellar? Or open shelving with plenty of space for spirits and glasses? Wet bars should always include a sink and a tap with running water, whereas dry bars can go without. Then, no matter whether you have a small home bar or a large drinks cabinet, make sure to include a surface you can prep those drinks on.

Let your glassware become part of your home bar’s decor by displaying statement tumblers or wine glasses, as in this project by McCroskey Interiors. Adding a tray or two to the countertop lets you group items, keep them neat, and make room for additional decorative pieces like candles. Finally, they’ve added backlit shelving to create a warm ambience.

Like a cabinet of curiosities, this drinks station keeps everything on display. Glasses are grouped by height and type and sit behind glass doors, while the bottles take centre stage on open shelving. Fresh elements add colour and an organic, homely feel: a small plant and a bowl of lemons and limes that will come in handy at cocktail hour.

A home bar may seem like an extravagance in a small space, but you can still create an effective one; you may need to be a little more creative. You could create a hidden drinks cabinet or tuck a home bar into an unused alcove, like in the projects above, or you could take a leaf out of Jean Stoffer’s book with this multi-functional design.

This home bar fits neatly into the corner of a small kitchen, with a bespoke cabinet that acts as both storage and a counter for a coffee machine, kettle and sink. And come evening time, it turns from a coffee station into a home bar, with floating shelves for glassware storage, bottles, and a plant for that homely touch.

What is the difference between a wet bar and a dry bar?

A wet bar has a sink with running water, which can be used for rinsing glasses or when prepping drinks. A dry bar, on the other hand, doesn’t require any plumbing.

What materials are best for a home bar?

For countertops, natural materials such as marble and quartz are best for a home bar because they resist scratches and stains. Solid hardwood such as oak or walnut works best for cabinetry, and solid brass and bronze work best for hardware, as they’re durable, long-lasting, and have a luxurious finish.

How do you choose hardware for a home bar?

The right hardware for your luxury home bar depends on your cabinetry. Knobs suit small cupboards and drawers, while cabinet handles suit large drawers and doors. You could also use cup handles for a more traditional look. Read our guide to choosing the right hardware for more details.

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