It’s officially summer. This means long, sunny days perfect for entertaining, home renovation projects, and stay-cations. One of the best home improvement projects is to create a home bar. But not your standard home bar. We recommend maximizing an unused wall or nook to design a wet bar. These mini bars, equipped with a sink station (that’s what makes them wet) and beverage storage, are terrific home additions. Wet bars can extend the kitchen or dining area, allowing you to serve a cold one, blend a frothy cocktail, or shake a mock-tail without leaving the room. The best wet bars not only add an interior design moment to a space, but they also provide all the functional fixins’ of a regular home bar: wine fridge, shelving and drawers, bar sink, and counter space. And if you are tight on space, or your dedicated entertainment area is not plumbing-ready, a dry bar or rolling bar cart is the next best thing.
We’ve pulled together some tips to designing a wet bar, as well as rounded up some inspirational photos and ideas.
Concept: Decide the vibe of your wet bar. Are you going for moody and modern, swinging 70’s, traditional or contemporary?
Color Palette: Blend the home bar with the room’s decor. Choose colors and materials that will complement the surrounding area.
Lighting: Lighting is key to making this space function well and look great. Factor in ambient, task and accent lighting.
Barware Storage: Coordinate cabinetry, shelving and hardware with other aspects of the room to create a seamless look.
Appliances: Opt for a wine captain or beverage fridge; glass doors will highlight options without having to open the refrigerator while wine racks allow you to handsomely display your vintners.
Sink and Faucet: Have fun with sink colors and finishes.
Countertop and Backsplash: Since this is a relatively small are, feel free to splurge on materials and design! Heavily-veined granite, moody marble, engineered quartz, or tiled laid out in an eye-catching pattern can create a focal point.
Images Courtesy Of: Flack Studio (Mayfield Ave. Project); Amuneal (The Collector’s 3 Bay Bar); Amuneal (The Loft 3 Post Back Bar Unit); YellowTrace on behalf of Flack Studio; Studio Akiko for the 2019 Pasadena Showcase House of Design, Photo: Peter Christiansen Valli; Eclectic Trends, Casa Fayette by Studio Dimore.