Weekly Design Inspiration: Wet Bars

At first glance, the wet bar may seem like something that belongs in the 20s. An era of midday gin and tonics. These days, partaking in alcohol is (thankfully) much less common on a daily basis but that doesn’t mean the wet bar should be less common with it. 

Source: JLV Creative

Consider a wet bar to be an extension of the kitchen. Match your cabinets and handles to make your kitchen feel much wider and more open. 

Source: @parkandoak

Wet bars can be one of the most convenient additions to a bonus room, dining room, or kitchen. Like the butler’s pantry, it gives you extra storage, counter space, and usually a sink. Unlike the butler’s pantry, it is typically open to the room, to provide an inviting area for guests to serve themselves. 

If your kitchen is on the smaller side, a wet bar in the dining room can give you much needed additional storage space for serving ware. It can also keep your guests (and your kids) from getting under your feet when you’re trying to prepare dinner.

Source: Homebunch

Wet bars aren’t just the spot for alcohol anymore either. Use this space to serve coffee and tea or turn it into a snack spot that is within easy reach. 

Source: Heather Bullard

I absolutely love how this open shelving creates a station specifically for that morning cup of coffee.

Source: Old Seagrove

Wet bars can set a tone just by dressing them up for the evening. This evening wet bar is screaming girls night.  

Source: Daniel Contelmo

Wet bars make great grazing stations too. A charcuterie board, dessert bar, or hot chocolate stations make great additions to a family gathering.

Source: Ty Larkins

Even though we can't have our friends and family over for the holidays this year, I think it’s important to remember that we can still look forward to entertaining them in the future when the pandemic is over. Many people are redesigning or even renovating this year, and it’s important to remember that this year’s reality is temporary, and we need to design for our normal lives, rather than the lives we have lived this year.