Anatomy of a Bar
A. Standard bar height is 42 in. Bar stools will be easier to find if you stick with that height.
B. The overhang should be at least 8 in., but when it comes to knee room, more is better.
C. Most bar stools are 30 in. tall—perfect for standard bar height. But watch out: Some stools are several inches taller or shorter.
D. The bar top should be 16 to 20 in. wide, including the molding; more than that is a waste of space.
E. Bar molding serves three critical purposes:
- It keeps spilled drinks from dribbling off the bar and onto your lap.
- It provides a comfy armrest and lets you properly slouch over your beer.
- Most important, it makes your home bar look more official.
F. The drink rail is where drinks get poured on a traditional bar. It’s a nice feature, but not a necessity for a home bar.
G. A drip lip—simply a thin strip of protruding wood—keeps spills from running off the bar top.
H. A lower home bar counter is the perfect place to slice lemons, set bottles or install a bar sink. But it adds complexity to the project and eats up a lot of space, so home bar builders often skip it.
J. The minimum stool spacing is 2 ft. of bar per seat. That will feel crowded to big guys, so go to 30 in. if you can.
K. The foot rail should be 7 to 9 in. off the floor. Metal railing (usually brass) is expensive ($200 for an 8-ft. run), so many home bars have a simple ledge instead.
You can opt for a metal, stone or wood base for your bar, and still include the elements above.
