How to Use a Bar Counter Top if you Hardly Drink?

[The Mobile Mustachian]

Hello everyone,

My wife and I are contemplating moving downstairs in our duplex to a larger apartment. The only consideration that we have is that the finished basement has a large bar counter top. In fact, about 20% of the basement is dedicated to the counter top, a wet bar area, and an area to stack and display liquor. Here's the rub: we hardly drink and don't have many friends that do either. We are trying to figure out what to do with the bar. It's in a large L shape, 3 feet x 2 feet on one side and 12 feet x 3 feet on the other. It currently has a marble laminate counter top, though it needs to get replaced in the near future. I don't plan on removing it from the apartment as most of the tenants we've had rather than enjoy it for hosting / parties.

Do you have any recommendations on how to re-purpose the bar? Some ideas we've had include using it as an office desk and/or somehow using it for our library collection.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[lizzzi]

This wouldn't work for your L shaped bar, but my house has a very sturdy, home-made bar in the basement that I was able to tip over and lay down on the floor. I was wanting one of those tables that physical therapists use--you can exercise on it without having to get all the way down onto the floor. Those PT tables cost over $600. So I use my tipped-over bar as my physical therapy table. It works great.  (It's not that I don't drink--but I have my wine upstairs in the kitchen.)

[swick]

If I had the space I'd be a happy camper! I would use it to create and store all my non-food experiments - homemade soaps, lotions, essential oils, packaging supplies and random ingredients

Maybe you have a hobby or are interested in one where the space would be useful for you?

If you live somewhere warm, you could also use it seasonally as a kitchen to keep your house cool, or to expand on more kitchen projects you don't have room for. Would be great to have an induction burner, crockpot, dehydrator....

[chucklesmcgee]

Depending on the height I'd consider using it as a standing desk. The L will let you spread papers to the side of a laptop or whatever you're working on.

[MBot]

If I had the space I'd be a happy camper! I would use it to create and store all my non-food experiments - homemade soaps, lotions, essential oils, packaging supplies and random ingredients

Maybe you have a hobby or are interested in one where the space would be useful for you?

If you live somewhere warm, you could also use it seasonally as a kitchen to keep your house cool, or to expand on more kitchen projects you don't have room for. Would be great to have an induction burner, crockpot, dehydrator....

+1 to this. I could see many "side hustle" or hobby uses for a dedicated workspace at this height.

[Goldielocks]

Add a bookcase to the top for mega storage?  Keep a caged pet or fish on display?

Add a cover and you have a workbench for repairs.  Invite your friends to a birdhouse building competition?

[EricL]

Indoor garden?

[Left]

work space with a sink/refrigerator? and you can't think of some things to do with it? Even putting a gym down there would be handy...
I'd just make it my bedroom :D

[The Mobile Mustachian]

Invite your friends to a birdhouse building competition?

Thanks for your advice everyone. This one is my favorite.....

Just kidding. There have been a lot of very good suggestions. I really appreciate it. I'm going to share them with my wife and see which one takes the cake.