Ellen Pompeo's stunning home bar turns a 'risky' color choice into a bold, inviting statement

Spaces designed for entertaining should inspire conversation, and Ellen Pompeo's home bar does just that. The room incorporates a variety of different design styles with bold colors for a stunning, instantly impactful effect.

The Grey's Anatomy actress's home bar is a sight to behold. The space, in Pompeo's home designed by celebrity interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, incorporates a Moroccan-inspired theme. Behind the bar, an intricately carved, mirrored arch draws the eye up. Rows of shelves host all of Pompeo's alcohol, rehomed into stylish silver decanters. In front of the bar, a black lattice is mounted against the granite countertops. On top of the bar, Pompeo has silver tumblers and beautifully cut glassware. Bullard has paired the beauty of the space with the ultimate drink-mixing function.

The color scheme is also of note. The intricate latticework of the arch and wood on Pompeo's home bar setup is quite striking, and it's made even more so by one stunning color: black. Jennifer Ebert, color expert and digital editor at Homes & Gardens states: 'Black paint is an incredibly bold choice, and it can be risky. When not done right, black paint can end up making a room look overly dark or small.'

Jennifer Ebert

Jen is the Editor (Digital) of Homes & Gardens. Before starting this position, she had completed various interior design courses at KLC Design School, as well as working across Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.

She continues, 'In Ellen Pompeo's home bar, the choice to use black paint pays off. The contrast of the black woodwork against the beige granite countertop makes each color look more intense. In this space, black paint brings a modern touch to the traditional woodwork and countertop material, making the room look much more interesting and transitional style.'

Furthermore, the finish of the paint helps to balance Pompeo's home bar. Ebert says, 'The glossy finish of the black paint keeps the room from looking too dark.' She continues, 'It turns the arch from a light-absorbing feature to a reflective part of the room that brights brightness and space enhancing properties.

Shop Our Favorite Glassware

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Decorating a fun space like a home bar provides room to explore bolder and more striking design choices that might feel scary to make in a larger space. Being brave worked perfectly in Ellen Pompeo's home bar. Maybe, it's a sign to take a design risk.