A custom home bar transforms how you entertain, giving you a dedicated space to host guests, mix cocktails, or simply unwind without leaving the house. Whether it is a compact wet bar tucked into a living room alcove or a full basement bar with seating for ten, the right design adds both daily enjoyment and lasting value to your home.
At Turan Designs, we have designed and built custom home bars across Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, Newnan, and greater Atlanta for over 24 years. Home bar design has become one of our most requested specialty projects, and we have seen firsthand how the right layout, materials, and features turn an underused corner or basement into the most popular room in the house. This guide covers the types of home bars, essential features, materials, cost ranges, and what to expect when working with a design-build firm on your project.
Types of Custom Home Bars
The first decision in any home bar project is choosing the type that fits your space, lifestyle, and budget. Each style serves a different purpose and comes with its own design considerations.
Wet Bar
A wet bar includes a sink with running water, making it the most functional option for mixing drinks, rinsing glasses, and cleaning up. Wet bars require plumbing connections, which affects both placement options and cost. They are commonly built into living rooms, dining areas, or hallways near entertaining spaces.
Best for: Homeowners who entertain regularly and want full drink-preparation capability without walking to the kitchen.
Dry Bar
A dry bar provides storage, counter space, and display areas without plumbing. Because there is no sink or water line, a dry bar can be installed almost anywhere in the home, including upstairs hallways, bonus rooms, and open-concept living areas. A mini fridge or wine cooler can be added for beverage storage.
Best for: Homeowners who want a dedicated serving area with lower installation costs and flexible placement.
Basement Bar
Basement bars are the most popular choice for homeowners who want a full entertainment space. A finished basement provides ample square footage for a longer bar counter, multiple seating areas, media zones, and even a game area. Plumbing is often accessible from below the slab or through existing basement utility lines, making wet bar features straightforward to add.
Best for: Families who want a complete entertainment destination with room for multiple activities.
Butler's Pantry Bar
A butler's pantry bar sits between the kitchen and dining room, serving double duty as both a prep area and a beverage station. This design keeps drink service out of the main kitchen workflow during parties while providing storage for glassware, spirits, and serving pieces. Many Atlanta-area homeowners are converting existing butler's pantries into stylish bar spaces with custom cabinetry and display lighting.
Best for: Homeowners with existing butler's pantries or transition spaces between kitchen and dining areas.
Outdoor Bar
Outdoor bars extend your entertainment space to a patio, deck, or pool area. These require weather-resistant materials, outdoor-rated appliances, and careful planning for drainage and electrical service. In the Atlanta climate, outdoor bars see year-round use, especially when paired with a covered structure or outdoor kitchen.
Best for: Homeowners who spend significant time outdoors and want to entertain without running inside for drinks.
Essential Features for Your Custom Home Bar
Every home bar design starts with a list of must-have features. The features you prioritize will determine your layout, your material choices, and your budget.
Sink and Plumbing
A bar sink is smaller than a kitchen sink, typically 10 to 15 inches wide, and sits flush or undermounted in the counter. Adding a sink requires hot and cold water supply lines plus a drain connection. If your bar location is far from existing plumbing, running new lines can add $1,500 to $4,000 to your project depending on distance and complexity.
Refrigeration
At minimum, most home bars include an undercounter beverage refrigerator. Depending on how you entertain, you may also want a wine cooler, an ice maker, or a kegerator. Undercounter refrigeration units designed for bars range from $500 for a basic beverage cooler to $3,000 or more for a built-in wine reserve unit.
Storage and Cabinetry
Thoughtful storage separates a well-designed home bar from a countertop with bottles on it. Your bar should include dedicated spaces for spirits, wine, glassware, bar tools, mixers, and entertaining supplies. Options include custom-built cabinets with glass-front doors, open shelving for display bottles, pull-out drawers for tools and accessories, and stemware racks mounted under upper cabinets.
