A guide to creating and styling a sumptuous wine cellar for your home

Is there anything better than opening a gorgeous bottle of wine at the end of a day? Perhaps one thing – a wine cellar in your own home.

It’s not surprising that a dedicated space for a wine collection is a growing trend in home design. Here is my list of everything that needs to be considered when creating a luscious wine cellar in your home.

Location

Where to put your wine cellar is the most important consideration given that daylight and heat are the natural enemy of cellared wine. A corner of your home that has no direct sunlight, such as basements and under-stair cavities, are perfect.

For real wine enthusiasts who love to entertain, a cellar in a more visible position, such as in a dining room or kitchen, will create a talking point that can be more regularly enjoyed.

Temperature

Everything about building a wine cellar relies on how efficiently it controls temperature and humidity.

A cellar should maintain a constant temperature of around 14 degrees. As long as it stays within three to four degrees of that, the wine will be fine.

• Related: Don’t overlook this area of your home
• Related: How many pillows is too many?
• Related: Tips for creating the ultimate master suite

Installing a wine cooling unit will control temperature, humidity and protect your wine collection.

Display

The way wine is displayed takes a cellar from run-of-the-mill to spectacular.

Using multiple methods such as horizontal wall-mounted racks made of timber or metal adds interest. Painting the walls behind a deep charcoal such as Dulux Monument or Domino will create that authentic cellar feel. A glass-fronted cellar with a central door is the ultimate in showing off your wine collection and giving your home wow factor.

Lighting

Like every other room, wine cellars will benefit from a well thought out lighting plan.

Bright lighting will ruin the ambience in a cellar as well as emitting too much heat.

To create a moody cellar, strip lighting under the shelves works well and track lights will light the space in an interesting way and allow certain areas to be highlighted.

DecorWine barrels are effective as a tasting table or a built-in bar and provide an elegant space for friends to gather and enjoy your wine cellar.

This season’s Block houses are live on Domain:

• Josh and Elyse: 46A Regent Street, Elsternwick 

• Sticks and Wombat: 46B Regent Street, Elsternwick

• Ronnie and Georgia: 46C Regent Street, Elsternwick

• Clint and Hannah: 46D Regent Street, Elsternwick

• Jason and Sarah: 46E Regent Street, Elsternwick