One of the most popular ways to enhance a finished basement is with a home bar. Whether you're doing a complete basement remodel or looking to level up your existing basement, creating a basement bar area can complement and round out the entire space.
The beauty of a basement bar is that there are so many ways that you can design it to make it feel truly your own. In this post, I'll cover some basement bar ideas and show examples of projects we've done in the past. But none of this is meant to just copy and paste. Instead, I hope that these ideas can inspire you to find the design that's most meaningful for your home.
Before jumping into some specific basement bar ideas, I want to cover a few important things to consider early in the planning process because they help shape the direction of your basement bar design.
If you want to get the most out of your basement bar, it's worth thinking about how this part of your home will be used. Reflecting on key questions -- the how, who, and when -- lets you pick out the most relevant bar ideas.
How will the space be used?: Is your basement bar going to be the main destination, or is it part of a larger space intended for other activities? Knowing the uses of your basement has a huge influence on how your bar should be designed. For example, the design of a bar and wine cellar (meant for wine storage and tasting) is going to be considerably different from a kitchenette and wet bar intended to accompany a guest room.
Who will spend time in your basement?: You want your basement's design to suit the people who will use it, so ask yourself, is the basement bar primarily for you? Will the space be shared with other members of your household? Do you plan to host family or friends? Will it be an area just for adults or for children, too?
When will you use your basement bar?: Determining how frequently you expect to use your basement bar can alter the types of features and appliances you need. Is your basement area going to be used nearly every day as a place to unwind? Is it going to be reserved mostly for parties? Or will it be a small bar used principally by occasional house guests?
The answers to these questions go a long way to determining what you need in your basement bar.
If you plan to host parties, you probably want a wet bar, wine fridge, plenty of cabinets to hold glassware, and bar accessories like an ice maker. If your goal is to have a game room or activity space, a dry bar may be enough as it allows people to quickly and conveniently grab a drink and go back to what they were doing. If you plan for the bar to accompany a guest suite, you may want just a basic wet bar with a sink and an under-the-cabinet mini-fridge.
These are just a few examples, but they highlight why identifying the purpose and usage of your basement bar is essential to coming up with relevant design plans.
Your bar space has to fit within the scale of your overall basement space. Before getting too deep in bar design, you should assess how much space you have available so that you can right-size your basement bar ideas.
For example, you'll want to consider whether you want a walk-up bar or a walk-behind bar. A walk-behind bar has a far more commanding presence, but you need a lot of room to accommodate one. In contrast, a walk-up bar doesn't have the same feel, but it fits better in a small space.
Similarly, space affects the seating and the length of your bar. As a general rule, we budget two feet for each chair or stool. So if you want four seats, you need a bar that's at least eight feet long.
As these examples demonstrate, a large space gives you more options. It can make it easier to include a wet bar, a bigger fridge, and storage space.
In this process, consider not just the bar area but what's around it. Make sure that there's enough room for your vision, whether it's a man cave, wine cellar, or another idea entirely. In most cases, if you don't already have a bathroom in your basement, you may need to include at least a half bathroom in your remodeling plan to go along with the bar.
Another big-picture consideration is what style you want for your basement bar. Do you want it to have its own distinct feel or to look like an extension of the rest of your house? Do you want a rustic look or are you shooting to create a modern feel?
If you already have a vision in mind, fantastic! You can use that style to guide the layout, hardware, and finishings. If not, you may want to consult with an interior designer or a design-build firm to help draw out your stylistic sense and narrow down your list of basement bar ideas.
Basement design can take many forms, so I want to cover just a few ideas that might stoke your imagination. Again, these aren't fixed concepts. Each can be adapted to suit your home, your needs, and your sense of style.
For many of our clients, a bar fits right into a space in their basement dedicated to a beloved activity. Often, this means putting a wet bar next to a pool table, allowing you to enjoy a cold one while honing your skills.
A walk-up or walk-behind bar can also fit perfectly with a poker table or another large table for board games. If you're planning a media room for watching movies or sports, a basement bar outfitted with built-ins like a fridge, sink, and microwave can ensure that beverages and snacks are readily available at all times.
