Home is Where the Fun Is – The Return of The Wet Bar

The Wet Bar is Back Thanks to These Amazing Designers

Homeowners are prioritizing the amenities they enjoy most– and reproducing them in their homes, working with builders and designers to create upbeat and inviting entertainment areas for friends and family. And what better way to entertain at home than with a wet bar, whether revamping an existing bar or adding a new one? Whether you’re sipping your beverage of choice in the desert of Arizona, near the beach in Naples, or the mountains of Jackson Hole we can all agree it tastes better from your wet bar.

Vibrant colors have moved to the forefront of home bar design. Bold, brightly-hued cabinetry and colorful backsplashes, coordinating with natural stone or quartz countertops, create a festive atmosphere. Counters studded with colored glass offer another eye-popping effect, as do painted backsplashes.

While today’s wet bars feature high-end design, functionality for entertainment is equally important. Bar appliances now include a wide array of sleek, built-in products. There are beverage refrigerators, wine refrigerators with separate temperature zones for reds and whites, dishwashers or drawer dishwashers for cleaning smaller loads, and even ice makers that produce clear ice cubes. Of course, the ubiquitous sink that makes the bar “wet” now comes in dozens of sizes and materials.

For those wanting to replicate their favorite drinking establishment, additional products designed for home entertaining are available. Draft beer aficionados have their choice of kegerators with finely contoured spouts, typically designed for under-counter installation. Multipurpose bar sinks feature a built-in cutting board and a covered ice storage bin to keep beverages extra cold. Soda machines and built-in espresso machines are also excellent considerations.

Lighting, both natural and via light fixtures, enhances function and decor. Upper, closed-door cabinets have fallen out of favor, giving way to floating glass shelves with underside LED lighting. Unique and colorful glass bottles make for beautiful displays, arranged with glass and crystal barware, enhanced by colored lighting. Dimmable recessed lighting and strategically placed decorative pendants provide work-space illumination.

Comfortable and welcoming seating also contributes to the ease and enjoyment of wet bar entertaining and accentuates the design. Consider adding colorful furniture or cozy bar stools to complement the overall color scheme for an inviting aura. If the bar is in a game room or near a lounging area, consider using armchairs or a cocktail table with chairs as conversational areas.

Last and certainly not least, smart televisions and surround-sound speakers for watching movies or sports or enjoying musical playlists are the coup de grace for an exclusive at-home bar experience.

Featured Partners

• Brandner Designs
• Creative Building Solutions
• Creative Touch Interiors
• Jaque Bethke Design
• Kristin Hazen Design
• Madrone Construction
• Promontory Club
• The Williams Group Inc.