39 Basement Bar Ideas That Make Staying In More Fun

A stylish basement bar will make your home more entertaining when you’re staying in hanging out with the family or hosting friends.

Whether you’re looking to recreate a moody lounge feel, a game room with benefits, a sophisticated home wine cellar, or searching for simple DIYs to add a minibar or build out a basement kitchenette, there are ideas for every space and budget.

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Check out these basement bar ideas for inspiration on designing your underground watering hole that’s as stylish as the rest of your house.

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Hang Some Wallpaper

Pin Louis Duncan-He Designs / Eymeric Wilding Photography

Hang wallpaper to add a surprising decorative element to a basement space. 

Louis Duncan-He Designs created a tropical basement bar with a dropped ceiling to define the bar area of this sprawling entertainment space.

Vibrant patterned wallpaper, pink velvet bar stools, a round table with beetle-style green velvet upholstered chairs anchored by a fun pendant light.

Two separate lounge areas complement the spacious and well lit space.

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Use Kitchen Cabinets

Pin Design by deVOL Kitchens 

To create a basement bar that is cohesive with the rest of the house, try using the same style of cabinetry that you have in your kitchen.

This U.K. cellar dry bar is made up of elements from the Real Shaker Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens, a simple way to create a polished bar space with plenty of closed and open storage for bottles and glassware.

Homey touches like a tall plant, an antique candelabra, and a vintage French tobacco shop sign make it feel inviting.

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Paint It in a Moody Shade

Pin Christina Kim Interior Design  “We had a blast designing this small but mighty basement bar,” says Christina Kim of Christina Kim Interior Design. “

Most basements don’t get a ton of natural light so we fully committed to black-on-black finishes for drama and to keep things sophisticated.”

The designer used Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron paint for the cabinetry and Compac Unique Marquina for countertops and the wall behind the bar, with matte black Brizo plumbing fixtures and a black granite sink.”

The shelves were styled with bits of glass and bright brass to reflect light,” Kim says. “

We used glam lighting and added black grasscloth with gold rivets on the adjacent wall to tie it all together.”

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Add a Small Wet Bar

Pin Britt Design StudioBritt

Design Studio created a small wet bar surrounded by built-ins and a row of glass-front cabinetry for display.

Tones of gray, silver, and dusky blue create a serene, grown-up feel.

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Use Neutral Colors

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Nicole Franzen & Chris Coe

In a basement with natural light, use pale, neutral colors for an airy effect.

This stylish neutral-toned basement bar from Chango & Co. has plenty of closed storage, a textured tile backsplash, and a sleek pool table floating in the center of the room.

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Install Banquette Seating

Pin Design by Studio DB / Photo by Mike Garten  

NYC-based Studio DB designed the architecture and millwork and NYC-based Studio Riga designed the furnishings for this Tribeca home of a growing family.

A built-in bar niche with a tile backsplash, open shelving, and glass-front wine and beverage storage keep everything within reach.

A cozy corner banquette upholstered in butterscotch-colored leather, a tree trunk round table, classic Eiffel chairs, groovy patterned wallpaper, and a glittering Sputnik chandelier hung from a slightly dropped ceiling create a stylish grown-up space that is suitable for the whole family.

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Go All Out

Pin Rae Duncan Interior Design  

For the design of what she calls the “ultimate man cave,” Chicago-based designer Rae Duncan of Rae Duncan Interior Design created a polished, fully stocked bar space that rivals any public drinking establishment.

Hanging pendant globe lights with brass details anchor the seating area outfitted with comfy bar stools and glossy blue paint creates a soothing, luminous atmosphere.

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Add a Mirrored Backsplash

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Jacob Snavely

Chango & Co. added a mirrored backsplash to this bright Amagansett beach house basement bar that reflects light and makes the space feel bigger.

A glass and metal pendant light over the pool table provides plenty of illumination for nighttime games while practically disappearing when not turned on.

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Incorporate Vintage Decor

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

Leanne Ford Interiors painted the ceiling, doors, and arched built-in nook matte black and stocked it with choice bottles and a vinyl collection to create a mini bar with retro vibes.

Vintage rose wallpaper, a classic film poster, and a tall French bistro table with a pair of bar stools completes the cozy cafe feel.

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Add a Live Edge Bar Counter

Pin Louis Duncan-He Designs / Eymeric Wilding Photography

Louis Duncan-He Designs used a live edge varnished wooden bar counter that adds warmth to this dark blue basement bar with open shelving and small white-trimmed windows that let in natural light.

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Use Dramatic Stone Finishes

Pin Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Tramp

This bright and open basement bar from Emily Henderson Design is designed like a kitchenette and fit into a long and narrow closet niche with the doors removed.

Navy cabinets are mixed with stainless steel appliances, and a sleek quartz countertop is paired with a marble-effect backsplash and an open shelf that runs the length of the bar, creating a streamlined look and display space for bottles that’s well out of reach of the kids.

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Create a Multipurpose Space

Pin Design by Board & Vellum / Photo by John G.

Wilbanks Seattle-based design firm Board & Vellum transformed this basement into a bright, cheerful multi-purpose space suitable for the whole family with what it describes as “a bar fit for a bartender” and “three walls full of meticulously organized Lego bricks.”

