Post-Pandemic Home Bar Revival

When Lindsey and Clint Herod purchased their home in 2020, Lindsey—an interior designer—reimagined how each space could function more intentionally. The couple expanded their kitchen, transformed the living room into a dining room, and converted the original dining space into their favorite area in the house: a lounge.

Home lounges have become increasingly popular in both new builds and renovation projects. Despite the name, a lounge isn't just for entertaining guests with cocktails. It’s a versatile space—perfect for sipping morning coffee while watching the news, practicing meditation, or winding down in the evening with a glass of wine.

This trend gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic, as many people chose to entertain at home in smaller, more intimate groups. While sourdough starters and backyard herb gardens may have faded from the spotlight, the home cocktail culture remained strong. At the same time, the lounge brought purpose and comfort to previously underused rooms.

“Decades ago, everyone had a bar in their home,” says Lindsey Herod, founder of Lindsey Herod Design. “The idea really surged during the pandemic when people stopped going out and started mixing their own drinks. Many weren’t using their formal living or dining rooms, so turning a smaller space into a lounge made a lot of sense.”

In her own home, Herod says the kitchen used to be the main gathering space. Now, it’s the lounge.

For one of her clients, designer Kelly Gale Amen converted an extra bedroom into a cozy wine room and lounge. He incorporated barware, books, and decorative accents, and added fretwork on the French doors to echo the bookcase design. Rich brown paint on the walls and ceiling gave the room a warm, dramatic feel, providing a striking backdrop for the client’s art collection.

Another client of Amen's decided to repurpose their seldom-used dining room. They moved the dining table to a spacious breakfast nook and turned the dining room into a lounge used daily—for coffee, cocktails, and even celebratory champagne with friends.

That once-overlooked space is now bursting with color and texture: an olive green ceiling that matches velvet drapes, dark green trim on the woodwork, and a mix of green and butterscotch leather swivel chairs. A vintage washstand functions as a liquor cabinet, and a china cabinet proudly displays an extensive barware collection.

In a high-rise condo with limited space, another client of Amen's skipped the breakfast table altogether. Instead, he installed a marble ledge beneath a window and paired it with wheeled chairs—ideal for anything from casual drinks to admiring the city view.

“We’re living differently now,” Amen explains. “No room should serve just one purpose. That old dining room? Now it’s a stylish and practical parlor.”

Designer Hallie Henley Sims shares that many of her clients are requesting similar multipurpose spaces—not all of them centered around alcohol.

“It’s really about gathering, slowing down, and connecting with others,” she says. “When we create spaces that work for both kids and adults, that’s when we’re truly designing for modern family life.”

One of her favorite lounge designs—part of a new build in 2021—is painted a rich blue and includes a climate-controlled wine closet. Originally meant to satisfy the husband’s wine collecting hobby, the room is now a go-to space for game nights and school fundraising events.

Designers agree that these rooms work best with rich, moody colors and luxurious, comfortable furnishings. Performance fabrics are key—they’re durable enough to handle spills without sacrificing style.

For drink service and storage, you can go all-in with built-in cabinetry, plumbing, and an icemaker. Or take a more budget-friendly route with open shelves, a vintage china cabinet for glassware, and a stylish bar cart for bottles and ice.

While a lounge’s aesthetic can complement adjoining rooms, Sims recommends giving it its own personality. Darker countertops are smart for hiding red wine stains, and bold backsplash tile or wallpaper can add a glamorous touch.

“They’re like the powder bath of living spaces,” she explains. “If it’s a smaller room, you can treat it like a jewel box. We love using performance velvet for seating—if guests are drinking, you want the materials to be both elegant and durable.”