We often undermine the value of a basement in our houses and use it only to store useless and weary things. Basements, if properly utilized can turn into an amazing place to showcase your creativity. Within a minimum expense and a little effort we can convert our basement into any additional space we miss in our homes, be it a game room, a library, workshop, a personal office or even a man cave. Utilizing a basement comes with a lot of benefits as it is a low disturbance area and also soundproof.
Basement bar ideas are one of the best and innovative ways to make your basement functional and light it up. So, if you want a small bar area in your house but are also in a dilemma which corner to utilize then definitely go for a basement, no matter how small your basement is. Be with us and this article is going to be of great help for you in deciding which basement bar idea is well suited for your house.
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But First Let’s Discuss a Few Important Things to Consider for a Basement Bar.
Things you can add to your basement bar to make it more appealing for you and your guests to hang out.
- Proper lighting : Basements are dark places and bars need an ample amount of light to showcase your collection of liquor and also to make your drinks in the right proportion. Light is an essential component for the ambience of a bar, you need to lit up your bar with not just uniform lighting but a mixture of lights to highlight the details of your home bar. There are numerous lighting equipment one can use for designing a bar such as, chandelier style lighting, edison bulbs, LED strips, wall sconces etc.
- Ice Maker : Ice is another important component of a bar and it’s very important to have a proper provision for ice in the basement bar because every time you run out of ice you’ll have to run up to collect the ice, which can be a bad impression on your guests and can be a mood spoiler too. You can have a freezer too but only if it has extra space for ice making because a normal freezer can’t keep up with the demand for ice when you are giving a house party.
- A Sink : You can decide on whether you want a dry bar or a wet bar, adding a sink to your basement bar is a matter of functionality and will require some sort of professional help. In the beginning you can start with a dry bar and later on plumb in a sink to wash glass and other utensils; you can also add a dishwasher to your bar.
- Entertainment spot : Adding fun parts to your basement bar is another important aspect for making your bar pleasing to your guests. You can make your bar entertaining by adding any kind of sport equipment according to the size and space of your basement. You can add arcade games, a foosball table, a billiard table or even a ping-pong table; if you do not have enough space left after placing the bar counter then you at least add a customized dart board to your basement bar.
- Bar equipments : If you are a drink enthusiast and want to experience different types of drinks and mixtures like cocktails, martinis, margaritas, mojitos etc., you need to have proper bar tools in order to mix and measure drinks in the right manner and proportion. Some of the must required bar tools are mixing glass, bar spoon, muddler, stainer, jigger and blender.
- Custom bar signage : Designing a home bar requires fascination towards it, and if you want your home basement bar to reflect that fascination then you need to be creative with the designing aspect. Use custom sign boards engraved with the bar name on it and can also make it sassy by adding a bottle opener to it.
Adding any one of the following sport equipment will not just enhance the look of your bar but also make it engaging and entertaining for you to spend more time with your buddies.
Depending on various sizes of basement we have come up with some of the extraordinary basement bar ideas:
1. Simple Wooden Basement Bar
This wooden bar idea is a simple design and is not very expensive to build. It is a DIY project for those who are good at wooden work, and can also be made with a little bit of professional help. This wooden bar does not require much space and you can spare enough space for additional entertainment in your basement.
The polished wooden bar top with a neutral background gives the bar a finishing touch; You also need to take every tiny detail into consideration such as the custom open sign board, the glass holder, metal stools, a foot rail, which all together make this simple wooden bar look exotic.
2. Vintage Style Basement Bar
This throwback design of the basement bar is a bit high on budget and requires much space to build. The classy dark wooden theme with black chairs and illuminating sconces of this wet basement bar is sure to give you the Kansas city feeling. The glass shelves with mounted lighting will highlight your collection of liquor; and a TV in the middle will be quite a show when it’s Royals vs Twins.
3. Modern Minimalist Basement Bar
With the growing trend of minimalistic houses, we have some of the most amazing minimalist bar ideas to apply to your houses. This neat and clean bar design is a perfect example of a minimalist wet basement bar, as the main theme of minimalism is its design, texture and functionality. The wooden framing with smooth countertop and iron rod chairs gives the bar that elementary feel, and the glass shelves with mosaic tiles for a background feels like a real pub and looks exquisite.
Also an open cabinet with glass hanger and geometric shelves for wine collection makes it a complete in-house bar for you to hang out with your mates.