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Hang Some Art

Pin Britt Design Studio

Britt Design Studio hung a painting in a gilded frame over this basement bar complete with a picture light above that doubles as extra lighting for the bar area.

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Skip the Bar Stools

Pin Design by Martha O’Hara Interiors / Photo by Troy Thies

Rather than bar stools, this basement bar from Martha O’Hara Interiors includes a comfortable seating area.

A loveseat is backed up against the front of the bar area to anchor a seating area finished with a pair of mismatched armchairs, an ottoman coffee table, and side tables to define the space.

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Add a Mini Bar Niche

Pin JL Design / Reagen Taylor Photography

JL Design created a simple dry basement mini bar by filling a niche with cabinetry and a wine fridge, then adding a patterned tile backsplash and open shelving.

This simple and affordable idea is perfect for those with a finished basement and an empty niche in search of a purpose.

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Build a Tasting Room

Pin Cindy Witmer Designs / Photo by Wade Blissard  

This industrial-chic basement wine cellar from Houston-based Cindy Witmer Designs has built-in bottle storage from its polished concrete floors to its warm wood-paneled ceilings.

Silver pendant lights and a long butcher block table with bar stools create an area for sipping.

A black metal-framed wall of glass and extra built-in ceiling lighting creates a jewel box effect.

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Set Up a DIY Dry Bar

Pin Design by Living With Lolo / Photo by Life Created

This DIY dry bar setup from Living With Lolo is an affordable solution for adding a dedicated cocktail area that could work in any basement (or dining or living room).

Just find yourself a good-looking new, used, or vintage buffet or sideboard, set up your favorite bottles and bar essentials on the top, hang some chunky floating shelves above to store glassware and display objects, and anchor it with a pair of plants on either side to define the space.

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Incorporate Antiques

Pin Courtney St. John Studio / Gibeon Photography

Courtney St. John Studio turned the basement of this Beaver Creek, CO home into a Western-style après-ski bar and game room, closely collaborating with the homeowners to source one-of-a-kind pieces.

A contemporary shuffleboard table runs along a stacked stone wall, bar stools are decorated with wildlife silhouettes, and an antique billiards table from Jackson Hole, WY takes center stage.

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Style It Like the Upstairs

Pin Design by Board & Vellum / Photo by John G. Wilbanks  

To create a clean, modern basement bar in an old brick house remodel, Seattle-based design firm Board & Vellum relocated the stairway to the basement to open up the ground floor layout and used the same pale neutral aesthetic throughout the entire house.”

The refinished basement includes a cozy family room with a fireplace and custom-built wet bar, a mudroom with built-in storage and seating, and a large bonus room where the homeowners can play ping-pong with family and friends,” the designers say.”

Consistency in the use of materials and palette—such as the quartz countertops, white subway tile, and soft gray hues—paired with custom features, such as built-in storage throughout, give the home a cohesive, designed look from top to bottom.”

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Build a DIY Wine Cellar

Pin My 100 Year Old Home 

You don’t need a big decorating budget to create a welcoming basement bar space at home.

Blogger Leslie from My 100 Year Old Home uses her Waco, TX. cellar as a romantic setting for warm weather date nights with her husband in the coolest room in the house.

While the walls are stocked with an impressive collection of bottles, to create a place to sip and dine, she DIY’d a vintage table with a riddling rack top and added seating, candles, wine glasses, and dishware.

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Mix Materials

Pin Design by Studio Life/Style  

In this Santa Monica canyon home designed by Shannon Wollack and Brittany Zwickl of Studio Life/Style, a custom backlit pale wood wine storage wall houses a sizeable collection of bottles and glassware.

Black metal grid-framed glass wall partitions contrast nicely with the rustic ceiling beams, and a pair of armchairs just outside provide a place to pause for a drink.

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Use a Dining Room Sideboard

Pin Design by Pluck

In this London basement kitchen designed by Pluck, the adjacent dining room has a wall of closed stained wood storage with a central niche that houses an informal open bar.

If your dining room doesn’t have built-ins, use a sideboard or vintage buffet instead.

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Design an L-Shaped Bar

Pin WRJ Design / Photo by Tuck Fauntleroy

If your basement is roomy enough, consider swapping a straight bar counter for an L-shaped bar that defines the space.

WRJ Design created a basement bar and game room in this Yellowstone Club, MT house that includes a spacious L-shaped bar made of reclaimed wood and is surrounded with elegant Poltrona Frau swiveled bar stools.

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Paint It Navy Blue

Pin Cindy Witmer Designs / Photo by Kerry Kirk 

This home bar from Houston-based Cindy Witmer Designs is painted in a rich navy that creates a relaxing atmosphere and highlights the room’s millwork.

Plenty of glass, bright brass accents, acrylic bar stools, and a showstopping chandelier add a touch of glam.

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Create Distinct Zones

Pin Design by Martha O’Hara Interiors / Photo by Troy Thies

Make a large space extra functional with well-defined zones.

