If you’re scrambling to find some intriguing and fresh basement bar ideas, look no further.
We’ve rounded up 30 unique examples to completely transform the look of your bar. Read on to start getting inspired today.
30 Unique Basement Bar Ideas
Basement bars can get a little repetitive. However, there are plenty of ways to make yours reflect your personality.
Here are 30 inspiring ideas to help you create your perfect basement bar.
1. “Customer” Photographs
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Putting up a wall with your “favorite customers” and hanging up photos of close family members and friends can help you remember the good times you’ve shared.
You can set up a string of Polaroid pictures or even stick mismatched portraits from various outings all along your wall.
2. Custom Sign
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Nothing quite says the space is yours like a custom sign. Making a bar sign to hang on the wall will add more of your personality to the basement.
You can put your name on it, an inside joke, or even a family motto. That way, everyone who comes over knows to respect your place.
3. Old Pub Theme
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Some people enjoy the look of old pubs. So much so that they want to live in one. Designing your basement bar to resemble an old English pub can be a lot of work.
But the finished product could also be worth it, especially if you have a special connection to these establishments.
4. Custom Dartboard
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A game of darts is commonplace for traditional bars and basement versions alike. So why not make yours a little more your own?
Getting a custom dartboard or a custom backing to protect your wall can help make your basement bar feel homier. It can also help the board blend with the particular theme of your basement.
5. Wall Bottle Opener
A bottle opener is a standard household tool. So, a wall bottle opener is an integral part of your basement. Instead of leaving a bottle opener in a drawer, stick it permanently on the wall.
You’ll never lose it, for one thing. For another, it makes the space more specifically bar-related by giving you a suitable fixture on which to open your beer.
6. Wine Cellar Bottle Wall
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If you’re a wine connoisseur, you don’t have to have a wine cellar to prove it. If you want to show off your bottles or just find a convenient, storage-saving way to stow them, put up a display in your bar.
Take any section of the wall and design it to fit a wine rack, so your bottles are safe and easily accessible at the same time.
7. Minibar
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Not everyone has the space for a full bar. That doesn’t mean you stop thinking about basement bar ideas. A minibar in your basement will still serve just as well if you don’t have space or funds to build your personal tavern.
Smaller sizes make it more unique, and you don’t necessarily have to share it with others. They don’t even have to know it’s there.
8. Portable Bar
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Who said bars needed to be stationary? Get yourself a moving cart to make the rounds at get-togethers. Trolleys can be stylish and cool, and they don’t take up a lot of space.
Plus, they’re mobile, so you can take them anywhere in the basement without having to get up every time you need a new drink.
9. Bottle Lights
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Whether you have many empty bottles or a couple of particularly designed coolers, using lights can help make your bar atmosphere all that more unique. Lights that wind around empty or full bottles can bring focus to your wares.
They also help light them up in unusual, intriguing ways. If you have a darker basement, this décor helps focus attention. Bottle lights can also add to the ambiance for a more night-life vibe.
10. Bold Color Scheme
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Most basement bar ideas have darker-colored themes. So why not do the opposite?
A bold color scheme that fits with your personality can make your basement special.
Bright shades paired with unexpected accents can not only look surprisingly great, but they can also set the entire tone of your bar for a comfortable, more quirky experience.
11. Working Barrel Taps
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Most basement bars just have bottles. Why not try out an actual beer barrel?
A working or decorative barrel tap can make your basement feel more rustic. Plus, you get a ton of free-flowing beer, like if you were in an actual bar.
12. Unique Bottle Holder
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Wine storage can seem so cliché. Unique bottle holders will put a custom stamp on your collection.
Depending on the style you choose, a bottle holder can make your bar look more modern, more rustic, or even futuristic. Unique holders add that particular element of personality you can tap into through all your décor.
13. Brick Style
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The materials you use are just as necessary as the bar itself. Brick adds a certain authenticity that other materials can’t match.
A brick-covered wall or bar can turn your basement from a simple room into a full-on, classy establishment.
14. Game Room Style
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Build your bar around a specific game for an authentic pub feel. Adding a pool table, a foosball table, or even an air hockey game to your basement can make your space feel more welcoming to visitors.
Plus, with more things to do, your friends will more likely want to hang out at your place than go out to an actual bar.
