Renovation

25 Upscale Kitchen Bar Designs & Ideas for Your Next Remodel

Read Time (
7
minutes)
July 28, 2022
By
Kallista Design

Whether you want to add more seating to your dining space or create an area to entertain your guests, a kitchen bar can be the perfect solution. And just like any addition to your home, a bar allows you to add your personal touch and style with texture, color, and decorative details. Explore some of our favorite kitchen bar ideas and discover which ones fit your unique style and space.

Striking Contrast Between the Bar Faucet and Backsplash

Gold bar faucet design with black and white backsplash kitchen wall idea.
Featured Product: Quincy™ Bar Faucet

Brighten up your kitchen bar countertop with a vibrant backsplash that sets the tone for your entire design. Whether monochrome, black and white, or a pattern with pops of color, the right backsplash can add warmth and charm to any kitchen.

Shining brass bar faucet design dea.

This black and white mosaic tile provides a stark backdrop to the stunning faucet, finished in an artisan-inspired golden hue. In timeless Unlacquered Brass, the Quincy bar faucet serves as a striking statement piece.

KALLISTA kitchen bar faucets are designed for peak performance and durability and are offered in a fine array of striking finishes.

Statement-Making Kitchen Bar Light Fixtures

Kitchen bar idea with circiular light fixtures and black marble throughout.
Credit: @degiuliodesign
Featured Product: Juxtapose™ Bar Faucet

Kitchen bar designs are more than just the countertop space. Make a bold statement with stunning light fixtures to match your style preferences. From sleek modern lights to intricate chandeliers, there are a variety of options to choose from in order to create the perfect ambiance. 

Circular lights hang from the ceiling in this high-end bar, illuminating the Nero Marquina marble counter and light-color wood cabinetry in warm elegance. The Juxtapose by Mick De Giulio bar faucet serves as the perfect finishing touch, with a sleek powder-coated black finish.

Modern Black and White Kitchen Bar Idea

Black and white kitchen bar design.
Credit: @degiuliodesign
Featured Product: Juxtapose™ Collection

For a modern kitchen bar design, consider black and white for a two-tone approach. This simple style provides a clean look to any kitchen space regardless of size. White countertops and black cabinets on this kitchen island bar make for a visual contrast that creates a sharp, state-of-the-art look.

Matte black bar faucet designed with gold accents.
Featured Product: Juxtapose™ Semi-Professional Faucet

This modern black and white kitchen design is well-appointed with the KALLISTA Juxtapose Collection. Designer Mick De Giulio blends sophistication and utility with stylish faucet designs, combined with the latest in spray technology for performance and reliability.

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Backyard Kitchen Bar Idea for Outdoor Entertainment

A kitchen bar designed outdoors
Featured Product: Bacifore® Bar Sink

Your kitchen bar design doesn’t have to be limited to the interior of the home. Create a fun outdoor space for entertaining and relaxing by adding a backyard bar to your patio. Functional and stylish, a backyard bar allows for extra seating and prep space. You can even add a sink to keep everything clean as you enjoy meals and parties outside.

This outdoor bar features a reflective faucet, shimmering sink, and black marble countertop. With white patio chairs placed nearby an outdoor pool, the bar completes this backyard space with a purposeful design.

Custom Kitchen Bar Counter Idea With Nero Marquina Marble

Luxury bar idea with a powder-coated black faucet.
Credit: @degiuliodesign
Featured Product: Juxtapose™ Bar Faucet

For an added sense of luxury, consider using marble for your kitchen bar countertop. Marble is a classic design choice that is easy to match with almost any kitchen bar décor. This bar uses black marble with lightning-like white streaks, equipped with a durable stainless steel bar sink and matte black designer faucet by Mick De Giulio.

Embrace Modern Minimalism for Your Kitchen Bar Design

Modern minimalist kitchen bar idea.
Featured Product: Bacifore® Bar Sink

Clean lines, neutral colors, and a flawless partnership of form and function are core tenets of minimalist design. The kitchen is the ideal place for a modern look, and the simple style allows you to showcase personal tastes as you decorate the kitchen bar counter.

This bar features a black and white marble countertop supported by a beveled base. Open shelves are lined with martini glasses for a distinguished display. A polished stainless steel bar sink finishes the design with reflective and durable elegance.

Create a Stylish and Unique Space for Hosting Guests

Extravagant kitchen bar idea with gold accents.
Credit: @mirandafryeofficial
Featured Product: One™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet

If monochromatic minimalism isn’t your thing, why not go all out with your kitchen bar idea? Upscale choices like gold fixtures and stylish detailing can add an extra touch of luxury. Install a curved gooseneck faucet and a marble countertop for easy clean-up and additional room to prepare delicious meals and appetizers for entertaining.

