How to Remodel a Wet Bar
The order the work happens in, and what to settle before anything is ordered. Six feet of joinery that changes how a room gets used.
BeforeAfter
- 1
Work out what the room has to do
A wet bar remodel is a small run of cabinetry with plumbing, usually built into a basement, a den or the end of an open-plan room. It is one of the few remodels where the entire project is visible from a single viewpoint, so the detailing carries it.
- 2
Decide what is actually changing
On this project the work touches base cabinets and counter, sink and tap, open shelving or glass display, backsplash — and often under-counter fridge and lighting. Settling that list first is what stops a remodel growing sideways once it has started.
- 3
Hold the dimensions
Whatever the finishes, these do not move. A functioning wet bar needs 6ft of run; below 4ft it is a sink in a cupboard. Counter at 36in, or 42in if it doubles as a standing bar with stools. Allow 24in of width per stool and 12in of knee overhang.
- 4
Plan the light before the finishes
This is display lighting, not task lighting. Light the back wall and the shelving — glass and bottles are the point — and keep the counter itself lit low. A bar lit like a kitchen stops looking like a bar.
- 5
Check it against the room you have
Photograph the space and render it before anything is ordered. A Standard run costs 4 credits and a new account starts with 4, so the whole thing can be seen before a single decision is paid for.
Questions
- What should I decide first in a wet bar remodel?
- A wet bar remodel is a small run of cabinetry with plumbing, usually built into a basement, a den or the end of an open-plan room. It is one of the few remodels where the entire project is visible from a single viewpoint, so the detailing carries it.
- What goes wrong most often?
- A run too short to hold both a sink and any usable counter. Stools that block the fridge door.
- Will it work in a small wet bar?
- Under 4ft, skip the sink and build a dry bar instead — a counter, a fridge and lit shelving. The plumbing is what forces the run longer, and without it the whole thing fits in an alcove.
- Can I see it on my own wet bar before starting?
- Yes — photograph the space and run it through the Studio. It is generated imagery, so compare the render against your photo rather than treating it as a plan.