If you’ve been to a nightclub or restaurant lately and balked at the price of alcohol, you’re not alone. The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) confirmed alcohol (and tobacco) was at an 11% high in 2023, nearly the same rate as 2022. These days, it’s cheaper to host a party at home and finally embark on your basement bar ideas.

Whether your basement is finished or unfinished, the good news is your basement bar has nothing to do with the floors. Whether your guests are standing on cement, stone or wooden flooring, a good time can be had.

You will, however, want to make sure you have a few things to make your basement bar more appealing.

Find a Basement-Friendly Set of Bar Stools

Assuming you already have a bar table, your bar stools may already come as a set. If not, or your old bar stools have seen better days, you can buy new ones for a wide pricing range. The material (acrylic, metal, wicker, wood) will contribute to the price, anywhere from $25 to $1,000. You’ll also have to decide whether you want swivel chairs, backless chairs, leather or vegan leather, wicker, or other high-end materials.

In your unfinished basement specifically, before you buy the first set of bar stools, make sure you know about maintenance upkeep. Because basements are targets for rainwater leaks and flooding, and they usually don’t have heat or air conditioning, wooden furniture will often need significant upkeep.

Plastic furniture is simple enough, but it’s typically cold and hard. Wood and wicker are better. However, maple and pine wood chairs are vulnerable to scratching. Oak wood chairs need to be cleaned and buffed out. On an up note, weather-resistant materials like teak wood tend to do well outside and inside.

Examine Your Basement Architecture for the Best Lighting

If your basement bar is not facing a well-lit area toward your front or backyard, you’re going to need a lamp. Or, you’ll want to install a few extra ceiling lights or a neon sign so your basement bar doesn’t look like a dungeon in the night hours. From floor lamps to table lamps, there are plenty of sustainable lighting options to choose from that don’t require buying a bulk box of AA and AAA batteries so you’re not looking for the nearest outlet.

From Mini Fridges To Full-Size Fridges, Make It Fit the Space

If your basement is a little cramped, due to the washer and dryer and a few too many storage items, adding a humongous refrigerator is probably not realistic. Even if you do have the space for the fridge, maybe all you require is a mini fridge for snacks. But if you plan to have variety packs of ice-cold beer and a collection of alcohol to pick from, a full fridge is a must.

While brandy, gin, vodka and whiskey are fine at room temperature initially, other wine-based alcohols such as red, white and pink wines should be refrigerated to avoid souring. The same refrigeration is needed for fruit-based liqueurs and non-alcoholic drinks.

Make the Most of Your Basement Bar Space Cabinetry

The amount of room in your basement will be the judge of whether you can fit cabinets for snacks and room-temperature liquor. You may be better off installing wall shelves behind the car. Just make sure your shelves are secure enough that when kids start playing in the basement, nothing crashes to the ground. Basement bar shelves with racks and doors keep the kids from knocking over hundreds of dollars of spirits. A secure lock keeps the curious teens from taste testing.

And if you were a fan of the ‘80s show “Cheers,” then you’ve seen how creative the TV set builders were with arranging ceiling shelves to line up all the wine glasses. This is definitely a good idea for a basement bar with limited space, hyperactive humans and/or playful puppies.

Game Night: Board Games or Television?

It’s up to you to decide what kind of basement bar you want to have. Do you want it to resemble sports bars like Buffalo Wild Wings with a bartender and a mounted wall television so people can watch their favorite teams? Or, are you going for something more old school like Questlove did with fold-up chairs and random card games? Playing Barbie UNO may sound like a weird thing for grown-ups to do until you hear hilarious stories like Trevor Noah’s take on playing board games with SNL’s Michael Che.

Or, do both. Fold-up tables and chairs come in handy for any occasion anyway, if you have basement space. They’re lightweight enough that they can travel to the backyard if too many guests arrive. Just make sure to buy some party bowls and plastic platters for your snacks on the bar table and main basement area too.

Sink or Laundry Tub: Where’s the Water?

It sounds convenient to have a sink right next to your bar to wash dishes, refill your ice cube containers and wipe down tables. However, if the sink line isn’t already there, you’ll need a plumber. A plumber can attach water lines, seal the sink into place, install a garbage disposal and dishwasher, hook up the ice cube maker, and all the other things you can find at your kitchen sink.

If an economy-friendly budget is your go-to, dishwashing liquid works exactly the same by your laundry tub. Water pitchers are easy enough to fill in that same laundry sink. Buy a collection of ice cube trays to put in your basement freezer, and use your plumber money elsewhere.

Once you’ve decided on these six essentials, have a few guests over to see how your basement bar ideas play out. If you see improvements need to be made, it’s easier to tweak a little at a time. And you’re always welcome to make your basement bar your “me time” cave too!