Beverage Center Cost Breakdown

I originally built a dry bar into this nook in my basement in early 2023 (for $150!) and I loved the look of it but it wasn't the most functional space, so this year I decided it was time for a refresh. And while I wasn't able to build the new beverage center for as little as I did the last time, my goal was to keep it under $1000. So let's take a look at what I used and the full cost breakdown.

**This post is sponsored by Lowe's Home Improvement. You can find everything I used for this project on my Lowe's Storefront linked HERE . Just a head's up, this post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Beverage Fridge: The star (and splurge) of the new beverage center is the SIMZ LIFE beverage refrigerator. I chose this particular fridge because of the dual temperature control, adjustable, sliding shelves and the door locks. I purchased it on sale for $639.99.

Cabinet, trim, toe kick: I wanted a stained look so I used an unfinished cabinet which helped to keep the cost down. Lowe's also has matching end panels and toe kicks for a seamless look. And because I have a habit of never throwing any wood scraps away, I was able to use some spare plywood to create the filler panel on the right. All together, the lower cabinets with trim came in at $199.98.

Laminate Countertop: I purchased a Formica laminate sheet and used some contact cement to attach it to some spare plywood that I had on hand from a previous project. Having the wood already definitely saved me a little bit of money but this was a great way to get a high end marble look for a fraction of the cost. It's also really easy to cut and install so it's perfect for DIYer's.

I spent a total of $70.59 on the countertop. I already had the contact cement on hand but it does cost around $22. If you don't want to make your own laminate countertop, HERE is another great laminate countertop option from Lowe's that is ready to be installed as is for just a little bit more money.

Upper shelving: I was able to reuse the previous shelves and trim that I removed from the old bar but I wanted to add an arch so I purchased a 1x12 board for $31.78 and used my jig saw to cut the shape. The arch really takes the shelving from nice to custom and is such an affordable upgrade for the cost of just one board.

Hardware: I purchased a beautiful champagne bronze drawer handle and matching cabinet pull for $22.96. I was extremely impressed by the quality, and the color and style are beautiful.

Grand Total: $965.30

A few things to note, I already had paint, stain, wood filler, caulk, painters tape, screws, brad nails, plywood and contact cement because I use these materials all the time in my projects. I didn't factor them into my final price but I'd estimate adding an additional $200 for the cost of those items.

I installed the backsplash and upper shelves in 2025 so again, I didn't include the price of those in this breakdown.

Overall, I love the new look of my beverage center. The fridge and deeper cabinets make this space so much more functional. It finally feels like an intentional nook and I'm looking forward to designing the rest of the basement around it.

Below are the 2023 and 2025 versions for your reference.