55 Home Bar Ideas That Bring the Party to You

Whether you want a built-in home bar or you simply want to dedicate a nook in your living room to your favorite spirits, there are options for every home. For some, a home bar is just enough luxury to take your space to the next level. And the best news? You don't need a lot of room to create an amazing home bar that's perfect for entertaining.

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Get Inspired by These Great Home Bar Ideas

Check out our favorite ideas to help you create a cocktail bar you don't need to leave the house to enjoy.

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Round the Corner

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Tessa Neustadt

This white and wood home bar from Emily Henderson Design occupies a corner of this downstairs living space, with a rounded edge to preserve flow and adjacent double doors leading to the outside that give it an indoor outdoor feel.

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Create a Wet Bar

dalydigs / Instagram

If you are interested in adding a custom home bar, make sure it has all of the essentials. This lovely home bar from Daly Digs features cabinetry and shelving for your spirits, a small sink, and even additional hidden storage underneath. This project is more labor-intensive than temporary solutions, but it's a great idea for anyone who wants a permanent home bar.

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Add a Standalone Bar

126interiors / Instagram

If you want something that feels intentional without undergoing a whole renovation, this idea from 126 Interiors is a great choice. Look for a standalone shelf that pairs well with your existing wet bar or cabinetry (a perfect match isn't essential). This will provide a dedicated space for spirts that still feels in sync with your other decor.

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Use Freestanding Cabinetry

deVOL Kitchens

This British basement bar from deVOL Kitchens came together with kitchen cabinetry outfitted with a wine fridge and glass-front upper cabinets show off bottle storage. The countertop is styled with cocktail accoutrements and decorative objects like an antique candelabra to add ambiance.

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Add a Wine Storage Room

Design by Martha OâHara Interiors / Photo by Spacecrafting

This home bar in West Fargo, ND from Martha O’Hara Interiors has sleek black, wood, and antique bronze finishes. An adjoining wine room keeps bottles within easy reach.

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Paint It Dark and Moody

kelly.e.stone / Instagram

We can't get enough of this home bar from Kelly Stone Interiors. The sleek black paint and mirrored tiled backsplash give it a high-end cocktail bar feel. Painting your home bar a dark color is a cheap and easy way to give it a moody, luxurious feel similar to a real bar.

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Use a Buffet

Design by Living With Lolo / Photo by Life Created

This bar area from Living With Lolo is anchored by a long buffet with some floating shelves on the wall above for display and storage, an affordable solution for adding a dedicated cocktail area that could work in a basement, dining, living room, or small space.

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Add a Mirror

Design: marksimmonsinteriors
Photography: carolinesharpnack

Adding a mirrored backsplash to the side of your home bar is a great way to give it that commercial feel and make the space appear larger. This home bar from Mark Simmons Interiors features glass shelving for barware and mirrored siding to give the illusion of more space. This is a great idea if you want to create a cozier look in a dining room corner or a butler's pantry.

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Keep It Light

Design by Design by Martha O'Hara Interiors / Photo by Troy Thies

This bright basement bar in Medina, MN from Martha O’Hara Interiors is decorated in shades of blue and white, with comfortable upholstered bar stools, brass accents, and plenty of storage and counterspace for practicing your mixology skills.

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Try a Black-on-Black Palette

Christina Kim Interior Design

This basement rec room home bar from Christina Kim Interior Design layers black-on-black finishes that embrace the dark moody basement setting, creating a chic watering hole in the multipurpose space.

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Define With Photography

Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Margaret Austin Photo

A framed black-and-white photo defines this small home sideboard bar from Cathie Hong Interiors.

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Think Vertically

Design: studiothomas
Photography: eklundphotography

One of the best ways to create a workable home bar is to take advantage of all of your available wall space. This lovely modern home bar from Studio Thomas features a contemporary glass wall shelving unit that has a small footprint but works well to store classes and bottles.

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Add Tropical Vibes

Louis Duncan-He Designs / Eymeric Wilding Photography

This basement home bar from Louis Duncan-He Designs has a tropical lounge vibe, with botanical wallpaper, a mix of dark finishes and bright velvet barstools, and a round table and chairs for game nights.

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Repurpose a Dresser

@thatemilyfarris / Instagram

We can't get enough of this elaborate home bar from Emily Harris Not only is it super well-stocked, but we love the idea of repurposing a vintage dresser or desk to create a classic home bar. Install a few floating shelves for wine glasses and bar tools and you have a space perfect for any cocktail party.

25 Clever Ways to Upcycle Your Dresser

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Make It a Mini

Studio Peake

This London home mini bar from Studio Peake is housed in a tray on an antique side table.

