Wet Bar Ideas For Your Home

As summer comes to a close and we approach the holiday season, many of us are prepping for our role as hosts this fall. This past year gave us a lot of time to reflect on the spaces in our home, and while we might have had a little bit of time off from entertaining guests, that makes this holiday season that much more special. Now, you might be thinking about livening up the entertainment spaces in your house, and we have a few ideas for that! 

Wet bars are all the rage when it comes to quick home additions, and they make the perfect entertainment space for guests. Whether you're hosting an intimate dinner party or the family is coming to town, a wet bar can elevate the evening in sophisticated style.

Plus, as there's always the added benefit that when the guests leave, you'll be enjoying the wet bar space on your own time for date nights in and movie marathons. Not to mention that designing a simple area for entertainment can increase the value of your home. There's an endless list of wet bar designs, but we've compiled a list of our six favorites below.

Basement Entertainment Bar

Design by KALU INTERIORS Photography by JULIE ROW

First off, what is a wet bar? In short, a wet bar is a small bar that usually includes a sink and a mini-fridge and is typically used for mixing and serving alcoholic beverages. Conveniently, wet bars can extend to coffee and tea stations or just cold drinks, depending on the homeowner's taste. 

When it comes to remodeling basements, wet bars are a great addition to your new basement design. Often, our basements become the entertainment hub for family nights hosting everything from pool tables to the giant flatscreen t.v. Installing a wet bar within easy reach of this space is just good planning. Sit back and pour yourself a glass of wine without having to stray too far from the couch!

Open Shelf Wet Bar

Design by REBECCA HAY Photography by MIKE CHAJECKI

Open shelved bars don't always have to look cluttered. Generally, homeowners install cabinets to hide away their messy storage. However, wet bars are great places to implement open shelving as they make reaching for that martini glass much easier. 

Plus, open shelved wet bars can make stunning decor focal points! Try showcasing a few of your favorite wine glasses or display your fancy old-fashioned tumblers and expensive liquor bottles —you can even get crafty and create a fun bottle graveyard of the prettiest empty bottles as decoration!

Dining Room Mantel Bar

Design by HIBOU DESIGN + CO Photography by GUILLERMO CASTRO

A wet bar in the dining room is a dynamite solution for anyone looking to avoid getting up during dinner to run back and forth to the kitchen. We're all too familiar with that frazzled feeling of trying to keep everyone's wine glasses full throughout the meal before running to grab the after-dinner coffee and dessert from the kitchen. With a simple dining room mantel wet bar, everything's within arm's reach, including that chilled bottle of prosecco.

Kitchen Corner Wet Bar

Design by DVIRA OVADIA Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

A wet kitchen bar is one of the most common solutions for extra bar space. Tucked away in the corner of the kitchen, you can store away all of your wine glasses in the cabinet space and alcoholic beverages in the mini-fridge. This will free up your main fridge space and designates a specific area to easy-prep for beverages. This way, you don't have to worry about untidying the whole kitchen when you have friends over for drinks.

Hidden Nook Entertainment Area

Design by ANDREA COLMAN Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

Maybe you want a wet bar, but you're not sold on showcasing it front and center —or perhaps you just don't have room. Utilize a nook in your house, or even a tucked away space for a wet bar area. Having a home bar is convenient and designing a wet bar tucked away in a cabinet console or flush with the back wall of your living room has an understated elegance to it.

Just be sure that wherever you place this hidden wet bar, the flooring in the room is waterproof because, let's face it, accidents happen. Luxury vinyl planks, engineered hardwood, and porcelain or ceramic tiles are the best solutions for spillproof areas. While wood floors beautifully complement the entertainment area, it's always wise to invest in a wood-look luxury vinyl or ceramic tile in case of spilled drinks.

The Living Room Drink Cart

Design by MELISSA DAVIS Photography by STEPHANI BUCHMAN

Guests tend to gravitate toward where your food and drinks are being served, so having a place designated for drinks and entertainment is key. Even if you don't have the space or the budget for a whole mini-fridge, keeping a drink cart on hand is always helpful. There's a reason why bar carts were so popular in old England —they're convenient! 

Many of us have experienced this phenomenon where we spend the whole day cleaning the house for guests only to have them hover over your kitchen island, picking away at the charcuterie board. You can solve this problem by keeping the party in the cozy (not to mention clean!) living room with a simple drink cart on hand. Living room drink carts are available in various styles, finishes, and sizes, making it ideal to house all of your booze and bar glasses in one place.

Are you looking for flooring to complement your new wet bar space? Check out our recent article about stress-free flooring for busy lifestyles.