35 Creative Coffee Bar Ideas to Start Your Morning Off Right
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If your mornings begin with a fresh brew, it's important to keep your routine running smoothly — yes, we believe a great cup of joe can change the trajectory of your day. Whether it's a built-in coffee cabinet, corner coffee counter or kitchen pantry, we've rounded up coffee bar ideas that prove you don't need a luxe setup to capture the function and ambiance of your favorite coffee shop right at home.
It's easy to create a cafe-level beverage when you designate a space in your home for daily coffee essentials like pods or grounds, syrups and coffee makers. Not to mention, all of these DIY projects will elevate your home style, whether your kitchen design is modern, retro or farmhouse. Even if you're working with a small kitchen where every square inch counts, you'll find a setup that inspires you (hint: rolling bar carts, converted closets and hidden coffee cabinets are great ways to maximize space).
As you scroll, you'll find a ton of simple decorating ideas that add charm to your coffee bar. Think playful cabinet colors and bold backsplashes, plus hanging mug displays, floating shelves and wall art. We've also included genius upcycling ideas that involve turning thrifted furniture into striking coffee stations. And it's not all about caffeine, we've sprinkled in easy ways to customize the area with tasty treats, tea bags, hot cocoa or even wine and liquor.
Mix Cabinet Colors
Whereas the rest of this modern kitchen has pastel blue cabinets, the coffee bar cabinet stands out with wood cabinetry and glass panels. Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors fills the see-through cabinet with modern white mugs and a stunning espresso machine.
Display Mugs Using Hooks
Located in the corner of a home office, this antique console table houses a high-tech coffee maker, alongside a trendy lamp and lush houseplant. Above, Christine Higgs of @forthehome uses gold rods with S-hooks to hang coffee mugs, utensils, tea towels and a few decorative items.
Bring in Gorgeous Greenery
Instantly bring color to your kitchen coffee bar with a few houseplants, which look beautiful paired with wooden accents. We love how Jenny Williamson, principal designer of West Rose Design, makes use of the vertical space by adding floating shelves for tiers of greenery.
RELATED: Best Places to Buy Healthy Plants Online in 2023
Merge Modern With Vintage
Turn your coffee bar into a focal point by blending modern and vintage elements, like a mirrored backsplash, fluted cabinet doors and antique-inspired hardware. Here, the Mendelson Group adds hooks under the cabinets to display mugs and a bar sink for easy coffee prep.
Maximize an Awkward Alcove
If you've got a small nook or crevice adjacent to the kitchen, you have a perfect opportunity to turn it into a tucked-away coffee bar. To complete this stylish alcove, Jill Perry, interior designer at Design Works Studio, opts for dark blue cabinetry and wood floating shelves above for extra storage.
Paint an Old Dresser
Here's an affordable idea to consider. Repurpose a thrifted dresser (or one you're no longer using) into a coffee bar by painting it a fresh hue. Use the drawers to store coffee filters, coffee grinds, tea bags and mugs, then put your coffee machine and tea kettle up top.
See more at Kaleidoscope Living »
Install a Prep Sink
Instead of going back and forth to the kitchen sink, consider a prep sink in your coffee station. Filling the coffee machine and rinsing coffee mugs just got so much easier.
See more at The Handmade Home »
Designate a Space in the Kitchen
Whether you have a spacious kitchen or separate butler's pantry, reserve a dedicated space for your coffee supplies. Liz Goldberg, founder of CAROLYNLEONA, also adds a wine fridge, so this area can effortlessly transition from day to night.
Add Floating Shelves
Paired with a geometric accent wall, two rustic wood shelves store coffee mugs and canisters filled with coffee grounds. Don't forget to layer in coffee-themed decor and a few houseplants to complete the aesthetic.
See more at Love Create Celebrate »
Convert a Closet
Here, interior designer Ashley Gilbreath converted a closet into a stylish coffee bar. The built-in shelves are perfect for storing mugs, stirrers and coffee grounds, while the decorative curtain helps hide storage and extra supplies.
Tuck Everything Away
Hidden behind beautiful Ross Alan reclaimed lumber cladding, this coffee and tea bar is equipped with a collection of mugs, a tea pot, cold brew maker and most notability, a coffee maker. The doors tuck in, so you can put away your coffee station when the afternoon rolls around.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Transition From Day to Night
Keep the drinks — caffeinated or otherwise — going from morning to night. This day-to-night cart is big enough to store the ingredients and accessories for morning brews, nightcaps and everything in between.
RELATED: Unique Bar Cart Ideas to Bring Personality to Your Space
Build a Beverage Nook
Inspired by timelessness of English kitchens, designer Kate Marker dreamed up this gorgeous pantry cabinet. Open the stately doors to reveal your mug collection, then use the Native Trails Malibu sink to easily prep your morning coffee.
Consider a Bold Backsplash
Turn your coffee area into a design statement by going bold with the backsplash and countertop, like Unscripted Interior Design does here. If you have the space, a small round sink makes coffee prep that much easier.
