Let’s talk about wet bars (and dry bars, too.) Homes built since the 1970’s often have a wet bar included on one of the floors. They’ve come to be expected by homeowners today, but do people really use them?
If your home has a wet or dry bar that you no longer use, or you are considering adding one to your home and want to know what that will look like, read on to discover some typical, and not so typical, ways to make the most of your designated space.
What’s the difference?
A wet bar is equipped with a sink and running water, while a dry bar doesn’t include a sink or require any plumbing, and so is less expensive to build out. Traditionally, a wet bar is used for mixing and serving beverages, and the sink functions to rinse and wash glassware. Often, wet or dry bars have an undercounter fridge to store drinks.
Bar enthusiast
If you like to entertain, a wet bar might make sense for your lifestyle. This additional bar space allows for big gatherings to flow seamlessly from room to room or floor to floor, providing your guests with an area to grab food or drinks without having to access the kitchen.
A wet bar can complement a recreational room in your home, too. Perhaps it has a pool table, a big screen TV or you use it as a theatre room. A wet bar helps turn it into the ultimate movie night or game day spot by providing a place to store food, drinks and supplies.
For wine drinkers, a wet or dry bar is handy to store glasses and accessories, with a specialty wine fridge under the counter.
But what if you are not much of an entertainer and the number of non-drinkers among your family and friends has increased? You might be at a loss for what to do with a wet or dry bar, but there are plenty of ways to maximize it to suit you.
Bar conversion
A benefit to having an underused wet or dry bar in your home is the additional storage space it provides, so you might as well use it for the things you have an abundance of. If you love to read, convert your wet bar into a library packed with books. If you have a lot of board games and puzzles, this is the perfect place to store those boxes and use the space as a game and reading area. Add a table and chairs to the room for puzzle-making and playing games, and a few cosy armchairs and a reading lamp or two for the booklovers.
If you have kids, transform a bar into their play area, filling it with toys and craft supplies. If your bar has a sink, it’s even better, as it is a convenient location to clean and rinse art supplies. A mini-fridge is ideal to keep their favourite drinks and snacks easily accessible and close at hand.
Perhaps your basement is your workout space. Use the wet bar to store your equipment, post-workout snacks and utilize the counter space to make smoothies and fill your water bottle. Or, the unused bar area can be an additional workspace and office storage, giving a home to your supplies and printer paper, so the surface of your desk can remain uninterrupted and uncluttered.
Use your wet or dry bar as a staging area in your house to showcase art, accessories, plants or anything that adds to your personal design aesthetic. If there is a closed cupboard with solid front doors, store things you’re not using every day or prefer to keep out of sight. If your bar has glass cabinet fronts or open shelves, it’s an opportunity to display ceramic art, nice glassware or high-end bottles.
Raise the bar high
If your home reno includes building or updating a new wet bar, opt for a water-resistant surface such as quartz and consider adding a backsplash for protection. If you’re designing a dry bar, you could go for a less expensive surface such as a laminate and omit a backsplash.
The finishes and hardware you choose can match your kitchen for visual continuity within your home, or you can treat that area as completely separate.
Choose coloured cabinetry, play it safe with white or opt for a more natural-looking wood front.
Whatever your lifestyle or taste, make your wet or dry bar work for your lifestyle and needs.