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Many basement conversions over the years have included bars or other entertainment spaces and with the pandemic keeping more people at home, they have resurged in popularity. Even today many people are entertaining small groups at home instead of going out, so a home bar space can liven up those times when you get together with friends. While there are a number of ways you can set up a bar in your home, a wet bar makes everything more convenient.

If you aren’t sure what a wet bar is, it is actually pretty simple. As opposed to a “dry bar” that would have only cabinets and storage options, a wet bar would have plumbing lines that are used to hook up a sink and sometimes other water-using appliances like an ice maker or dishwasher. If this sounds like a good option for you, here are some other things to consider.

Planning Your Wet Bar

The first thing you need to consider is how much space you want the bar to take up. Some people want a full bar area with seating for friends and a wide range of storage options. Others want a wet bar that just have a sink next to a few cabinets and mini-fridge. The design of your bar affects how much room it takes up whether in your basement or anywhere else in your home.

Another consideration as you plan out your bar area is how much lighting it will require. A small bar area will only need enough light for you to prep drinks and perform other basic actions. A larger bar will need enough lighting to allow for conversation and interactions among your guests seated at the bar. Larger bars are more likely to have decorative lighting, higher quality materials and even two-tiered areas as well, so those will need to be taken into consideration.

Wet Bar Decoration

If you’re going to be entertaining with a wet bar in your basement, you will want your bar area to look nice. That includes decorative lighting and countertop materials mentioned, but there’s a lot more mentioned that goes into the look of the bar area. You’ll also need to consider your flooring and you’ll want something that’s waterproof and hard since you’ll be mixing drinks and dealing with things like ice and water. Wall coverings are also important and can range from water-resistant painted walls to paneling, stone, or tile. Decorative storage options such as liquor shelves or built-in wine racks can also affect the look and the organization of your bar area.

No matter how you choose to decorate your bar, you will want to make sure that it fits in with everything around it. The more it matches the rest of what is in your basement the more it will seem like an extension of your entertaining area. This doesn’t mean that you can’t liven up the bar area to help it stand out, but the style should at least compliment the rest of your basement so it doesn’t stand out like a sore thumb.

Depending on the size of your bar area and what you want to do with it, you may need to bring in a contractor, plumber or electrician to help ensure everything is built out and connected the way you want it. If you need a contractor to help with any of that work we would be happy to provide that resource for you. And of course, happy to help you break it in when it’s ready.