Custom Wine Cellars – How to Make The Most Out of Limited Space
Do you have a big passion for wine but very little space to display your wine bottles? That’s not a problem at all. Many people are able to create a perfect custom wine cellar despite their limited space and budget. The following are great guidelines for turning the small space that you have into a beautiful wine storage space.
How Big Should Your Wine Cellar Be?
Your wine cellar can be as big or as small as you want. Basements, closets, spare rooms or spaces underneath stairwells make great residential wine cellars. Simplicity will help maximize the small space you have. You can choose small wine racks that fit your limited space and at the same time display wine bottles in an elegant way. A bigger wine storage space will allow you to store more wine bottles but is not always economical. On the other hand, having a small space is an advantage in terms of construction cost.
Which Wine Rack Design Should You Choose?
There are different ways to showcase your wine bottles that focus on elegance, easy access, space efficiency, or personal satisfaction. Cost, size and design will all play vital roles in your choice. There are a variety of wine racks and accessories to choose from such as:
· Single bottle storage racks
· Curved corner units
· Arches
· Tabletops
· Tasting tables
· Diamond bins
· X-Cube bins
· Bin/case racks
· Champagne/magnum racks
· Split bottle storage
· Waterfall display
· Quarter round display
Wine bottles vary in sizes and shapes which is why you should choose a wine rack system that would best accommodate your wine bottles. The diamond bin design is popular with people who have a small cellar because it allows them to store several uniquely sized wine bottles in each bin, therefore maximizing their space. Another benefit is that the diamond bins can be created using a lattice design instead of solid wood. This is not only economical but it also helps in proper circulation of air in and around the bottles.
What is the Best Type of Wood for Your Wine Racks?
Woods provide color, texture, beauty and strength to your wine cellar. The most popular wood species used for building custom wine cellars are pine, redwood and mahogany. Each of these types of wood have characteristics that should be considered when building a piece of furniture.
Pine is one of the most abundant and harvested species of wood and a good choice if you have a smaller budget. The two main classes of pine wood are white and yellow pine. White pine is known for its resistance to warping, splitting or cracking. Yellow pine is stronger than the white pine.
Redwoods are also affordable, but are more durable than pine. Premium redwoods come in a variety of colors from white to pink to red and red/brown. They are also 100% biodegradable and have natural resistance to decay and insects.
Mahogany is dense, heavy, fine-grained and red/brown in color. It is known for its color variations, stability, adaptability to humid conditions and resistance to rot. It is also less prone to warping and bending than many woods. Due to its high quality, mahogany can be an expensive wood.
What is an Appropriate Wine Cooling System for Limited Space?
Wine cooling solutions will certainly make your wine mature gracefully by regulating the temperature and humidity of your wine room. Choose one that offers you many different installation options, provides the most reliable and efficient wine storage temperature, uses less power and is affordable. Also give attention to the climate zone you live in, since the requirements for wine cooling in each climate will vary.
Temperature and humidity are the greatest concerns when storing wine. The ideal environment is about 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal relative humidity is 60 – 70 percent. The WhisperKool cooling unit is specifically designed to manage the temperature and humidity in a well sealed and insulated wine cellar. It is also a smaller, more affordable unit which makes it a perfect choice for people with limited wine cellar space. Its flexibility in regard to space requirements allows architects to easily work it into their wine cellar designs.
In conclusion, before you begin building your ideal wine cellar, you have to reflect on the space that you have, wine racks that will best display your wine bottles, the type of wood for your wine cellar and the appropriate wine storage cooling system.