Countertop
The bar countertop is the visual centerpiece and the primary work surface. Popular countertop materials for home bars include:
- Quartzite and granite: Durable, stain-resistant, available in a wide range of colors and patterns
- Butcher block: Warm, natural aesthetic that works well in transitional and farmhouse designs
- Quartz: Engineered consistency with no sealing required
- Marble: Upscale look, though more maintenance-sensitive around acidic drinks
A raised bar top with an overhang for seating is one of the most requested features we build. The standard bar-height counter is 42 inches, while a standard counter-height bar sits at 36 inches. For guidance on pairing your bar countertop with a backsplash, see our backsplash and countertop combinations guide.
Lighting
Lighting sets the mood in an entertainment space more than any other single element. A layered approach works best:
- Task lighting under upper cabinets for the work surface
- Accent lighting inside glass-front cabinets and on display shelves
- Pendant lights or a statement fixture above the bar counter
- Dimmer controls to shift from bright during prep to low during entertaining
LED strip lighting inside cabinets and along toe kicks has become one of the most popular finishing touches in Atlanta-area bar projects.
Seating
If your bar includes a counter with an overhang, plan for 24 inches of width per seat at minimum. Bar stools come in two standard heights: counter height (24-26 inches) for 36-inch counters and bar height (28-30 inches) for 42-inch counters. Swivel stools with backs are the most comfortable for longer evenings.
Popular Materials and Styles in Atlanta
Home bar design in the Atlanta market reflects the region's blend of traditional Southern charm and modern sophistication. Here are the styles and materials we install most frequently.
Transitional Style
The most popular style across Peachtree City, Tyrone, and Fayette County combines clean lines with warm finishes. Think shaker-profile cabinetry in a rich navy or charcoal, paired with a light quartz countertop and brushed gold hardware. This look works in both newer construction and renovated traditional homes.
Modern Farmhouse
Especially popular in Newnan and the southern Atlanta suburbs, modern farmhouse bars feature open shelving, shiplap or beadboard paneling on the bar face, butcher block or leathered granite countertops, and matte black fixtures.
Contemporary
In Inman Park, Druid Hills, and other intown Atlanta neighborhoods, we see demand for flat-panel cabinetry, waterfall-edge countertops, integrated LED lighting, and minimal hardware. These designs often use high-gloss or matte lacquer finishes with stone or concrete countertops.
Classic Traditional
Some homeowners want a bar that feels like a refined study or lounge. Traditional bars feature raised-panel cabinetry in cherry or walnut, granite or marble countertops, crown molding, and decorative corbels. This style pairs well with built-in wine storage and glass-front display cabinets.
Custom Home Bar Cost Ranges
Home bar costs vary significantly based on type, size, materials, and feature complexity. The following ranges reflect what we see in the Atlanta metro area in 2026.
| Project Type | Typical Cost Range | What Is Included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic wet bar | $5,000-$15,000 | Small sink, undercounter fridge, stock cabinetry, laminate or basic stone countertop, standard lighting |
| Full custom bar | $15,000-$40,000 | Custom cabinetry, stone countertop, sink, beverage center, ice maker, display lighting, seating counter, backsplash |
| Luxury or basement bar | $40,000-$80,000+ | Full basement build-out, premium custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, stone or specialty countertops, media integration, custom lighting, flooring |
| Outdoor bar | $10,000-$35,000 | Weather-rated cabinetry, outdoor-grade appliances, stone or tile countertop, drainage, electrical, and optional cover structure |
What Drives the Cost Up
Several factors push a home bar project toward the higher end of these ranges:
- Plumbing distance. Running new supply and drain lines across a basement or to an exterior wall adds cost quickly.
- Appliance selection. A basic beverage cooler costs $500. A built-in ice maker, wine reserve, and kegerator together can add $5,000 to $8,000.
- Countertop material. Exotic quartzite or marble with a waterfall edge costs significantly more than a standard quartz slab.
- Cabinetry level. Stock cabinets start around $150 per linear foot. Fully custom cabinets with specialty finishes and interiors can reach $800 or more per linear foot.
- Electrical work. Dedicated circuits for appliances, under-cabinet lighting, and dimmer systems all require licensed electrical work.