15. Booth Seating
Seating is an important choice in any bar. Why not switch up yours?
Booth seating creates a cozy and intimate environment in which to relax.
Adding a couple of benches or even one long one can be the perfect way to introduce a friendlier element to your night.
16. Custom Cabinets
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Most basement bar ideas have nothing to do with the cabinets. Why not make yours a little funkier?
Cabinets are another way to show off your personality and style. Getting them custom-made to reflect you creates a specific bar atmosphere you can’t find anywhere else.
17. Stage Bar
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Are you musical?
Add a stage! Usually a feature of jazz bars and the like, stages aren’t the norm for a basement bar. If you’re a musician, a stage is a perfect way to showcase your talent while entertaining guests.
18. Corner Bar
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Most bars are straight-on, but corner bars can add something extra. It’s easier for your guests to talk if they’re on either side of a corner.
It also creates a more intimate atmosphere than a flat bar ever could.
19. Lean-top Bar
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If you’re saving space but don’t want a push cart, try a lean-top bar. A lean-top bar has no gap after the counter and simply connects to the wall.
You can lean on it to make your drinks and get them right the first time without asking someone else to do it for you.
20. Niche Bar
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A niche bar sits in a small nook, usually against the wall between two doorways.
This design is another space-saver, but it also looks stylish and cute. You can get to it from all angles, in and out of any room.
21. Retro Bottle Décor
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In this modern world, try some retro décor. Vintage bottles or decorations can take your bar’s style from rustic to Victorian and beyond.
With a few great pieces, you can put your stamp on your bar and make it uniquely yours.
22. Fancy Metallic Backing
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Layer the wall behind your shelves with metallic material so the bottles shine incredibly bright.
A fancy or metallic backing will put the focus on your bottles and make your bar pop. It’s also cool to look at, leaving your guests with a stunning visual view.
23. Warm Lighting
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Warm lighting makes people feel more comfortable. Unlike the harsher lights that you can often find in basements, warmer lighting is relaxing and welcoming.
You can make your basement bar feel like a haven for anyone who’s had a long day at work.
24. Mixing Materials
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Most people get stuck on one material for their bar theme. By mixing wood, stone, brick, or another material, you can create a unique-looking space that’s all your own.
With the right design choices, wood can complement brick and vice versa.
25. Fold-Out Bar
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If you keep your drinks in a cabinet, having a fold-out bar saves space. With a couple of stools, you can create your own little bar area without disrupting the rest of the room.
It’s a chic and tidy way to have friends over for a drink without any of the mess.
26. Illuminated Countertop
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Want to showcase your bottles or glasses?
Get an illuminated countertop. Illumination will focus attention on what you’re most proud of.
If your basement is darker, it’ll light up what you want your guests to focus on.
27. Blackboard Background
Put a blackboard up on the wall to write your “specials.” You can make your bar your own with quirky elements like a blackboard.
It can make your basement feel less like a bar and more like a classy tavern or even a café.
28. Stone
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Stone material will help set the tone of your basement for a more vintage feel. Accents or wall sections that you finish in stone can make your bar feel like a tavern or pub.
Especially since you’re underground, it can make you feel like you’re in a cool little tunnel instead of a basement.
29. Colored Lights
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Like a good club look? Add some colored lighting. Colored lights can illuminate different aspects of your basement that you find attractive.
They can also set the mood to encourage your guests to relax.
30. Custom Light Fixtures
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Don’t want boring fluorescent lights?
Get some custom light fixtures. Custom-made fixtures will help you find the right feel for your bar.
They’ll also give you the exact lighting you want, from warm to colored to bright.
Things to Consider
As with every home project, a basement bar comes with things to consider as you look for inspiration. We think these are some of the most important:
- Do be thrifty
- Do consider the atmosphere
- Be conscious of how many guests you will have
- Make a budget
- Do consider if renovations are an option
- Don’t overcrowd your space with furniture
- Don’t go too big or too small
- Don’t spend your budget on one custom thing
- Don’t be slapdash
- Don’t fail to plan
Like Our Basement Bar Ideas?
So there you have it—our favorite basement bar ideas. No matter what your space looks like, you can put your personality into your basement bar.
From layout to décor, there are hundreds of ways to create a welcoming and intimate atmosphere to relax and enjoy.