If you're a wine lover, there's nothing better than building out a wine cellar with a modern basement bar. The cellar offers not only wine storage at a controlled temperature but also a remarkable visual showpiece.
Beyond the cellar, though, a basement wine bar can create an air of sophistication with elegant finishes and cabinets to keep your finest wine glasses. Your bar can serve as center stage for conducting tastings or simply enjoying a glass of your favorite vintage.
For many homeowners, a basement bar complements a larger area where the whole family can gather together. In this design, the bar is adjacent to a comfortable seating area with an open layout that creates what feels like an auxiliary living or dining room.
In this approach, you want functionality, which means a wet bar and plenty of counter space. Although a walk-behind bar can work well, you may only need a walk-up bar since people will sit on nearby couches. Adding a side table or two lets everyone keep their drink nearby and reduces the risk of spills.
If you are planning a basement remodel and want this type of family area, make sure to include a bathroom so that you don't have to trudge upstairs every time nature calls.
Another enticing option is to design a wet bar that resembles your favorite watering hole. This can create a truly unique element in your home that also expresses part of your personality. The options are limitless, but a few ideas include:
A sports bar with memorabilia dedicated to your hometown team
An old-timey Western saloon with rustic reclaimed wood
A classic English or Irish pub with built ins like taps of cider or Guinness
A speakeasy with a throwback look or an upscale cocktail bar with a sleek, modern design
A piano bar or a stylish nightclub-inspired design with dark finishes
If your basement can only fit a small bar, think about putting a walk-up bar in a corner, under the stairs, or tucked away in another compact spot. With this design, you may have to cut back on shelves and cabinets, but you can still have a place to store glassware and keep bar essentials like a bottle opener and corkscrew.
Once you've settled on the general layout and function of your basement bar, you can zoom in on some of the design elements that make your home bar a visual delight.
There are many types of bar designs, including traditional long and straight bars and L-shaped bars with a defined corner. If you want a wet bar to use for preparation as well as eating and drinking, a tiered structure may be the best bet.
You can pick a material for the bar that suits your overall look. Depending on your style, this may mean granite, marble, wood, or a custom bar material.
Around the bar, many of our clients love the look of a tiled bar-back wall that runs to the ceiling. Open shelves keep more of the tile visible to enhance the visual appeal.
Light fixtures of different shapes and materials can contribute to the vibe of your basement bar. However, you don't need to overthink lighting or let it cause paralysis by analysis.
Pendant lights are a popular choice, and they are often enough to clearly identify that you're in the bar area. Some clients like small lights as built-ins within cabinets to make it easier to navigate the bar while keeping overhead lights dim.
When thinking about lighting, make sure to account for whether your basement has any exterior windows that let in natural light.
You'll need some storage in your basement bar, and you can decide between cabinets or an open shelving option like floating shelves. If you have a walk-behind bar, you'll have more storage, including both drawers and cabinets.
Hardware choices like handles and drawer pulls can add little touches of style to your bar. In darker spaces, many homeowners like a slightly reflective material, like brass or chrome, that can create a bit of contrast.
Flooring is one way to demarcate the bar area. Our clients frequently request a hard surface (on top of their concrete floor) and want it to run all through the bar and around the peninsula or island. If you have a wet bar, you'll want to choose a type of flooring that won't absorb moisture or warp easily.
The furniture around your bar should match the look you're going for, whether that's pink velvet bar stools or luxury bar-height chairs with leather seat cushions. Regardless of the specifics, your goal should be to create a cohesive ambiance that matches the intended purpose of your basement bar.
If you plan on entertaining, make sure to include ample seating and places for people to mill about. At parties, people may not hang out just at the bar itself, so it often helps to set up some tall side tables where you can put snacks or where people can set down their drinks.
If your basement has any natural elements like stone, exposed brick walls, or wood beams, you can work those into your basement design. Contrasting paint on nearby cabinets or doors can add an accent to an already eye-catching bar.