Photo: HGTV

If you are thinking of remodeling your basement, there are plenty of ideas out there. You could turn it into an extra bedroom, a home theater or a playroom for your little ones. If you are looking for something fun and functional–how about adding a wet bar?

A wet bar is basically galley kitchen meets bar. It usually includes the common kitchen elements: cabinetry, countertop, sink & faucet with the occasional appliance; all with the intention of serving family & friends. It is meant to be a fun, relaxing place where adults can lay back over a beverage or two and talk about the day. Depending what you stock the beverage center with, it can also be a kid friendly zone.

A basement wet bar can be designed as a compliment to the main space within the room. For instance, you can have a game room and a bar off to the side, or a home cinema room with the bar at the entrance. What about a spa bathroom with a wet bar in the corner to keep your cucumber-water chilled.

If you do decide to go with a wet bar, here are the top trends to help you with design ideas:

1. Adding a Beverage Center or Wine Chiller
Basement wet bar designs used to feature small built-in cabinetry and countertop area to store drinks. In 2017, things are getting serious with the addition of a wine chillers and beverage centers. Instead of having a single cabinet that stores your drink components and glasses, homeowners are adding wine refrigerators. Not only does this add to the “bar” feel, it provides more storage and ensures an adequate supply of chilled drinks.

2. Wine Storage

Photo: Pinterest

If you are a wine connoisseur or enthusiast, then you should think seriously about how you are going to store your wine. How you store it affects its quality. Having special storage for your wine bottles is also bound to add a dash of style to your bar space. In 2017, more homeowners are going full out in creating attractive and functional storage spaces for their wines. Some go as far as turning the entire basement into a wine bottle storage cellar.

Sturdy racking in the basement often functions as great wine storage. You can build in the racking with molding trim pieces that adds some style to your wine cellar. If you want much larger storage options, one creative idea is to hide the wine behind a large glass door in it’s own room. If space allows, consider adding a tasting station within the racking or a wine barrel island. If you want a more secretive space then consider hiding behind sliding barn doors.

3. Classy & Modern

Photo: Pinterest

Simply because they are hidden away in the basement does not mean that basement bars do not deserve to look good. Creating high-end bars in the basement is a trend that is quickly catching on. We are finding more and more homeowners going with really ornate designs, including expensive hardwood with intricate designs and high-end marble or granite counters. Those who do not go with the high-end ornate look are opting for a chic modern look. This involves a more streamlined design that focuses on the base cabinets only. Wall cabinets are used sparingly or not at all. Instead, extra storage may come in form of floating shelves on the wall, by using sturdy hidden brackets. This helps provide adequate storage without ruining the modern minimalist décor of the bar area.

4. Glass Wall Cabinetry

Photo: Houzz

As mentioned above, many basement bars are moving towards a modern pared down design. This includes neutral colors, simple furniture and no excessive wall cabinetry. While some basement bars are eliminating wall cabinetry in favor of base cabinets and wall shelving; other homeowners are opting for glass wall cabinetry.
Installing glass cabinets has two advantages. One, it provides storage without being too intrusive on your bar space. It is a low profile look that is perfect for a modern basement bar. Second, it is a great way to show off your wines and glasses and adds a nice look to your bar. With glass cabinets, you could play around with lighting to create some cool effects. You can add some small LED light strips to illuminate the whole inside of the cabinet or position a main light fixture to shine light on the cabinet. The reflective effect will add a nice unexpected twist to your bar.

5. Bold Tile Patterns and Colors
While the counter and cabinetry are going neutral, homeowners are opting for bolder style in other elements such as the flooring and backsplash. The bar needs to create a statement and stand out from the rest of the house. It needs to feel fun and artistic. The flooring and walls are the best places to deliver this look. You will find bold tile flooring with a mishmash of colors or artistic patterns created using mosaic tiles. The bar could also have an accent wall with a bold color or graphic that really stands out. You can create a feature wall using wallpaper, painting, tiles or a large piece of art.

For wet bars with a backsplash, this is a good opportunity to forgo the traditional countertop and instead create a visual focal point with another material. You can go with creative tile patterns using different colored or shaped tiles. Another option is to use tiles with interesting finishes such as wood, metal or stone. The options are endless.

6. Interesting Countertop Materials

Photo: DecorPad

While a basement wet bar may resemble a kitchen in some ways, homeowners also want something a bit different from what they are used to. One way they are achieving this is by using more unique countertop materials. Besides quartz, marble, granite or tile options, you can find something different like wood, stainless steel or even concrete. These alternative options create character to the space. Wood makes the bar feel cozy and rustic. Steel is modern industrial and perfect if you plan on having full on parties in your basement bar. Concrete has that industrial feel and is perfect if you are going for a transitional design. Glass bar tops are also something to consider if you want a luxury-themed wet bar, since the glass can be etched with any design or pattern to personalize the space. Glass is also a great alternative to high-end materials like quartz and granite.

Character countertops can also be designed by not following the traditional high-top bar style, but with a split-level design too. An ideal bar should accommodate a serving area. This usually comprises a bar counter where drinks can be mixed and served; and bar stools where you can sit and enjoy your drink. So a split level counters are most suited for bars with the lower level as the preparation counter and the upper level as serving zone. One element found in kitchen design that can also be used in wet bar design is the use of hidden countertop support brackets to keep your countertop from breaking. We find a great use would be the L Bracket Hidden Countertop Support as a perfect choice.