How to Create a Wine Cellar in Your Home
A wine cellar in your home is an excellent way to create a safe space for your collection, maximize the shelf life of your wine, and make a unique statement. Guests will be amazed, and guess what? It doesn’t even have to be that expensive. So, if you’ve been thinking about adding a wine cellar, we’ve compiled a list of the essentials to get you started.
Essential Factors to Consider Before Starting
Building a wine cellar involves many controlled variables, including temperature, humidity, ventilation, and darkness. Missing any of these vital factors can jeopardize the integrity of your wine. So try to choose an area on an outside wall, preferably free from air, light, and water leaks. Vibrations disturb the wine’s natural maturation process, so a wooden floor with frequent traffic or a washer and dryer opposite of the wall could spoil your collection over time. What’s more, the ceiling will need insulation, and if your floor is concrete, it will need to be sealed. Once you’ve found the perfect space, it’s time to build!
Building the Walls
Use 2X6 lumber instead of the standard 2X4 for interior construction. This way, you can use R-19 batt insulation for optimal storage. Think about the amount of space you have and how many bottles you will likely store when constructing the interior walls.
Lighting
Of course, you’ll want a light source in your wine cellar. Pendant lights are a great choice because they’re easy to install. Simply add a junction box in the ceiling and a single switch to the wall. If the space receives some natural light, try placing a few houseplants in the room to help control the humidity. Large palms, including the Areca or Lady Palm, are ideal for this purpose.
Insulation
Insulating your wine cellar from the ceiling through the walls will save you much money. This way, your air conditioner will have to do less work to keep the room cool and the humidity down. If you are converting an existing enclosed space — like a closet or office — into a wine cellar, blowing insulation between the joist bays can work as an alternative.
Cladding
If you are building a basement wine cellar, this step may not be mandatory. However, you may still want to consider it. Cladding with sheetrock or plywood is an essential factor that adds to the R-value of the wall. It makes it easier to maintain the correct temperature of your cellar. Using plywood may also make it easier to attach hooks and shelving.
Finishing Touches
If you only want to store your wine, you don’t need to add furnishings other than racks. But if you invite friends to see it or occasionally host tastings, consider a few furnishings like a bar and stools, floor covering, and artwork. A butcher block table or some modern touches can elevate the overall look of your wine cellar — grab some cheese, and you may never want to leave.
In just five simple steps, you can wow guests and enjoy the finest wines from the comfort of home. Looking for even more great ideas to spruce up your house? Read the SkyHomes blog!