This bright basement from Martha O’Hara Interiors has herringbone floors and distinct spaces for lounging, playing board games, and having a drink.

The spacious bar area is placed next to the windows in the corner and is defined by a pair of pendant lights hanging over the peninsula-style bar counter.

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Tuck It Behind the Stairs

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Photo by Sarah Elliott

In a large, multi-purpose family basement, the bar doesn’t have to be the focal point of the room.

This light and bright basement from Chango & Co. has a small bar that’s tucked behind the stairs, keeping it accessible but out of the way so that the space can be used as a family room and kids play room before cocktail hour.

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Build a Wild West Saloon

Pin Design by Kibler & Kirch / Photo by Audrey Hall

Create a sense of escape by turning your basement bar into the fantasy play space of your imagination. 

Kibler & Kirch created a custom-built Wild West saloon in the basement of a sprawling Cody, WY residence, anchored by a 24-foot-long, late-19th-century mahogany bar that set the tone for the movie set level space.

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Try Midcentury Style

Pin Kendall Wilkinson Design

Mix clean lines and metal and wood finishes and furnishings to create a sleek feel in your basement bar, like this midcentury modern space from Kendall Wilkinson Design.

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Choose a Statement Bar

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Reid Rolls

Create an extravagant retro speakeasy feel with a statement bar.

 Leanne Ford Interiors paired a faceted gold bar with vintage wallpaper, wall-mounted brass shelving for bottle and glass storage, and a whimsical taxidermy peacock perched on the end of the bar counter.

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Add Multiple Light Sources

Pin Gray Space Interiors

Include multiple sources of light to create a balanced and pleasing atmosphere in your underground space.

This spacious basement bar from Gray Space Interiors includes a wet bar with lighted floating shelves, ceiling can lights, and a wine wall seating area anchored by a chandelier.

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Paint an Accent Wall

Pin Design by Martha O’Hara Interiors / Photo by Spacecrafting

Create a modern feel in your basement bar area with a black accent wall.

 Martha O’Hara Interiors paired a black accent wall and matching countertop with pale wood and antique bronze finishes.

An adjoining climate-controlled wine room with glass doors keeps bottles within easy reach.

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Add Lighted Wine Storage

Pin Kendall Wilkinson Design

Create a luxury feel in your basement bar with a jewel-box wine cub that will provide wine storage and ambient light, like this spacious Northern California basement bar and media room from Kendall Wilkinson Design.

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Add a Colorful Rug

Pin Design by Martha O’Hara Interiors / Photo by Troy Thies

Warm up a cool-toned basement bar with a colorful overdyed runner, like this bright basement space from Martha O’Hara Interiors.

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Use the Under-Stairs Space

Pin Envi Interior Design / Photo by Audrey Hall

If you prefer lounge seating to a bar counter, utilize the empty space under the stairs to build out a basement bar. 

Envi Interior Design added a patterned tile backsplash that makes a feature of the bar area in the open space.

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Build a Bistro-Style Bar

Pin Design by Crisp Architects / Photo by Rob Karosis

Create a bistro-style basement bar for a cozy escapist feel.

Crisp Architects added warm wood and brick finishes, a dark wood bar, vintage-style advertising posters, and a cozy bistro-style table and chairs for romantic candlelit wine tastings in this nostalgic basement bar space.

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Anchor With Pendant Lights

Pin Design by Martha O’Hara Interiors / Photo by Troy Thies

Anchor the bar area with a pair of pendant lights that will define the space and provide ambient light, like the brass pendant lights in this basement bar from Martha O’Hara Interiors.

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Create a Contemporary Feel

Pin Design by Chango & Co. / Jacob Snavely Photography

Create a contemporary basement wine bar with a wall of wine storage, a waterfall edge bar, and modern light fixtures that add contrast with dark finishes, like this sleek space from Chango & Co.

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Paint the Ceiling

Pin Fantastic Frank

Paint the ceiling in a bright or soothing shade to elevate your basement bar, like this cozy space from Fantastic Frank that has a sage green ceiling and matching bar.

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Add Rustic Finishes

Pin WRJ Interior Design / Photo by Tuck FauntleroyEmbrace rustic finishes like exposed stone and brick to create a cozy and timeless basement bar space. 

WRJ Interior Design paired exposed brick and stone walls with wood furniture and flooring in this modern rustic wine cellar in a Yellowstone Club house in Big Sky, MT.

How big should a basement bar be?

You can make the bar in your basement the main event, turning it into a focal point with a spacious bar counter with bar stools, lighting, and storage for bottles and glassware on the wall behind the bar. 

Or you can create a small corner bar that’s stocked with what you need while leaving room for a pool table, poker table, lounge space, or other zones depending on your preferences and how you plan to use the space.

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

According to HomeAdvisor, the average cost of a home bar is $8,000, with a range between $500 for and $20,000.

The final cost will depend on whether you buy a premade bar or choose a custom basement bar designed and installed by professionals. The final cost depends on the size, materials used, and design and labor costs for plumbing, electrical outlets, and lighting.

Do home bars add value? 

According to HomeAdvisor, installing a quality wet bar with a sink and running water in a finished basement has a potential return on investment of 70%.