Basement Remodel: Include Wet Bar / Kitchenette?

[Anonymous]

We're planning to finish our basement and have a large space to work with.

The contractor suggested a wet bar area that is about 10 feet across and would include a bar-sized sink, mini-fridge, microwave and a bunch of cabinets.

We have the space for it, but we're wondering whether we'll actually use it.

For context, our kids are young now (4 & 7), and we expect the basement to be mostly a kids' play/hangout space, not a space for DH and I to "entertain" our friends. Our main level has a big open kitchen/family room area with a big TV, and the adults always seem to congregate there happily when we have multiple families over.

The idea is to have a finished basement where the kids can hang out, including larger playdates of 6+ kids, sleepovers etc. We'll also have a big, comfy couch and a TV down there. But really, the kitchen is right upstairs if we need snacks.

Are we being shortsighted to think it's an unnecessary expense to put in the wet bar? Growing up, I loved hanging out in friends' finished basements, but none had fridges or microwaves down there where we could self-serve. If we wanted a drink or a snack, we headed up to the kitchen. Yet all the finished basements we now see on Houzz and Pintrest include these wet bar areas. Does anyone actually use them?

BTW, this is not a walkout basement, so it's not like there will be traffic flow to the backyard in the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're planning to finish our basement and have a large space to work with.

The contractor suggested a wet bar area that is about 10 feet across and would include a bar-sized sink, mini-fridge, microwave and a bunch of cabinets.

We have the space for it, but we're wondering whether we'll actually use it.

For context, our kids are young now (4 & 7), and we expect the basement to be mostly a kids' play/hangout space, not a space for DH and I to "entertain" our friends. Our main level has a big open kitchen/family room area with a big TV, and the adults always seem to congregate there happily when we have multiple families over.

The idea is to have a finished basement where the kids can hang out, including larger playdates of 6+ kids, sleepovers etc. We'll also have a big, comfy couch and a TV down there. But really, the kitchen is right upstairs if we need snacks.

Are we being shortsighted to think it's an unnecessary expense to put in the wet bar? Growing up, I loved hanging out in friends' finished basements, but none had fridges or microwaves down there where we could self-serve. If we wanted a drink or a snack, we headed up to the kitchen. Yet all the finished basements we now see on Houzz and Pintrest include these wet bar areas. Does anyone actually use them?

BTW, this is not a walkout basement, so it's not like there will be traffic flow to the backyard in the summer.

DH and I just had this discussion. We agreed to put in a counter shelf to hold snacks on--so you could bring down a few bowls of something and put them some place. I'd also consider a small fridge but it's not critical. We didn't see the purpose of a wet bar in our house. It's not big enough that it's going to make a difference if you have to go upstairs for snacks and drinks. And if I put in a sink, dishwasher, etc, that's just another place I have to check at the end of the night for dishes. I can't imagine snacks lasting long enough to make it into a basement cabinet for the next time.

In a great big house I can see the benefit. But not in my house.

[Anonymous]

It works for our house. It is a space to layout food during parties. We keep popcorn and drinks down there.

[Anonymous]

We redid our basement and put in a full kitchen, but with mini appliances. Our kids are younger (2 and newborn) and I have been surprised at how much we use the kitchen. I cook a lot of our meals down there. However, it's the space where I can be cooking and still see the kids playing, which is not the case for our other kitchen. I expect when they are old enough to be on a different floor from me, I will cook upstairs again. I definitely don't regret our decision. We have an undercounter refrigerator, an undercounter ice machine, a small four burner range top, a 19 inch dishwasher, and a microwave/ convection oven combo. I would definitely put in the dishwasher and a sink and the mini fridge even if it's just hang out area. Your kids are old enough to be taught to load their own dirty dishes. I love ice water and the ice machine is my favorite, but that's more of a personal preference. We have a small freezer on this level as well, which is handy. It's the size of a dorm fridge and its all we need. The space is also nice for guests since they have their own little apartment. We own a fairly small rowhouse and use every inch of space to live in and I still don't mind having two kitchens.