RELATED: Stylish Kitchen Backsplash Ideas for Every Style and Budget
Bring the Coffee Bar Into the Office
With a hidden coffee station inside this built-in desk, you won't even need to leave your office to make yourself a cup of afternoon coffee. With a sophisticated cabinet color, interior designer Krisanna Sanders of Recast Homes ensures your guests will have no idea what's inside.
RELATED: Home Office Ideas to Bring Style and Function to Any Layout
Go Glam
From the mirrored backsplash to the sleek gold accents, this coffee bar by Malka Helft of Think Chic Interiors makes a statement without overshadowing the rest of the kitchen. The cabinets above and below are ideal for storing mugs, utensils and other frequently used ingredients.
Thrift an Antique Buffet
For a true trash-to-treasure DIY, coat an antique buffet with a glossy finish to give it a more modern feel. Cover any imperfections with baskets, jars and an assortment on monochromatic mugs.
Turn Dishware Into Decor
Designate a space in your kitchen to your morning coffee routine. Add floating shelves to ensure your coffee maker, grounds and mugs are all within reach — plus the collection looks gorgeous on display in this space by Becca Casey of Becca Interiors.
Elevate With Wallpaper
Turn a spare closet into a stylish coffee bar by covering the wall with a bold temporary wallpaper and dotting the shelves with decorative accents.
Add Pocket Cabinet Doors
You can leave these cabinet doors open while you make your coffee without worrying you'll walk into them, since the doors easily tuck inside the cabinet. Designed by Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions, this kitchen features a built-in coffee station complete with a small shelf that fits a small collection of coffee mugs.
Bring in Rustic Elements
Filled with natural textures and raw woods, this rustic coffee area is as functional as it is stylish. To maximize space, blogger Angela Lloyd opts for a two-tier organizer to store coffee essentials and the above floating shelf is reserved for dishes.
Use a Rolling Cart
If you prefer making your morning brew with a pour-over and French press, then a mobile coffee cart is your best bet, especially since you don't have to worry about keeping it near an outlet.
See more at The Merrythought »
Go for a Timeless Design
Here, interior designer Nina Naqvi turns extra counter space into a cute and functional coffee bar. Floating shelves ensure coffee mugs can double as decor, and a sideboard with storage allows you keep all of the necessary utensils and ingredients within reach.
Stock the Pantry
Built-in cabinets offer unlimited opportunities. Here, designer Marie Flanigan displays coffee mugs on shelves, sticks syrups and shelf-stable creamers in the interior cabinet doors and places machines on the counter.
RELATED: Best Pantry Organization Ideas to Keep Drawers, Cabinets and Shelves Clutter-Free
Install Chic Custom Shelving
Below this kitchen cabinet, there's an open shelf that provides the perfect place to store a few decorative items, including cute coffee mugs and a coffee grinder. Use the counter below to store the rest of your coffee essentials, and it'll feel like you've got a little coffee corner at home.
See more at Style by Emily Henderson »
Stick With Simplicity
Keep your early morning essentials — a coffee maker and your go-to mug — in plain sight and tuck everything else in drawers.
See more at The Home I Create »
Style a Dessert Bar
No one said your coffee cart only has to be about coffee, it can also be a great place to put tasty treats on display. After pouring yourself a glass of coffee, head to this station to add your sugar, cream and syrups — then pair it with a sweet snack.
See more at Inspired by Charm »
Combine Your Tea and Coffee Cabinet
Clear out an old cabinet and load it with labeled organizers and baskets, full of coffee and tea varieties to please anyone who comes over for a fresh brew.
See more at Four Generations One Roof »
Embrace a Modern Farmhouse Style
Bring out the farmhouse aesthetic with a rustic entry table, decorated with galvanized metal storage bins, weathered tobacco baskets and pops of eucalyptus.
See more at The Crafted Sparrow »
Hide in a Corner Cabinet
To avoid a cluttered countertop, keep all of your coffee essentials tucked away in a cabinet. Take note from interior designer Marie Flanigan and stick your sugars, syrups and coffee pods on a lazy Susan for easy access.
Mount a Coffee Mug Rack
Save valuable counter space by affixing this navy and copper display to the wall. You can store up to 12 coffee mugs on the metal hooks and add a few extras on top!
Take Advantage of Vertical Space
Store K-Cups, coffee pods and mugs directly on the wall above your coffee station, ensuring plenty of room to fix your morning brew.
Go Minimalist
For a more uniform look, keep everything — coffee maker, sugar bowl and mugs — in the same color. Then dress up the coffee station with faux flowers and a framed sign.
See more at Angela Marie Made »
Create a Colorful Mug Display
Infuse color into your space by adding a carousel of patterned mugs and paper straws to your coffee bar.
See more at Oh Everything Handmade »
Repurpose a Bar Cart
Save kitchen counter space by moving your coffee maker to a nearby bar cart. Keep essentials, like coffee pods, cream and sugar, on the top shelf and fragile items (think: mugs) on the lower shelf to lessen the impact.
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