Design My Cellar
5 Qualities That Make Wine Cellars Truly Feel Like Part of the Home
When someone talks about cellars, people usually think of a damp, underground space that you never want to spend more than five minutes in. Wine cellars are the exact opposite. They're places to entertain your friends, host wine tastings, or admire your collection and decide what vintage you should acquire next.
Wine requires very specific conditions to stay in good condition and to not age too quickly or slowly. Wine cellars provide that. It's more than a wine cooler but rather a place to store wine long term. It's part of your home in the same way your kitchen or a wet bar is. It could fill a whole room or just the unused space below your stairs.
5 Qualities That Make Wine Cellars Truly Feel Like Part of the Home
1. The Right Place
It's true that cellars are underground, but a wine cellar can be anywhere in your house. While a kitchen isn't the ideal place given its changes in temperature and humidity, an adjacent butler's pantry would be a perfect place. If you're looking for a smaller cellar, put one in the dining room for easy access to wine. If you're low on floor space, don't forget about vertical space. Consider a tall cooling unit built into your library. To make things easy, places like closets, under staircases, and basements are all wonderful choices. These are naturally going to be closer to the ideal wine environment with either temperature, humidity, or lower lighting. Basements or spare rooms can be converted to house large collections, but also to provide a space to entertain guests. Regardless of where your wine cellar is, make it a place that flows into the rest of your house and your daily life. If you like to host parties, devote an entire room or the basement to your wine cellar so everyone can join in the fun. Under-staircase units are fabulous if you like to keep things close for your evening glass.2. Unique Style
You could view your wine storage as simply that - storage space. But a wine cellar can, and should, be so much more. Think about what the rest of your home looks like and turn your wine cellar into an extension of that design. What does your flooring look like? Would a quality hardwood floor suit your wine cellar best? Or a simple concrete floor for a modern and sleek house? On the other hand, you can use this as a chance to create something totally new and different. Perhaps you live in a traditional farmhouse and want your basement wine cellar to imitate an old Italian-style. Of course, the most important part is the racks themselves. There are many styles ranging from wood to glass to metal. Don't forget the furniture either. Wine barrels are a wonderful way to incorporate wine related furniture into your decor and can be used as both tables and stools if you have seating areas.3. Fit to Purpose
You don't have to make a place simply to store your wine and future vintages. Create an area to draw people in. This could be room to show off your collection, to have wine tastings, to pair a different wine with every course of your meal. Transforming the space into a wine cellar doesn't mean it has to only be a wine cellar. If you enjoy a nice glass of wine after dinner, install a wine cellar cooling unit inside your library or study, complemented by large comfy chairs and an ottoman. An entertainment room could also house a wet bar, large TV, or pool table. An extra dining space for low light romantic dinners at home. Finding an additional purpose for your wine cellar can bring a cohesiveness to the space and aid in your other decoration choices.4. Room to Grow
When you buy a home you plan to stay in long term, you make sure there's space to grow. Likewise, build your wine cellar with room to expand your collection. Don't treat it as a temporary addition but a permanent fixture to your home. Examine what your storage needs are now and what they will be in the future. If you have a large amount of wine or wine that you intend to store for an extended period, look into larger wine storage bins for inside your cellar. Another option is individual bottle racks that can change size to accommodate different bottles. You might currently own only standard size wine bottles, but in the future, you might shift to larger sized bottles or vice versa. Your collection may grow with your family as well. Set aside space for family members' future collections or for yourself when you grow into your vintage years. Decide if you want to organize your wine into certain years or types and what racks or wine cellar size will work best for that.5. Wine
This one might go without saying, but committing to a wine cellar is no small decision. If you're willing to invest your time in creating a place to enjoy and share your wine, make sure you spend just as much time considering how to grow your wine collection. After all, what's the point in investing in space to grow if you don't think about what you want to add and why? What are your goals for the space? Who will be drinking the wine? How often? Hosting wine tasting parties has different wine needs than small dinner parties or large family get-togethers. Perhaps you intend to do them all! Embrace your wine cellar as part of your home and life so you can find the best way for it to suit your needs.Need Help?
Your wine cellar could just be a place to store your wine long term, ensuring it retains its quality. But it can also be so much more than that. You can create a space where your wine cellar weaves seamlessly into the design of your home and your day to day life. Contact Wine Cellar HQ today to find out more about your many options for wine cellar cooling units and accessories.
Randy is a true wine storage aficionado and expert in wine cellar design. He gained construction experience as a partner in a general contracting business before niching into and passionately focusing on creating wine storage solutions for clients in 2016. He takes great pride in bringing these designs to life, and is dedicated to ensuring that every wine cellar he creates is not only functional but also a beautiful addition to any home or business. The Wine Cellar HQ team also includes refrigeration sizing experts and licensed HVAC technicians to ensure optimal climate control for your wine cellar, so that your wines can age to perfection.
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