Make entertaining a breeze with these at-home wet bar designs.
A wet bar can turn your home into an entertaining spot for small dinner parties and large celebrations alike. If you enjoy hosting, give your bar area a refresh, or consider building one from scratch. To help you get started, we're sharing our best wet bar ideas for a space that serves a specific function and reflects your personal style. Martini Cups
Whether the wet bar is in your kitchen, living room, basement, or any other area of the house, take inspiration from the following designs to spruce up your dedicated serving spot.
If you have an unused area under the stairs, put it to work. Construct a small wet bar with everything you need for entertaining: A sink, mini refrigerator, and wall niche with shelving for supplies.
Combine the convenience of storage and prep space for food and drink in one. A wet bar can be easily tacked onto a large walk-in or butler’s pantry design, making playing host a lot easier. This modern farmhouse-style wet bar within a pantry is not only pretty to look at, but it provides plenty of shelving and drawers for servingware and bartending necessities, including a sink, wine fridge, and pull-out trash can.
If you can’t decide between design styles, try blending them by using the wet bar as a place to experiment. This bar combines modern details, like the sleek, clean look of the cabinets, countertop, and hardware, with common farmhouse features, such as the shiplap ceiling and floating wood shelves. The intricate hexagon-shaped backsplash tiles and suspended black shelving (which doubles as both storage and a delightful display for drinkware) make it a one-of-a-kind space.
There’s nothing quite as classic as the combination of black and gold in interior design. To achieve this look, extend a black marble counter on the wet bar up to the backsplash. Then, incorporate plenty of gold accents, from the sink to the faucet and the cabinet hardware to the bar tools.
Although the area you have allotted to build a wet bar might be compact, it can also be extraordinarily efficient. Take advantage of the vertical space by installing cabinets from floor to ceiling, hanging floating shelves as high as possible, and installing a task light on the wall. You’ll be surprised at how much a small alcove can accommodate when designed with storage in mind.
Opt for glass-front upper cabinet doors to brighten dark blue cabinets above your wet bar. Balance them further (and give the bar a coastal aesthetic) with clean white base cabinets and a marble countertop. Infuse a subtle yet striking design detail, like this textured vertical backsplash tile, to make the space stand out.
Your home’s layout may not be conducive to adding a bar, but if your kitchen has some wiggle room, try squeezing one here. The cabinetry and countertops should already be in place, so install a small drop-in sink (the critical element of a wet bar) and stock the area with spirits and bartending supplies.
A basement wet bar is the perfect place to escape and unwind after a long work week. Get in the right frame of mind by decorating yours in a dreamy, dark aesthetic. Matte black walls and cabinetry create a cozy feel, while the lighter-toned counter and backsplash, along with the glass-front upper cabinet doors, make it simple to see what you’re whipping up.
An empty stretch of space in a hallway of your home can be transformed into a breathtaking wet bar like this one. Rich walnut-stained cabinets contrast the light hardwood floors and white walls, including the slim stacked porcelain backsplash tiles. Glass door upper cabinets showcase serving pieces such as collections of drinkware and copper accents.
If you prefer a brighter bar atmosphere, choose alabaster white cabinets for your wet bar and pair them with a pale gray stone countertop and gray-lined marble backsplash. The result is a bar area that feels like a breath of fresh air.
Whether you live near the ocean or not, you can evoke the feeling of enjoying a cold drink on a hot beach day through the design of your wet bar. Choose a bright blue hue to envelop the entire bar area, and accent the shade with a butcher block countertop and natural rope handles. Beach-inspired decor, like a piece of artwork over the bar, will have you wanting to whip up a margarita any time of the year.
Guests will immediately feel your hospitality if a wet bar greets them as they enter your home. Store alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages in the mini refrigerator so they can grab their go-to drink on their way inside. The natural wood of the bar cabinet blends beautifully with the surrounding floor, ceiling, stairs, and railing.
Your home office might be the ideal place to build a wet bar. Imagine pouring a glass of Scotch after a long day or popping a little bubbly after closing a big deal. This bar space embraces the dark academia aesthetic with wood wall moldings, a black stone countertop, and a copper sink.
Close enough for easy access but still comfortably distant from the work zone, this wet bar idea features a rich contrast of white cabinetry, gray countertops, and a deep gray brick wall. Open shelves provide room to hang wine glasses, stash napkins, and display vintage barware.
You may have a longer stretch of hall space to build a wet bar that allows you to stock plenty of party supplies. Make sure to include an abundance of base cabinets, drawers, and a refrigerator, and stick to using the lengthy countertop for crafting cocktails or displaying decor and fresh garnishes.
Intentionally parked outside the work zone, this wet bar idea allows guests to help themselves to drinks without getting in the cook's way. Clean lines, quartz surfacing, and sleek hardware enhance the contemporary aesthetic.
Guests will feel as though they’re in an upscale establishment if you craft their cocktails in front of the kitchen window. The natural sunlight streaming in brightens the black subway tile backsplash and dark navy cabinetry in this dreamy space. Bright brass hardware and delicate floating glass shelves give this wet bar an air of opulence.