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Add in Metallic Elements

papermoonpainting / Instagram

This lovely home bar from Paper Moon Painting features silver and gold accents to help create a fancier touch. Metallics are great accent colors for a home bar (ever wonder why so many bar carts are gold?) and a great way to experiment with them if you have an otherwise minimalist home.

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Keep It Long and Linear

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

This home bar from Emily Henderson Design is recessed into a niche that might once have been a closet and finished with white tile, cool marble-effect quartz, stainless steel appliances, and blue cabinetry that matches the walls of the room for a cohesive look. A long bar shelf that runs from wall to wall adds elegance and display space for bottles and glasses.

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Add a Wine Fridge

joystreetdesign / Instagram

One of the best ways to make your home bar feel luxurious and high-end is to add a small beer or wine fridge. Even if a totally built-in option like this one from Joy Street Design is out of reach for you, adding a mini-fridge next to your bar cart or table is a great way to make your space even more functional.

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Mix Warm and Cool Finishes

Envi Interior Design / Photo by Audrey Hall

Envi Interior Design mixed warm flat-front wood cabinetry with a rich stain that highlights the wood grain with a cool gray horizontal stacked tile backsplash and silver finishes in this rustic chic Montana home bar.

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Go Bold With Blue

jenniferbacksteininteriors / Instagram

This home bar idea from Jennifer Backstein Interiors is classic, sleek, and perfect for a nook in a kitchen or even standalone in a den or living space. Navy is a great color for a home bar because it is a hue that elevates any space and helps it feel a little fancier.

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Use the Space Beneath the Stairs

Envi Interior Design / Photo by Audrey Hall

This under-stair home bar from Envi Interior Design has a patterned tile backsplash that defines the space.

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Add Wine Storage

michaelrobertconstruction / Instagram

If you are a wine connoisseur then this home bar idea from Michael Robert Construction is probably a dream setup. Even if you can't recreate such an elaborate wine vault in your own home, hanging a wine rack against a wall or adding a few stackable wine boxes can provide easy storage.

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Lock It Up

A Beautiful Mess

This DIY wall-mounted liquor cabinet from A Beautiful Mess is located in the dining room, hung high off the floor to keep it safe from curious kids.

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Take Over a Butler's Pantry

houseliftdesign / Instagram

If you have space for a butler's pantry, that can be a great place to repurpose and build a home bar. This beautiful home bar from House Lift Design is tucked away where a butler's pantry could go to create a wonderful space to store drinks and mix cocktails for your guests.

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Outfit a Covered Patio

Design by Bartone Interiors / Lissa Gotwals Photography

This home bar from Bartone Interiors is conveniently located along one wall of a covered patio that straddles indoor and outdoor spaces.

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Create a Real In-Home Bar

sallydoessassy / Instagram

If the whole speakeasy theme is your thing, you will love this amazing home bar from Sally Does Sassy. This impressive set up is perfect for entertaining friends or escaping to a separate space to wind down after work. Though it looks impressive, you can recreate the look with a few easy chairs, a built-in breakfast bar, and a bar cart or two.

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Carve Out a Nook in a Living Room

allisonsextoninteriors / Instagram

If you can't commit an entire room to your home bar, help delineate a shared space with the use of wall art. We love this home bar idea from Allison Sexton Interiors that features a midcentury dresser and a pink arch to give it a separate look and feel from the rest of the room and help it appear more intentional.

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Try a Midcentury Home Bar

projectandstories / Instagram

Midcentury modern is a great style for a home bar. Whether you opt for a vintage gold bar cart like this one from Project and Stories or simply pick retro finishes for your built-in home bar, there's something utterly Mad Men about this approach.

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Create a Comfortable Nook

chelseakloon / Instagram

What's even better than a home bar? A nook in your home that's perfect for relaxing and unwinding after a long day. This corner from Chelsea Kloon features a small bar cart decked out with the essentials and a few comfortable seating options for relaxing with a glass of wine or a mixed drink.

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Mix Open and Closed Storage

Maite Granda

This Florida dining room home bar from interior designer Maite Granda has a mix of open and closed storage and an adjacent living wall that energizes the contemporary space.

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Carve Out a Niche

Gianpiero Gaglione Interior Design / Pablo Enriquez Photography

This home bar from Gianpiero Gaglione Interior Design is neatly tucked into a niche, with glass shelves and a mirrored backsplash to make it feel larger and lighter.

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Keep It Modern

Urbanology Designs / Matti Gresham Photography

This L-shaped home bar from Urbanology Designs is minimalist and modern, with simple furniture and lighting and an uncluttered feel.

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Spiff Up a Bar Cart

Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp

Sometimes a home bar is nothing more than an elegant bar cart, equipped with essentials and styled with flair, like this one from Emily Henderson Design.

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Add Retro Curves

Hub of the House Studio / Photo by Bret Gum

This curved white home bar from Hub of the House Studio has a retro feel, with its all-white finishes and graphic dot wall cabinet for a punch of color.