4. Sleek Modern Minimalistic Bar
This sleek wooden cabinet corner bar is another example of a minimalist bar for your house. The dark wooden polished cabinets with mirrored shelves and mounted cabinet light looks stylish and complete in itself. This design can be used for the houses with a small basement and you can spare enough space to add a couch or any sort of sport equipment that suits you.
5. Whole White Basement Bar
This white wet bar is one of the coolest and sophisticated basement bar ideas, this one might look like it will occupy a lot of space to build but it won’t. White counter has blended right in with wooden flooring and the white metal stools are also giving a soothing effect with the neutral background. One big advantage of using white color as your bar theme is that you don’t need extra lights, the recessed lights will be enough for illuminating your bar. Although you can add undermount lighting to these elevated countertops.
The cubic box liquor shelves with dual splash of color is like the cherry on the cake, and you can always use wall hangings to give the bar a particular theme and own the space totally.
6. Saloon Style Basement Bar
This old school setup of a bar is another cool idea for a wet bar in a cellar. The sheer stonewall with arched wooden counter and marble countertop gives a deep insight about the brilliant taste of the owner. Although the entire theme of this bar is marvelous, the first and foremost thing that people walking down those stairs are gonna like and appreciate is those nice cool cowboy stools.
Then the cask in the corner which is making this bar look like a complete saloon, with headlamps to highlight each and every tiny detail. One can also add a poker table to this basement bar idea and make it a complete retro design.
7. Man Cave Basement Bar
Man caves are the best place to spend your leisure time and if your man cave includes a bar then it is the ultimate place to hangout with your friends on weekends. This basic man cave bar idea is very simple to design and looks cool. The Semi-sanded wooden texture cabinets for storing glassware with the marble countertop is a nice idea to go with wooden flooring. You can use these lighting ideas and the custom sign boards to illuminate and design your home bar in the most stylish way.
The advantage to using this model of basement bar to your man cave is that you can spare a lot of space and people usually fill their man cave with multiple gadgets. Like in this picture also you can see there is a refrigerator in the corner, a recliner, an electronic dartboard, a TV and so on, which makes this man cave a complete package for your buddies to chill out.
8. Rustic Style Basement Bar
The old rustic design of a basement is the perfect place for setting up a bar, as it will look like the bar has also aged like the wine stored in it and the Stone walls with tree columns are a perfect blend like whiskey. You can take inspiration from this neat and clean design of a basement bar, the hardwood counter with swivel bar stools and glass shelves with mounted lights seems like a real pub in the basement. For entertainment there is also a chess table by the wall and a couch for relaxation, anyone walking down those stairs will have a hard time leaving this basement bar.
9. Classic Home Bar
This classic wet basement bar idea can be used for homes with large basement areas. One can use any texture to design their home bar, like in this picture wooden texture is used for cabinets, counters, leather bar stools and so on. The renaissance tin ceiling with wooden flooring and elevated counter with marble countertop has altogether forged this home bar like a complete city club.
Extra space always amounts for creativity, you can analyze from this picture how efficiently the space has been divided into two halves, with a bar on one side and a well defined entertainment zone on the other side with a pool table, a TV and corner tables to rest your glass of wine.
10. Farmhouse Style Basement Bar
The sophisticated and compact design of this basement bar resembles the idea of a farmhouse style bar. There is an array of wooden work we can use to design our basement bar, you can see in the above picture, polished wooden countertop and the custom wooden shelves have been designed perfectly to mix up with a neutral color background.
The most outstanding thing about this wet bar design is the mirror incorporated into the wooden shelf with glass hangers and under mount lighting. The mirror if perfectly placed can create a vast look and gives the place an extra window which looks exotic in itself.
11. Eccentric Basement Bar
This unconventional design is one of the coolest dry basement bar ideas. You can use this design to create a bar in the recessed area of the basement. One can use the above idea to lighten up their basement bar, the wall sconces have been perfectly placed to highlight the customized rustic wooden background. The dark brown cabinets for storing glassware, a wine cooler for maintaining the appropriate temperature and elementary stools to give the bar the industrial touch, these are few minor details which showcases the creativity and excellent choice of its owner.
One can also attach a coffee maker and other non alcoholic beverages to your home bar in case there is a person in your group who does not partake.
12. Corner Basement Bar
If you are planning to set up a bar in your basement but the basement has a curved edge and you are confused how to utilize that space, then take a look at the above basement bar idea. The basic design of this curved corner basement bar is simple but very functional, you can find all the basic amenities of a home bar in this design, like a wine cooler, a dishwasher, cabinets for storing extra glassware.