Kitchen Bar Ideas for Compact Spaces

Compact kitchen bar design idea.
Credit: @nielsenbuilders
Featured Product: One™ Single Control Sink Faucet

Even if your space is limited, your design doesn’t need to be. Small kitchen bar counter ideas require you to think efficiently to utilize the space as storage and seating while maintaining a cohesive design that flows well with your home. Whether your kitchen bar is your only dining area or an expansion of a larger space, there are plenty of ways to put your design stamp on even the smallest kitchen bar counter.

This black marble bar is tucked away into a cove, providing contrast to the white walls and bright pendant light. In this design, a wine refrigerator is placed next to the bar to make maximum use of the space available. If you prefer cocktails over wine, you could make the bar wider and forego the refrigerator.

The single-control faucet is space-saving and functional, with dual application allowing it to be used as a sink faucet or bar faucet.

Overhang Kitchen Bar Design Idea

Kitchen bar island idea with overhang.
Credit: @relativelighting
Featured Product: One™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet

A simple way to create extra seating and prep space is with an overhang kitchen bar counter. An overhang design creates additional room beneath the bar to allow for seating, and the sleek look can match any kitchen style. Add a few bar stools or chairs of the right height, and you can host several guests at once and keep the conversation flowing.

This kitchen bar features designer bar stools with tan cushions and black legs, complementing the warm and dark contrast of the entire room. The One pull-down faucet in matte black combines exceptional performance with a sleek design that completes the bar in style.

Choose Durable Stainless Steel for Your Kitchen Bar Sink

Stainless steel bar sink design idea with bar faucet.
Featured Product: Bacifore® Bar Sink

Add another level of practicality to your kitchen bar counter with a stainless steel sink. Perfect for extra prep and washing space, luxury kitchen bar sinks offer both style and utility. When paired with solid brass faucets, you can ensure your entire bar sink will remain gorgeous for years to come.

This durable and polished stainless steel sink is paired with a gooseneck bar faucet, with a gorgeous marble countertop and warm backsplash completing the design in luxury.

Keep It Luxe With a Wood-Topped Kitchen Bar

Elegant bar design with wood backsplash and countertop.
Credit: @cpoppworkshop

For a timeless, exquisite look, a wood-topped bar is easy to match with other surfaces and creates a smooth, stylish area for eating and entertaining. Add a pair of wooden stools for seating and use a contrasting color for cabinetry, such as this cool grey.

Kitchen Bar Idea With Extra Seating and Storage

Kitchen bar island with cabinet storage built-in.
Credit: @mikeshivelyarchitecture

If you have plenty of room in your kitchen, a large bar counter could be just the thing to add both seating and storage. A modern island with drawers can provide additional space for storing small appliances, pots, and pans. The overhang bar design can be the perfect place to tuck in a few chic stools for welcoming and entertaining guests.

Expand Your Kitchen Bar Design With White Surfaces

Bright white kitchen design with island.
Featured Product: One™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet

Brighten up your kitchen with a white kitchen bar and cabinets. The light hue can make smaller rooms seem bigger and make large spaces feel sweeping. This white kitchen setup adds a pop of color with golden light fixtures, while clear chairs maintain the stark purity of the overall design approach.

Pair a Round Bar Sink With a Gooseneck Faucet

Luurious kitchen bar design with round bar sink and single control faucet.
Featured Product: Monte Carlo Bar Sink

With a graceful arc, this gooseneck faucet complements the fluidity of the round bar sink for a sleek and elegant result. The reflective finish on the faucet coordinates wonderfully with the polished stainless steel sink in a pleasing presentation of shimmering reflection.

Experiment With Colors in Your Kitchen Bar Design

Colorful green chairs at a kitchen island bar.
Credit: @chelsea_design_construction
Featured Product: For Town Kitchen Faucet with Sidespray

While neutrals like white, grey, and black are common choices, choosing a brighter color can add a striking look to your kitchen bar. Opt for an accent wall or add pops of color into your kitchen bar décor ideas, such as with stools or chairs. This bright farmhouse kitchen uses contrasting sets of green and grey chairs in separate dining areas.

A little color in the details can easily be switched out depending on the time of year or changes in your style preferences, allowing your bar design to remain active.

Kitchen Island Bar Idea With Traditional Wood Design

Kitchen island bar in a traditionally styled space with wood throughout.
Credit: @bradleystephensdesign
Featured Product: One™ Deck-Mount Bridge Kitchen Faucet

Creating a kitchen bar space can be as simple as adding a kitchen island and a few stools or bar-height chairs. Choose a design that matches your cabinetry and countertops to establish a cohesive look throughout the room.

This kitchen utilizes wood cabinets, stools, and light fixtures to ensure a natural flow in the design. Darker wooden tones are reserved for the bar stools and light fixtures, while lighter wood is used on the cabinetry for a subtle yet delightful contrast.

