Ideas On Basement Bars

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Sunday, March 23rd, 2008 by Decor Guru Subscribe To Our Feed

If you have a finished basement or one that needs to be built in, you have an ideal spot for a home bar. For wine lovers, a basement is an ideal spot for cellaring great wines or for installing a cooler or wine vault. In fact, basement bars can be entertainment centers for the whole family.

There are many kinds of basement bars from the very simple to the extremely elaborate. You can simply install a countertop for a “dry” bar or you can install plumbing and even beer or soda taps. Some home bars have complete miniature kitchens and extras such as icemakers.

If your basement is already finished, your main decision is whether or not to have plumbing. If it is at all possible to put in a sink, you should do so since this makes the bar so much more functional and easier to use. If you have the space and money, it would be nice to install a basement half bath for convenience.

Basement bars can be purchased prefabricated in many designs, can be custom ordered in many styles or can be built in to exact specifications. Almost any style can be accommodated from a tiki hut look to a full blown English country pub. Doing part of the work yourself can also really help the budget.

An important part of any bar is the selection of bar stools. These also come in a terrific range of styles and pricing from simple stools for only $20 or so to fancy ones that reach four figures. Be sure you pick stools that are comfortable to sit on, not just nice to look at. Also consider durability since they will likely get lots of use.

While you can stock all sorts of liquors, beers, and wines, many basement bars are alcohol free family affairs. These can be a safe gathering place for the kids and very popular for parties and casual get-togethers. You will likely want a microwave for snacks or popcorn or even a popcorn machine. Kids love these and they aren’t terribly costly.

A basement can be a meeting room, party room and family room by adding a simple or more ambitious bar counter and seating. Basements also tend to be more sound isolated so partying won’t disturb nearby neighbors as much as a ground level party would. Take a second look at your underused basement space and picture a fun and inviting bar there.