The curved and elevated counter with heighted dining stools has not only helped in utilizing the space properly but also enhanced the look of this basement bar.
13. Ritzy Bar Design
In case you are fond of simplistic designs and you find comfort in it, then this neat and clean iconic bar setup is definitely for you. The dark brown counter with laminate white countertop is giving a contrasting look to the bar and the eccentric floor plan is mixing right in with the background. The dark wooden cabinets have been perfectly mounted for storing glassware and glass shelves for placing your liquor storage in between; have a look at these amazing industrial bar stools and above hanging edison bulbs.
One can also acquire the idea of building a small toilet with their basement bar if there is a requisite amount of space left after setting up the bar and also if you are not tight on budget, because people will be definitely using it either for a washroom break or to vomit on every drunk night.
14. Recess Wooden Basement Bar
The scale of this sweet little luxurious basement bar design is completely majestic. There are a range of wooden panels you can use to design your basement bar, like in this picture you can see how effectively the beadboard panels are used to design the counter and background wall. The curved counter with base marble and elevated glass countertop is an adorable combination.
Although this bar design looks small in size, there is enough space available for setting up all the amenities of a bar, wooden cabinet and open glass shelves for showcasing your collection of liquor. You can also use these recessed lighting for a similar beam structure to give your basement bar an aesthetically pleasing look.
The reason behind showing all these different styles of basement bar ideas is that every house has its own structure and so the basements in every house can vary in size, space and structure. By going through this article you might be able to figure out which of these designs fits right for your basement to be converted into a mini bar.
Portable Basement Bar Ideas
In case your basement is already occupied or there is a very little space left for setting up a bar in your basement then you can use a portable bar as an option, one big advantage of using a portable bar is that one can shift it to wherever needed like when you are hosting an outdoor party in the garden area or in the backyard of your home.
1. Cabinetry Bar
This fully functional cabinetry bar is a great example to consider if you are looking for a portable bar as an option for your basement. Just a glimpse of the above picture is enough to comprehend the amount of expertise put into building this ideal concise portable bar.
Side cabinets for storing glassware and other bar equipment, mounted wine glass hanger and geometric shelves for liquor storage also the stainless steel surface to prepare your drinks in a professional manner, keeping consistent with all these tiny details makes this concise portable bar design an extraordinary piece of craft.
2. Professional Portable Bar
This cool professional portable bar is another option for those looking for a concise bar to fit in their basement. Keeping in mind the professional aspect of this bar special consideration has been given to durability and structure, the heavy duty steel rods have been used to frame this detailed structure.
There is enough space for holding all the bar amenities also the sections are divided in a very neat manner, a tray for holding liquors, ice box in between, paper cup holder, towel hanger, a base tray for storing extra drinks or other non-alcoholic beverages and a nice finished countertop. Also there are wheels attached for easy moving this professional bar; you can use LED strip lights to give this bar a neon theme.
3. Treasury Box
This is one of the most stylish designs in portable bar options, the trunk shaped design of this bar is sure to make your guests envious. This is an ingenious design for a portable bar as nothing is sort of missing for it to be called a modern contemporary bar. Beautifully designed bottle holders, drawers for keeping extra bar equipment, wine glass hanger and there is also a wooden slab provided for preparing your drinks, all these facilities come within this treasury box ready to pack and move anywhere you want.
4. The Infamous Bar
This trolley style portable bar globe is another efficient option for those looking for a really concise option for their cellar. The hand-furnished wooden design of this globe bar is efficient for people who love to enjoy their time in close company or with a small group of friends.
Impress your guests with this vintage style 16th century globe bar provided alongside a serving tray and a base shelf for extra storage, and a metal plate used in the interior of the globe for maintaining the temperature of the drinks. Also there is enough space for holding a couple of glasses and your bottle of liquor for the evening.
Final Thoughts
These are the few examples of optimum bar designs you can use to create a basement bar for yourself. Keeping in mind the various size, space and structure of the basements we have come up with a range of basement bar ideas to choose from.
If you want a full fledged bar for your basement and also your basement has the requisite amount of space available to be converted into one, then you can choose any one of the above mentioned designs. But in case your basement is already occupied or else after converting your basement into a man cave, a workshop, a personal library or anything else now you want to add a mini bar to it then you can use one of the portable bar designs and add a mini fridge or ice maker with it and your cellar bar will be ready to enjoy.
Please leave your comments if you find this article of any use in designing your own basement bar, thank you and drink responsibly.
