Home bars are a popular feature in home design today and not just as a place for swilling a pint of beer. Houzzers are adding home bars that make it easy for family members and party guests to help themselves to any manner of drinks — espresso, juice boxes, fine wine and serious mixology. In designing home bars today, homeowners are tweaking the butler’s pantry, borrowing previously wasted space and converting part of their basements. Here are eight trends showing up in the most popular recent home bar photos, as measured by the number of people who have saved them to their Houzz ideabooks from January through March. See whether you can find ideas to take away for your own home bar and entertaining area.
1. Update the Butler’s Pantry
Placing a home bar right next to the kitchen or in a little nook within it is the 2017 entertainer’s update on the butler’s pantry. A butler’s pantry was typically placed in a hallway between the kitchen and dining room and was used to store china, silver and serveware and for doing serving prep.
Outfitted with a sink, wine cooler, bar for liquors and an espresso machine, this bar is ready for the homeowners and guests, whether it’s to perk up in the morning or mix a happy-hour cocktail.
2. Cater to Wine Lovers
Fantastic wine display is growing in popularity, with the wine “cellar” coming to the forefront. Glass enclosures keep the wine storage space refrigerated and allow it to be admired by the tasters.
3. Make Cabinetry Beautiful
Details such as the seeded glass and gothic shapes on these cabinets up the design ante in this home bar. Bars are a great place to use glass cabinet doors, as bar glassware makes for a nice display. For continuity’s sake, many Houzzers are using cabinetry and millwork styles consistent with other places in the home. Mix it up and make the bar stand out by using a different paint color, hardware or countertop material.
Read More: Find a Beautiful Bar Cabinet
4. Look Under the Stairs
I’m always looking for clever under-the-stairs solutions on Houzz, and lately I’ve noticed an uptick in people using this often-wasted space for a home bar. Check out the clever way these homeowners used extended risers as wine shelves on the back of the stairs.
5. Use Wasted Space
That empty wall, the little closet you don’t need, a nook you’re not sure what to do with — these are all good places to tuck a little home bar like this one. Cabinets flanking a beverage refrigerator, a nice countertop and some wooden floating shelves are all that are required. Attractive details here include the stone and brick details and uplighting on the shelves.
6. Head to the Basement
It’s so handy to have a home bar in a finished basement, whether it’s used for keeping juice, sodas, waters and popcorn for family movie nights, or for setting up a casual night with friends. Luxurious extras include a sink, dishwasher and refrigerator so you don’t have to carry all that stuff up and down the stairs.
7. Accent With Reclaimed Wood
People wanting to add an accent wall in reclaimed wood are finding a home bar is a good place to do it. Perhaps it’s the resemblance to oak wine barrels or the memory of a favorite woodsy tavern.
8. Be Thoughtful About Lighting
Whether it’s under cabinet lighting, unique pendants, rope lights tucked under shelves or LEDs that change color, such as these, Houzzers know the advantages of a good lighting system around a home bar. This one has a sports bar feel, complete with the TV and foosball table. The only thing missing is a row of a dozen draft taps.
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