It doesn’t matter if you’re catching up with friends, watching the game, or even looking for a nice place to take a break, having your own bar downstairs can really liven up your basement, and make it the ideal location for get-togethers. Unlike buying a boat that needs constant spending for maintenance, or a pool that needs cleaning, purchasing a bar is a low maintenance, high reward purchase. If you are searching for basement bar ideas and direction, look no further, Brother’s Construction can help.
Some folks know exactly what they want, while others need a little help narrowing it down. Below, I’ve outlined some of the most popular and tasteful basement bar ideas we’ve built for folks over the years. Not all basement bars are created equal, so I’ve broken them down by category to help you find the best basement for your budget and space.
Walk-Up Basement Bar Ideas
If your basement needs a bar, but you’re running low on space, the Walk-Up bar is the perfect choice for you. Since they only take up enough space for the physical bar, Walk-Up Bars are the ideal balance of size and value. Featuring just the bar itself, Walk-Up bars can give you the benefits of having a bar without dominating your basement.
The Pros: Walk-Up Bars need minimal space to work, and won’t take up the main focus of the basement as a whole. Especially if your basement is being used for multiple purposes, it might be best to go with the bar that is seen least (and costs the least).
The Cons: Though it can fit in tight spaces, Walk-Up bars can make larger groups feel cramped, so keep in mind how many people you want using it to determine if it’s the best basement bar idea. They can also be easily mistaken for counters or a kitchen area if they aren’t highlighted enough.
Get the Most Out of Your Walk-Up Bar:
Make sure to keep enough space for your Walk-Up Bar to be used: have some great places to sit around the basement, or even add some stools to create more of a bar environment.
Carefully consider the least used areas that would be best filled by a walk-up basement bar. In most basements, the nook under the stairs is wasted space, perfect for a bar.
Walk-Behind Basement Bar Ideas
When looking at Basement bar ideas, you can’t beat the classic walk-behind bar. Featuring a large space behind the bar for showcasing your selection, a storage area underneath for stashing your bar essentials, and booths for hosting basement discussions, Walk-Behind bars can create a great space in your basement for socializing.
The Pros: Nothing beats having the opportunity to hone your craft as a bartender with an actual bar. Walk-Behind bars are also the best home for your alcohol collection, with lots of room undercounter and on the back shelves.
The Cons: Walk-behind bars take up the most space out of all the options. The upside, of course, is having more room for more friends, but that might not always be needed. It’s also going to be the most expensive option out of all the basement bar ideas, but that can also be balanced against the value added to the house as a whole.
Get the Most Out of Your Walk-Behind Bar:
The best way to get the most out of a Walk-Behind bar is to purchase basic bar implements, and learn how to use them. Nothing is more impressive than a bartender with the skills to match the bar.
Drinking is best done as a complementary action. Make sure to have entertaining things around your bar (pool table, tv, bookshelf, etc.) to get the most out of your Walk-Behind bar.
Wet Bars – Basement Bar Ideas
When planning to build either type of bar, it’s important to consider whether you want to create a Wet Bar, and give your bar a working sink, drainage, and plumbing. Considered to be an essential part of any serious bar, Wet Bars can add significant value to any basement.
The Pros: As far as basement bars ideas go, Wet Bars are a necessary feature for many drinks. They also have a convenience factor, where having a sink nearby can take the hassle out of basic cleanup (not having to take fragile glassware up and down the stairs is a definite plus). I have yet to find someone who upgraded to a wet bar and regrets their decision.
The Cons: If your house’s existing plumbing was planned improperly, achieving a wet bar might not be ideal, since it would need significant work to gain access to the system. Though this is unlikely, it’s always something to consider before committing.
Get the Most Out of Your Wet Bar:
There are dozens of common drinks that will get the full use out of your basement Wet-Bar. Keep the ingredients around to maximize the benefits of your Wet Bar.
Though it’s applicable to all types of bars, make sure to use it! Plan to have gatherings and events that make any of these basement bar ideas a good one.