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Add Farmhouse Vibes

My 100 Year Old Home

My 100 Year Old Home created a simple home bar set-up in the corner of the farmhouse dining room by topping a weathered chest of drawers with a silver tray,
some glassware, a selection of favorite spirits, and a table lamp.

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Create a Focal Point

Kate Marker Interiors

This home bar from Kate Marker Interiors is simple and modern, with a mini wine cellar that provides bottle storage and creates a focal point.

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Add Chalet Vibes

WRJ Interior Design / Photo by Tuck Fauntleroy

This living room at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort from WRJ Interior Design is a modern rustic take on a classic Swiss chalet, with a large home bar to the left of the fireplace that is designed for entertaining.

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Be Bold

Design by JLF Architects / Photo by Lucy Call

This home bar from JLF Architects is hidden behind folding doors on a wall of walnut-stained wood that is personalized with bold splotches of blue paint for a memorable effect.

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Add a Flat Screen

Brophy Interiors

Brophy Interiors hung a large flat screen on the wall of this home bar in Rancho Mirage, CA that creates a spot for watching sports events with a cocktail in hand.

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Add an Arch

Mindy Gayer Design Co.

Mindy Gayer Design Co. created an arched home bar that features a floating wood bar shelf that is contrasted with a glazed tile backsplash, marble countertops, brass accents, and soothing painted blue lower cabinetry.

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Mix Materials

Design by JLF Architects / Photo by Audrey Hall

This modern rustic home bar from JLF Architects is set in a large picture window and finished with a mix of materials that gives it texture and interest, from the reclaimed wood surround to the floating glass shelving.

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Dress Up the Butler's Pantry

Whittney Parkinson Design

Whittney Parkinson Design turned a butler's pantry into a stylish home bar with dark blue cabinetry, brass fixtures, glass shelving, and vibrant blue flowered wallpaper.

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Make It Moody

Ashley Montgomery Design

This moody stocked home bar from Ashley Montgomery Design has black bar shelves contrasted with brass railings to add some shine while keeping bottles in place.

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Stay Neutral

Envi Interior Design / Photo by Audrey Hall

Neutral finishes and mixed materials give this living room home bar from Envi Interior Design a calming feel.

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Choose a Mascot

White Sands

White Sands chose a neon flamingo as a mascot for this cheerful Southern California home bar outfitted with candy pink cabinets, under-counter glass-front drink refrigerators, and floating wood shelves.

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Add Window Shelves

Emily Henderson Design / Photo By Kaitlin Green

Emily Henderson Design suspended slim white-and-brass bar shelves that run from wall to wall in front of the window in this home bar niche, providing storage without blocking light or views.

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Steal Part of the Kitchen

Design by Bartone Interiors / Lissa Gotwals Photography

This home bar from Bartone Interiors is located in a corner of the kitchen, defined with glass shelves that display glassware against the dramatic stone backdrop.

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Add Color

A Beautiful Mess

A Beautiful Mess built a bright and colorful home bar that's set up like a second dining room, with a chunky wood table and bench seating, a Turkish kilim rug, a gallery wall, and a DIY bar cabinet with plenty of storage and display space.

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Keep It Dry

WRJ Interior Design / Photo by Tuck Fauntleroy

WRJ Interior Design created a simple home bar by placing a collection of bottles and glassware on a large tray on an antique wood cabinet to the side of the stone fireplace in this rustic living room, and hanging a pair of animal portraits on the wall above to define the space.

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Hang Simple Shelving

Design by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Veronica Crawford

A trio of inexpensive wood shelves supported with white metal brackets anchors the bar corner and takes advantage of vertical wall space to provide storage for glassware in this light and bright kitchen bar corner designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design.

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Go Vintage

Design by Maestri Studio / Nathan Schroder Photography

Maestri Studio created a small and stylish home bar with a decorative vintage bar cabinet that complements the wood-paneled dining room.

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Make a Happy Hour Marquee

A Beautiful Mess

This home bar from A Beautiful Mess has a DIY marquee sign on the wall above a stocked vintage bar cart that is lighthearted and fun.

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Add Western Saloon Vibes

Design by Kibler & Kirch / Photo by Roger Wade

This Montana ranch bar has echoes of a Western saloon from a bygone era, with dark carved woodwork, fringed leather barstools, and vintage-style pendant lighting.

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Add a Bright Rug

Design by Martha OâHara Interiors / Photo by Troy Thies

A hot pink runner breaks up the cool tones of this basement bar from Martha O’Hara Interiors.

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Use Rustic Wood

Design by Kibler & Kirch / Photo by Audrey Hall

This rustic home bar from Kibler & Kirch has a mix of dark wood finishes and a play of patterns that gives the space a log cabin feel.