Bars are usually places outside of your home where you go to meet up with friends. But what if you just build one in your basement? How cool would that be?
In this post, we run through ten basement bar ideas that you’ll love. At least one of them is sure to catch your eye, whether you’re somebody who likes to party all night or just quietly sip a coffee mid-morning.
Stick Bullhorns and Road Signs to Your Bar
Adding bullhorn and road signs to your setup is perhaps one of the best ideas for a sports basement bar.
If you already have spare number plates or route signs lying around, fit them above your bar or put them on the back wall. Choose items that are meaningful to you. If you don’t have any on hand, you can pick them up from garage or rummage sales.
Sentimental elements and mementos can be wonderful catalysts for striking up a conversation. You can trade stories with your buddies about how you came across these unusual objects over a glass of whiskey.
One of the coolest basement sports bar ideas is to pick a zany mascot and make it a part of the decor. It’s a great way to add character to the room, even if you’re on a budget.
Bronze Bar Top
Check out this coppery countertop. It elevates the drinking experience and puts you in the right mood—i.e., in the mood for tequila, scotch, gin, or a nice cold beer.
The clever shelf lighting in the background reflects off the copper-colored surface, enhancing its sheen. It looks like the sort of subterranean bar you’d find in a swanky part of London or New York.
Chalkboard Graphics
If you’re planning on building a DIY basement bar, you’ll love this concept. The big black wall makes the white, chalkboard graphics in the center stand out. The best part?
You can get creative and design your own chalkboard masterpiece. There are plenty of examples and ideas online that you can look at for inspiration. Just make sure you add lighting underneath your creation so that people can see it.
The idea is to recreate the type of scene you might see in a commercial venue. Notice how the haphazard placement of the hanging lights livens up the atmosphere and gives the room an alternative vibe. For extra playfulness, you can hang toy cars or quirky coffee cups on the walls.
Mood Lighting
Simply having all your liquors in one place is great. But when you sit down to sip on your favorite drink, you want it to feel right, too.
That’s precisely what this modern basement bar setup is going for. The three bulbous pendant lights add a quirky feel to the space. Moreover, notice the wooden ceiling paneling and how it plays with the lighting, giving the room a reddish hue that’s just glam.
The liquor shelving helps to bring this space to life, particularly at night, whereas the rest of the decor is mellow and calm—just like the bourbon in your tumbler.
Liquor Collection Display
If you’re proud of your liquor collection, why not display it for all the world (or at least your guests) to see? Showcase your vodkas, whiskeys, and rums and make them your bar’s centerpiece.
The illuminated display cabinets transform a simple basement bar into a more sophisticated space. You can show off your prized acquisitions, and arrange the rest of the bottles directly on the counter. This is great for both aesthetics and practicality.
Small, tasteful additions (like the baseball player figurine on top of the tap) add a fun twist, keeping the room’s atmosphere laid-back.
Traditional London-Style Brown Wooden Bar
If you want your man cave to resemble a typical London pub, then this is probably the design you’ve been looking for. The red wallpaper complements the cherry wood of the dry bar nicely, whereas the tiny recessed light fixtures give the hanging wine glasses a slight glowy effect that completes the aesthetic.
Brown Wooden Shelving
As far as basement bar design ideas go, this one is a bit over-the-top, but it certainly does the trick.
The indirect lighting and the mirror in the back make ordinary shelves seem glam, and the rich hues and quality materials add to the sense of luxury. Notice the gold molding on the paneling in front of the bar, the polished bar surface, and the stylish design of the bar stools.
As for ornaments, spirit bottles—empty or otherwise—are the obvious choice for any bar, but you can mix it up with other elements to keep the classy vibe. For instance, we’re loving the small bunch of barley in the corner. It’s a clever reminder of where your whiskey came from.
Assorted Decorations
You don’t have to dedicate your home basement bar entirely to liquor. You can use it for coffee, too.
What’s particularly nice about this coffee bar design is the use of assorted decorations. Little trinkets, potted plants, and cuddly toys make the room an ideal place to spend a lazy Saturday morning enjoying a cup of high-quality CBD coffee.
To give your basement bar more of a coffee house vibe, you can combine rustic wood panels and a deep dark hue for the walls. The black-and-white coffee-themed sketch behind the grinder is a nice touch, too.
Playful Wet Bar with Galley Design
The whole point of creating a bar is to have fun in funky surroundings, just like a game room.
Modern basement wet bar ideas include adding a collection of hanging light bulbs above the bar, tempered glass panels at either side of the drinks cabinet, and pink, green, red, or even blue LED lights that make your spirit bottles shine.
To create a galley design, place horizontal wooden slats below the bar and complement with tall stools. Black lacquered flooring and a dark solid wood countertop would make a nice contrast with the LED colors.
Neon Signs
Basement bars always look stunning with neon signs. The reason is simple: they stand out and make your DIY project look like the real thing.
Notice the deep blue color of the wall. It goes perfectly with the natural wood tone of the shelves, and it makes the pink and orange elements pop.
These are stylish and cheap bar ideas for basements that you can try easily, especially if the area you have to work with is rather small.
Nowadays, you can custom order neon bar signs online. Vendors let you choose the color, the size, and the words you want your sign to spell out. Even a large neon sign isn’t likely to cost you much more than $200.
Conclusion
The point of creating a bar in your basement is that you can have a place within your own home that’s exclusively designed to unwind and have fun. So don’t be afraid to have fun with the design.
And you don’t necessarily have to use your bar to serve alcohol either. Coffee and juice bars are great, particularly if you’re the sort of person who likes taking time out during the day.
FAQ
Does a bar in the basement add value?
A cool basement bar can add enormous value to your home. Estimates suggest that homeowners are usually able to recoup around 70% of the cost when they sell.
How much space do you need for a basement bar?
It depends on the number of people you want to host. Bars need at least 24 inches between seats, though the standard is 30 inches. A small bar (11 x 8 ft) has enough room for two to three people.
What should I put in my basement bar?
Plenty of basement bar ideas include illuminated cabinets, high stools, neon signs, TVs, and pendant lights. If you’re looking for more peculiar additions, though, consider arcade machines, a pool table, barrel furniture, electric fireplaces, wine fridges, or an espresso machine.