For a quick estimate on your specific project, our renovation cost calculator provides ballpark figures based on your selections.
The Design Process for a Custom Home Bar
A well-executed home bar project follows a structured process. Here is what to expect when working with a professional design-build team.
Step 1: Consultation and Space Assessment
The process starts with an in-home or showroom consultation. We evaluate your available space, discuss how you entertain, identify your must-have features, and establish a realistic budget range. Existing plumbing and electrical access are assessed during this visit because they directly affect layout options and cost.
Step 2: Design Development
Based on the consultation, our design team creates a detailed plan including layout, cabinetry elevations, material selections, appliance specifications, and lighting placement. You see 3D renderings of your bar before any construction begins, so there are no surprises.
Step 3: Material Selection
Choosing countertops, cabinetry finishes, hardware, backsplash materials, and fixtures happens during dedicated selection appointments. Having all materials specified before construction starts prevents delays and budget overruns. Our portfolio gives you a sense of the material combinations that work well in real homes.
Step 4: Construction and Installation
Once materials are ordered and permits are secured where required, construction begins. A typical custom home bar takes 3 to 6 weeks to build depending on complexity. Basement bars with full build-outs may take 8 to 12 weeks. Your project manager coordinates all trades, including cabinetry installation, plumbing, electrical, countertop fabrication, and finishing work.
Step 5: Final Walkthrough
Before we consider a project complete, we conduct a detailed walkthrough with you to verify every element meets the design specifications and your expectations. Any punch-list items are addressed before we hand over the space.
Our full design-build process follows these same five steps for every project we take on.
Why Work with a Design-Build Firm on Your Home Bar
Custom home bars involve multiple trades: cabinetry, plumbing, electrical, countertop fabrication, tile, and sometimes structural work. Coordinating these specialists yourself adds stress, risk, and often cost.
A design-build firm manages the entire project under one contract. The designer who plans your bar layout communicates directly with the installers who build it. This eliminates the miscommunications that happen when a homeowner serves as the go-between for a separate designer and multiple subcontractors.
At Turan Designs, we have completed bar projects ranging from simple butler's pantry conversions to full basement entertainment spaces with bars, media rooms, and custom storage. As an NKBA member with over two decades of experience, we bring the same level of expertise to specialty spaces that we apply to our kitchen remodeling projects.
Common Home Bar Design Mistakes to Avoid
Learning from the mistakes we have seen over 24 years of building saves you time and money:
- Skipping the sink. Homeowners who choose a dry bar to save money often wish they had added plumbing. If the infrastructure is accessible, the added cost is modest compared to retrofitting later.
- Undersizing the refrigeration. A single beverage cooler fills up fast when you entertain. Plan for your actual hosting habits, not just Tuesday night.
- Ignoring ventilation. Basement bars in particular need adequate airflow. If your bar area is enclosed, consider adding a return vent or supplemental ventilation.
- Forgetting about electrical capacity. Multiple appliances drawing power simultaneously can trip a circuit. Your bar should have at least one dedicated 20-amp circuit for appliances.
- Choosing form over function. Open shelving looks great in photos but collects dust and requires constant styling. A mix of closed and open storage is more practical for daily use.
- Not planning for plumbing access. If something leaks or needs service behind the bar, you need a way to reach shut-off valves without demolishing cabinetry. An access panel is a small detail that matters.
Ready to Design Your Custom Home Bar?
A custom home bar is one of the most rewarding projects we build. It adds a personal touch to your home, gives you a space designed around how you actually live and entertain, and delivers real value whether you stay for decades or sell down the road.
At Turan Designs, we have helped homeowners across Peachtree City, Tyrone, Fayetteville, Newnan, and greater Atlanta bring their entertainment space visions to life. From the first design sketch to the final installation, our team handles everything so you can focus on choosing the perfect bar stool and stocking the top shelf.
Use our free renovation cost calculator to get an initial estimate for your project, or contact us today to schedule a complimentary design consultation.
Call us at (404) 394-2038 or visit our showroom at 125 Howell Road, Tyrone, GA 30290.