9 Basement wet bar ideas to impress your guests

If you love to entertain, a wet bar can bring your basement area to the next level and make your home a destination for your friends and family. Today, we’ll look at some basement wet bar ideas you can use for design inspiration.

But first, what is a wet bar, exactly? Well, it’s an area of the home dedicated to making drinks and entertaining. As you might have guessed, its sibling is the dry bar. The main difference in design between these two built-in bars is that the wet bar has plumbing for a sink. A basement wet bar also usually includes a countertop, small fridge, and shelves and cupboards for storing drink-related items.

Mixologists can attest to the importance of a sink in the bar area. Plenty of drinks use ice during the recipe and then discard the ice before serving. Without a sink, you’d have to go back up to the kitchen or use some type of plastic tub as a makeshift sink.

A basement wet bar can be especially useful in a house that sits on a slope with a walkout basement and patio. When you’re entertaining in the backyard, you don’t want to have to go upstairs to mix drinks or grab another pack of soda. If you’re thinking about adding a bar in your basement or man cave, check out these wet bar ideas.

1. Set the mood with ambient lighting

Lighting can change the whole mood of an environment, so that’s why it’s one of the most important wet bar ideas to consider. Lighting strips behind open shelves give off a soft glow in this basement bar. The low light also warms up the concrete countertop, which could look sterile under harsh bright light.

2. Work with the space you have

You don’t have to remodel your whole basement into a bar. This bar fits snugly under the stairs and still has everything you need. The key is to get creative on how to incorporate your favorite bar ideas into a smaller space.

3. Put the game on the big screen

On the other hand, you might have a lot of space to use. This basement wet bar is decked out for game day with a big-screen TV and college football memorabilia. The round island gives everyone a good view of the game. Speaking of TV, a wet bar is a great addition to a basement with a home theater. You’ll find it a lot easier to entertain guests in a home theater when you can access a bar space close by.

4. Go all-out with a kitchen-style bar

The only thing missing from this wet bar is a range to cook on. If it had that, it would pretty much be a full kitchen. With a fridge, dishwasher, and plenty of cabinets, this wet bar is the ultimate spot for entertaining guests.

5. Plan around your wine collection

This basement space includes plenty of storage for a home wine collection. It’s definitely a focal point of the bar. If you’re a wine lover, it’s definitely good to look at different bar ideas that can accommodate your collection.

6. Install a second dishwasher for easy clean up

If you’re choosing between extra cabinet space or a second dishwasher, consider how convenient it would be to have a dishwasher in the basement bar design. After a relaxing evening with friends and family, the last thing you’d want to do is wash dishes by hand or lug them upstairs.

7. Show off stemware with glass cabinet doors

This basement wet bar includes some beautiful cabinetry that highlights stemware with glass doors and lighting. Whether you want to show off glassware or interesting bottles, glass door cabinets can add some interest to your basement wet bar.

8. Contrast the kitchen with a curved countertop

When you’re designing a basement wet bar, you can use a bit more creative license than when designing the main kitchen area. One idea is to use a curved countertop in the wet bar like the example above. With a bar, you can use design ideas that might look too over-the-top or eccentric in a regular kitchen.

9. Capture the bar vibe with neon signage

The neon sign in this basement wet bar definitely sets a cool and relaxed vibe. You can imagine a pool table just adjacent to the bar and maybe even a couple of pinball machines. The leather bar stools, rock facade, and chunky wood countertop all tie the place together. Neon can totally alter the color palette of a space at the flick of a switch, so it’s a fun design element in a home bar. As far as wet bar ideas go, it’s also one that’s easy to switch out and change anytime.

Basement Wet Bar FAQs

What do you put in a wet bar?

Knowing how you’ll use the space can help narrow down the wet bar ideas you want to design with. Stock your wet bar at home with glasses and stemware for entertaining. Use wine racks, coolers, and open shelving to store cocktail mixers. If you want to go all out, you could install a couple of taps with room for beer kegs below the countertop.

Are wet bars outdated?

Wet bars for the basement aren’t exactly the number-one remodel project today. Wet bar design became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, and they are less popular right now. Depending on how you do it, you could make a classy wet bar in an entertainment room that doesn’t feel outdated.

Does a wet bar add value to a home?

A wet bar doesn’t necessarily add a whole lot of value to a home. If you want to install one to boost your home’s value, we’d suggest talking with a realtor in your area first. Basement bars, far from the main kitchen area, add more value than transforming a living room closet into a tiny bar.

How much does it cost to put a bar in your basement?

According to Angie’s List, a simple basement bar can cost between $2,000 and $4,000. A wet bar will start at the higher end of this if you have to add plumbing for the sink. If you opt for higher end materials and appliances, you can spend between $6,000 and $12,000. Obviously, some of the basement bar ideas we’ve talked about today can cost more than that. The sky’s really the limit if you want a luxurious basement bar design with premium materials.