Designing A Custom Dry Bar: Layout, Storage & Style
A dry bar is a beverage or coffee station that doesn’t include plumbing—either by choice or by design. That means no sink, no water lines, and no complicated, expensive installation. Instead, it’s all about smart storage, surface space, and style. With the right cabinetry, you can create a designated spot for drinks, glassware, and entertaining essentials, without sacrificing kitchen space.
Take this project as inspiration: floating wood shelves offer open display for glassware and decor, while custom cabinetry below provides concealed storage and houses a beverage fridge. The clean lines, warm finishes, and thoughtful mix of materials make the space feel intentional and elevated, even though it tucks seamlessly into a smaller nook.
At Sean’s Cabinetry, we specialize in tailoring cabinetry to maximize every inch of your home. Whether you’re carving out a corner for a dry bar or designing a full custom kitchen, we believe that good design should work beautifully in spaces of all sizes. With a smart layout and the right finishes, even the tightest corner can be transformed into a stylish, functional dry bar that fits your lifestyle.
Custom Dry Bar Layout
Even the smallest nook can be transformed into something beautiful and functional with the right cabinetry. In this project, we created a coffee bar tucked between the kitchen and the great room—a perfect transition space that feels connected to both. Custom cabinetry below provides storage for essentials, while white oak floating shelves above add warmth and display space for glassware and decor.
The setup is simple yet incredibly practical: no plumbing required, just your favorite coffee maker, mugs, and silverware. It’s the perfect spot to serve lattes to your guests without trekking back to the kitchen, and it elevates what would otherwise be unused space into a feature that feels intentional and stylish.
2. Essential Appliances for Your Custom Dry Bar
A dry bar should feel fully outfitted and luxurious, offering all the beauty and benefits of a wet bar just without plumbing. With the right appliances, this space becomes both stylish and highly functional. A nice coffee maker instantly makes the dry bar a morning destination, giving you a spot to brew espresso or lattes without taking over the main kitchen. A built-in mini fridge is another favorite, perfect for storing sodas, sparkling water, and mixers while keeping them within easy reach.
For those who love entertaining, a compact ice maker ensures you’re always ready to serve cocktails or iced coffee, and a wine cooler, if you are a wine enthusiast to keep bottles perfectly chilled. Even a small cocktail blender can find its home here, ready to whip up margaritas in summer or smoothies on the weekend.
The key is to plan ahead. Make sure there is plenty of counter space and enough outlets in the right places for the appliances you want to use most. With custom cabinetry, everything tucks in seamlessly so the design feels intentional. At Sean’s Cabinetry, we build cabinetry with appliance cutouts tailored to your needs, ensuring your dry bar is as functional as it is beautiful.
3. Custom Storage That Works Beautifully
Even without plumbing, a custom dry bar can offer the same thoughtful storage and smart design you’d expect from a full wet bar. In fact, this is where we at Sean’s Cabinetry really shine. With fully customizable cabinetry, we can design spaces that give you all the room you need for wine bottles, glassware and bartending essentials —all neatly organized behind soft-close doors and drawers.
Above, floating white oak shelves keep the space feeling bigger, more open, and airy. They’re also perfect for styling: line up your wine glasses and mugs, add syrups and raw sugar for your morning coffee, or mix in a few decorative pieces to make the space feel personal.
Because everything we create is custom, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Whatever your vision, we can build exactly what you need.
4. Let’s Create Your Perfect Custom Dry Bar
Is it a good time to upgrade your space with a custom dry bar from Sean’s Cabinetry? Our expertly crafted cabinetry keeps everything organized while creating a beautiful focal point in your home. Whether you’re dreaming of a classic dry bar with rich woodwork and marble details or a modern design featuring sleek quartz and floating shelves, we’ll bring your vision to life with precision and care.
Backed by decades of expertise, our team specializes in tailoring cabinetry to fit your lifestyle—down to the very last detail. From appliance cutouts to customized storage, we make sure your bar is stunning. Ready to bring your vision to life? Schedule a design appointment with Sean’s Cabinetry today and let’s start planning your custom dry bar.
