Home Bar Designs: Crafting Unique Spaces for Every Flavor Profile

Home bar designs, whether wet or dry, have been around for decades, providing a central space to host and entertain guests. During the COVID pandemic, when most of us were hunkered down, choosing to limit exposure to public places, their popularity soared. Now, home bars have become an essential feature; for some, a personalized space for entertainment and relaxation, and others, a place to brew the perfect cup of morning coffee.

Whether you’re an aspiring mixologist or a coffee connoisseur, there is a home bar design that will cater to your flavor profile. Let’s explore some features of home bar design and highlight the differences between wet bars and dry bars in modern architectural design. 

Home Bar Designs – Wet Bars

What makes a wet bar “wet” is access to plumbing for the sink. It is a classic choice for homeowners who enjoy hosting gatherings and socializing with friends and family. 

When SHDG designs a wet bar, during the discovery phase, we work closely with our clients so that every detail of the home bar design includes what is most important to them. It’s different for each family and each home, but in each case, thought should be given to the following:

• Location: A wet bar, not unlike the kitchen, can become the center of social life. As a result, many homeowners opt for placing the wet bar near a living room or entertainment area, allowing for seamless transitions from one space to the other.

• Lighting/Ambiance: The choice of lighting sets the tone and should be consistent with how the owner intends to use the space. For some, the wet bar will be a warm and calming retreat with soft, understated pendants overhead; for others, the bar is the best illuminated for function and quick libation preparation. Of course, many will fall somewhere in the middle.

• Storage and Organization: Adequate storage is essential for a functional wet bar. The choice of shelving, cabinets, and bar furniture should be practical and highlight attractive decanters, glassware, or even bar accessories. Wine racks and built-in wine coolers are often cornerstones of wet bar storage.

Dry Bars/Coffee Bars: Cozy Retreats

Dry bars serve the same purpose as wet bars but with a more limited function, as they are without access to running water. While some dry bars are meant for creating cocktails and arranging charcuterie platters, others are designed for a different purpose. For those who cherish their morning brew or savor the art of coffee-making, using a dry bar as a dedicated coffee bar can start the day just right.

Some design features to consider when designing a home coffee bar:

• Space Needed: A coffee bar needn’t be large; a small nook in the kitchen, a pantry conversion, or even a built-in cabinet with fold-out shelves and space for appliances will do. For coffee aficionados, something more substantial may be in order, like a space to showcase their visually-stunning equipment, glassware, and bean selection.

• Countertops and Storage: It’s important to find the right balance between the visual allure of countertops and the ability to withstand the daily demands of coffee preparation, as well as storage options for coffee beans, glassware, and brewing equipment.

• Integrating the Equipment: Whether it’s a sleek, imported 300lb espresso machine, a simple pour-over setup, or a convenient pod-based system, integrating the coffee bar layout with brewing equipment is important. Coffee bars are not necessarily just dry bars, so the plumbing considerations must also be factored in depending on the type of brewing equipment to be installed. 

• Accent Features: If the goal is to recreate the comfort of a great cafe, accents such as comfortable seating, decorative shelving, and nooks for showcasing coffee-related books and art help to round out the entire setting. 

Boston Architectural Firms for Home Bar Designs

As one of the premiere Boston architectural firms, our team is highly experienced in home bar design. Our clients count on us to curate the kind of unique home bar experience that leaves them with little reason to host gatherings elsewhere. 

Please contact our team of Boston architects/home addition architects to start the conversation regarding your next project.