Install a Range and Hood Above Your Kitchen Island Bar

Kitchen island bar with a range and hood above.
Product: Radius by Barbara Barry Wedge Field in Custom Colors by ANN SACKS
Designer: Gathered Group Photography: Andrew Sherman

Expand your counter space throughout your kitchen by installing an island with a cooktop or range and hood. By reserving the cooking area to the center of the room, this kitchen and bar design allows for more uninterrupted prep space along the walls.

Use a Kitchen Bar as a Second Dining Table

Kitchen bar layout being used as a dining area.
Product: Nottingham Diamond Tundra Tile by ANN SACKS

If you have an abundance of space, your kitchen bar can serve as an entire second dining table, complete with stylish upholstered chairs and place settings. In especially spacious kitchens, a bar can be installed in addition to a traditional kitchen island, offering ample space for both food prep and entertaining guests.

Make a Bold Statement With a Dark Kitchen Bar Design

Black kitchen bar design.
Credit: ANN SACKS

Who says that your kitchen and bar must have multiple colors? Consider choosing one eye-catching shade for your kitchen to create an engaging and enveloping theme.

This black bar and kitchen setup exudes luxury appeal, while the white ceiling, pale shelving, and brass hardware provide subtle contrasts.

Multifunctional Kitchen Bar Idea

Sleek modern bar kitchen design.
Credit: @wilsonhowardteam
Featured Product: One™ Deck-Mount Bridge Kitchen Faucet

Even small spaces can make use of a kitchen bar counter, especially when it doubles as a dining table. If the stovetop takes up most of your counter space like this kitchen, an island can be used for prep, entertaining, and extra seating with the addition of a few modern bar stools that can easily slide underneath the bar when not in use.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Bar Design

Farmhouse kitchen design idea.
Credit: @krywicki_interiordesign
Featured Product: One™ Deck-Mount Bridge Kitchen Faucet

The farmhouse style is a popular kitchen bar décor idea and can even be updated for more modern preferences. A kitchen bar with a rustic wood base paired with a granite or marble countertop creates a stylish and unique look that elevates the kitchen to a more vibrant place. With metal and wooden stools, this kitchen bar design is at once quaint and chic.

Illuminate Your Kitchen Bar Design With Pendant Fixtures

Kitchen island bar with elegant lights.
Credit: @foundbymaja
Featured Product: One™ Pull-Down Kitchen Faucet

Add elegance and style to your kitchen bar with pendant lighting. From bowl-shaped fixtures to rustic lanterns to artisan globe designs, the options are nearly endless. Color-match your pendant lights to your faucets, cabinet handles, or other fixtures, or choose artistic lighting that stands out and makes a statement all on its own.

In this design, multiple lightbulbs are encased in bowl-shaped fixtures to illuminate a white modern kitchen island, complete with clear designer stools.

Establish the Kitchen Island Bar as the Main Event

Kitchen island bar idea.
Credit: @deleofletcherdesign
Featured Product: For Town Kitchen Faucet with Sidespray

This kitchen design lets the island bar be the focal point by centering it in the room with a stunning window as a backdrop. Chic hanging lighting fixtures and stylish bar chairs add an extra level of elegance and make an artistic statement in the room.

Blue Kitchen Bar Design Idea for Your Island

Blue kitchen bar island design.
Credit: @ahdandco

A blue shade for the base of the kitchen bar can help it stand out, especially in a light-toned kitchen. In a monochromatic, modern style room, a colored surface can make a bold, elegant statement, allowing you to have a little fun with your design.

Match the Backsplash and the Bar

Modern kitchen with bar.
Product: Craze 8"x12" Field in White by ANN SACKS
Design: Kelle Contine Interior Design Photography: Jake Holt

For a cohesive design throughout your kitchen, consider matching the kitchen bar to your backsplash. Matching tile can improve the flow of the space and solidify your artistic vision for your culinary haven.

FAQs About Kitchen Bar Ideas

What purpose does a kitchen bar serve?

A kitchen bar can provide expanded cooking and prep space, as well as additional seating and room for entertaining. In open-concept homes, a bar or island can also be used to create separation between the kitchen or dining area and the living room.

What are the best measurements for bar height seating?

Bar countertops tend to be between 40 and 42 inches tall, so the best measurements for bar height seating are 28 to 30 inches tall. Always make sure to measure your kitchen bar height before purchasing chairs or stools.

How deep should my kitchen bar be?

While the dimensions of your kitchen bar will depend on the available space, a standard maximum depth is 24 inches to enable you to reach across the countertop. Keep in mind that you may need to add an overhang for seating space.

What do I need for my kitchen bar?

If you plan to add a kitchen bar, you may want to consult a professional to design and install it. While you can DIY this project, doing so will require careful measurements, multiple tools and materials, and a clear knowledge of how to put the entire bar together properly.

How do I design a luxury bar at home?

If you already have a kitchen island, you may be able to convert it into a kitchen bar counter. Just by adding a few stools or chairs, you can enjoy extra seating and entertainment space. For more extensive changes and installations, you may wish to enlist the services of a professional designer and contractor.

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