Enjoy time at home with your very own bar.

If you have a collection of wine or you have a love for drinks and cocktails, why not have a home bar? Having a home bar offers you convenience where you don’t have to leave your house and take a drive or commute to get a drink. You can not only do that comfortably in your own home, but you also get the chance to enjoy it with others by inviting your friends and family.

You might be thinking how you can pull that off. Well, no worries because this blog will help you how to get started. Here’s a helpful checklist you might need in getting your own home bar.

Location of Your Bar

Before you start getting your tools or contacting someone to make your home bar, hold your horses. Planning is an essential part of this project, and to start off, you have to seriously think about the location of your bar. We don’t want you getting supplies only to realize you don’t have a place to put it in.

There are plenty of locations where you can put your bar. Your garage, under the stairs, kitchen, and basement are the most common places where you can make your dream bar into reality. If you prefer other locations, keep in mind you need to consider factors that are essential for your bar. Some of these are lighting, storage, access to utilities, flooring, and space. If you want to be sure you tick all those factors, your basement is the perfect location for your home bar.

Wet or Dry Bar

Unless you have a whole room for your bar, like a generous basement area, you have to choose between a wet or dry bar. If you have the space, then awesome! You can skip thinking about whether to get one or the other. But if not, then you need to know which one floats your boat more.

A wet bar is a home bar with a sink. No matter if the sink is attached to the home bar or not, it’s still considered a wet bar. With this, you’ll have a regular source of water without relying on an external source every time you need water for your drinks. On the other hand, a dry bar doesn’t have a sink. However, without a sink, you’ll have more space for drinkware, bottles, and bar tools.

Materials to Use

Now that you have the location and the type of bar that you like, let's move on to the material your bar will be made of. There are plenty of materials to choose from, and all have their own perks and drawbacks. Here are a few of them that are good to start with.

Oak

A classic option for a home bar. It’s easy to work with and gives an elegant and sophisticated feel to your bar. However, you have to be careful when dealing with oak since it can add unnecessary weight.

Birch

If you want something that is lighter, more affordable than oak and prefer a more contemporary feel, then birch is for you.

Plastic

You might think that plastic being on this list is weird, and you worry your home bar might come off as cheap. But on the contrary, a bar made out of plastic is surprisingly heavy—though not as heavy as oak, and durable. It’s also very affordable. So, if you’re always on the move but still want a home bar to call your own, that’s possible if your bar is made of plastic.

Cork

Cork bars are popular for DIYers who want to have their own home bar. They are affordable, easy to work with, light, and don’t lack in the looks and style department. Cork bars are also great when it comes to dealing with the occasional spills here and there. Their only downside is that they’re not as durable as other materials and won’t last long.

Glass

You don’t see many home bars made out of glass. However, it’s a great material if you want to add oomph to your bar’s aesthetics. If you want a stylish bar that’s not so heavy on the pockets, glass is a good go-to.

Bar Accessories

After you’re done with the fun parts, move on to the part that’s even more fun and exciting. And that’s choosing what bar accessories you want to add to your home bar. You can choose what to add, what not to add, and what to modify before adding them to your bar.

Mini fridge. No one wants their cocktails warm or even lukewarm. Keep your liquors and drinks good and cold with a mini fridge that can fit your bar.

Ice maker. Because cool is not enough, cocktails and wines are best served cold. An ice maker is a convenient way to get ice and keep your drinks cooler than a cucumber.

Wine and Liquor Racks. Keep your wine and liquor stored stylishly and elegantly while low-key showing them off to your friends, families, or guests.

Dishwasher. If there’s still space, use it to add a dishwasher. This will make cleaning up glasses and drinks easier and more convenient.

Adding your own home bar can be a fun and exciting experience, not only for you but for your friends and family as well. It’s going to be a great place to spend time with them and get together or a place where you can get some much-needed R&R.

Although some might find making a personal home bar doable by themselves, it takes a lot of time and effort to do. This can be a challenge, especially for those who aren’t used to tinkering and building. There’s also a chance that things might not end up the way you want them. In those cases, it’s best to leave making your home bar to the professionals.

Are you ready to meet the home bar of your dreams? Call us at Grand Rapids Basement Pros! Our basement contractors will be happy to assist you in achieving the perfect home bar!