[Anonymous]

Most of the renovated and flipped houses we looked at this spring had wet bars. It wasn't really a selling feature.. but it was a nice touch. We definitely preferred the ones with a regular mini fridge as opposed to a wine fridge. We have the same idea of the space being a playroom/hang out room for kids. We liked the added cabinet storage.. and liked the idea of having a place to put out snacks for the kids. I was thinking that the above the counter storage cabinets would be perfect for things like fine china and fancy dishes we only use at holiday time.

We also liked having the sink. A friend of mine suggested using lower cabinets for craft/school supply storage for the kids. Since we figured eventually we might put a table/desk down there for them. Also, if we did crafts downstairs and they have messy hands from painting or whatever they would have a sink right there to use.

Again, I don't think its necessary and if it costs a fortune I don't think it really adds a significant value to a future buyer... BUT.. I do think you will use it more than you think. Too much storage never seems to be an issue.

[Anonymous]

We put in a wet bar with granite, a copper sink, upper and lower cabinatry/drawers glass fronted top lit cabinets and a large wine fridge.... But in addition to the playroom it's very much an adult entertaining area.

For a kids playroom? I don't know. Do you have a bathroom down there? You can use that sink easily for craft projects. A wet bar requires another water source/pump and all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't want to pay for to store juice boxes and make popcorn.

[Anonymous]

We also have a small rowhouse with a kitchenette in the basement. Full size fridge, stove, microwave, and lots of kitchen cabinets. I use it more than I'd imagined (especially the full size fridge!). The cabinets store all the extra kitchen stuff I can't fit upstairs. And the entire basement is convenient to use as an in-law suite, as the parents can use the kitchen as they like when they're visiting. Love it!

[Anonymous]

Tweens and teens love to have drinks and snacks nearby (and can eat a lot). We are putting in our spare frige/freezer, microwave, sink and cabinets.

[Anonymous]

Do you have a bedroom down there? If so, it might be a good idea to put in a kitchenette if you decide you ever want an au pair - might be nice for everyone for her to have a separate space. And I'd love to have a second fridge - there's never enough fridge space when there are parties, or we're hosting a holiday dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put in a wet bar with granite, a copper sink, upper and lower cabinatry/drawers glass fronted top lit cabinets and a large wine fridge.... But in addition to the playroom it's very much an adult entertaining area.

For a kids playroom? I don't know. Do you have a bathroom down there? You can use that sink easily for craft projects. A wet bar requires another water source/pump and all sorts of stuff that I wouldn't want to pay for to store juice boxes and make popcorn.

We have a sink and drinks fridge. Sink is good for crafts, I agree.

[Anonymous]

I would put some sort of kitchenette down there. More and more children are moving back in with their parents after college and parents are moving in with their kids when they get too old to be on their own. So having a separate space for that is becoming more and more important.

I know for us, my FIL had to move in with us. He is still mobile and can move around, but needed us to watch out for him. So we had to buy a house that we could set up a living space for him, including a kitchenette.

[Anonymous]

Our basement a wet bar with a sink, wine fridge and a microwave. It's in the main living room area, which also doubles as a playroom. It's nice for parties but other than that, we don't use it much. The cabinets are nice to store our wine/bar stuff and it's just additional cabinet space, which is nice. I can imagine it being useful for slumber parties, but our kids are too little right now.

We've used it to lay out food for parties. We also use it for guests who sleep in the basement bedroom and want to keep water in the fridge or get coffee in the morning.

It's a nice thing to have, but not a "must have" for us.

[Anonymous]

For those who are considering this, please check your local zoning regulations. Kitchens (especially stoves) are illegal in some jurisdictions.

[Anonymous]

We are putting a wet bar in ours, mainly though because its a walk out basement and our screened porch is there. That way I can keep drinks and stuff down there and not lug them up and down the stairs.