A glittering background of mirrored backsplash tiles bathes this wet bar in glamour. Floral curtains hide stemware in the upper cabinets, which feature chicken-wire door panels and a sleek paint patina.
If you dream of incorporating a mesmerizing backsplash in your home, such as this silver penny mosaic tile, but are on a renovation budget, try installing it solely above the wet bar. It’ll cut costs while creating a stunning backdrop for this small space. Pair it with other elegant touches like floating glass shelves, an antique serving tray, and classic decanters.
Create your own wet bar in an underutilized closet, ideally right off the kitchen or dining room. Install a shallow base cabinet with a sink and use a track system to add sturdy, slim shelves that hold drinkware, mixers, and more.
What’s a happy hour without some light bites? Add a space-saving microwave to the wet bar to quickly heat dips or appetizers alongside cocktails. Organize your favorite serving bowls, appetizer plates, and festive glasses inside the bar's drawers and cabinets, so they’re readily available for refills.
Consider your wet bar the place in your home where you can stretch beyond your design comfort zone. Choosing a unique color, like this springy green, is a simple way to accomplish this. Rather than painting the entire kitchen in the eye-catching shade, reserve it for just the wet bar area to visually separate it from the rest of the room.
Designate this spot as a coffee bar during the day and then turn it into a space to serve libations in the evening. Suspended rustic shelving above the countertop and sink provides plenty of storage for both mugs and glasses.
White-lacquered wood paneling provides an exquisite disguise for a living room's small but fully stocked wet bar. When the paneled doors are slid back into the wall, it's time to party. A narrow wine cooler, compact refrigerator, and small sink keep the square footage to a minimum.
This wet bar idea is beautifully equipped for cocktails, thanks to a wine cooler, sink, open shelves for glassware, and two refrigerator drawers. Nickel-tone upper cabinets with glass doors display stemware, while a mirrored backsplash adds glamour and helps bounce light around the room.
Handsome wrought-iron-and-glass doors open to a dramatic wine room with a gorgeous glass pendant and plenty of built-in bottle storage. Texture and patina enhance the old European-inspired wet bar idea.
Connect your kitchen and dining room with a formal but inviting wet bar idea. Slate-blue cabinets surround a seagrass limestone countertop, a prep sink, an ice maker, a wine cooler, and two refrigerator drawers for the perfect party nook.
Furniture-style cabinet details and a marble backsplash and countertop enhance the sophisticated style of this wet bar. A small-scale apron-front sink provides plenty of space for soaking glasses, while wire mesh panels add interest to cabinet doors.
Make entertaining a breeze with this wet bar idea built just outside the kitchen. The corner location of this bar allows guests to serve themselves, while darker countertops and a mirrored backsplash distinguish it from other parts of the kitchen.
Stainless steel counters provide an industrial look that stands up to frequent spills and splashes. A sink and wine refrigerator are wet bar ideas that boost the function of this space, which features sandblasted glass upper cabinets that look bright and clean.
Conveniently built near the kitchen and formal dining room, this charming bar is equipped with plenty of storage and its own sink to ease entertaining duties. The wet bar incorporates glass-front cabinets for wineglass storage and paneled refrigerator drawers for chilled drinks.
Mahogany counters and wallpaper with a whimsical pattern add charm to this wet bar between the kitchen and the formal dining room. Salvaged steel upper cabinets and a flea-market towel bar contribute vintage style.
Elaborate moldings and millwork make this butler's pantry look like fine furniture. The wet bar includes a wine chiller, a bar sink, an icemaker, and refrigerator drawers that keep beverages within easy reach. The painted and glazed cabinetry in a rich espresso hue and a backsplash crafted from concrete tiles and antiqued mirror inserts unite to create layers of visual depth.
Tucked away in a butler's pantry, this sleek wet bar idea includes a modern twist on the traditional, thanks to gorgeous marble countertops and stainless steel cabinetry. The work area houses an extra refrigerator and wine cooler.
An arched recess houses old-world-style cabinets over this curve-filled wet bar. An interplay of dark wood finishes, leather upholstery, and a soft green patina creates a sense of calm plucked from nature.
Switch up the look of a small wet bar with a contemporary vessel sink. This petite beverage station mixes modern and classic styles through the use of divided glass cabinet doors.
Glamorous details, metallic accents, and concealed appliances make this wet bar feel anything but utilitarian. Glass-front cabinets that sparkle against a golden backsplash brighten the space and allow homeowners to display pretty glassware.
This kitchen's hardworking cabinets house a second sink, and a butcher-block countertop doubles as a beverage zone and food-prep station. The wet bar's bail-pull hardware lends a furniture-style touch to the cabinetry and the walk-in refrigerator.
Wine Decanter The wet bar in this refreshment area features an undercounter wine refrigerator, bin storage, and stemware displayed in open cubbies, allowing guests to serve themselves. The wine bottle display is a wet bar idea that adds function and serves as a design detail to define the space.