1. Make room for a second family room or game room
Basements are ideal places to entertain company or to hang out as a family. Make your basement an extension of the rest of your home by adding another family room complete with a big screen TV and comfortable furniture. Take it one step further and create your very own home movie theatre! Add warmth to the space by adding the same finishing touches that you used in your upstairs rooms. Encourage your kids to play together by creating their very own playroom in the basement, kids will love having their own space and parents will love containing the mess in one room. When the kids grow up you can transform the playroom into an adult game room with a pool table and other table games.
2. Include a bed and bath
Adding a bathroom and spare bedroom in the basement can create the perfect spot for out-of-town guests to stay with you. Or if you have teens in the home they will love feeling independent in a basement room. This is a great option to increase the value of your home as well. As a general rule, if you are thinking of using a double bed for your spare bedroom make sure the room is at least 125 square feet, and if you plan on two twin beds increase the space to 150 square feet. Also be sure to check with local building codes, some areas require an emergency exit for basement rooms either through a door or window.
3. Finish the walls
Foundation walls are usually made of poured concrete or stacked cinder blocks; these are both materials that reinforce the feeling of the basement as a secondary space. To give the basement main-floor style, cover the concrete with your choice of materials drywall, plywood, paneling, or even paint over the concrete. Finishing the walls in your basement will give an instant facelift and add warmth and ambiance to your downstairs area.
4. Add Light
Basements can be a little gloomy and even scary if they are not lit properly. Enlarging basement windows or digging window-wells can add instant natural light but will require the assistance of a professional. A budget friendly option is to add lamps and lights to every dark and daunting corner of your basement. Recessed lighting is a good idea for basements because they usually have lower ceilings.
5. Build in storage
The basement is often a catchall storage space for everything from garden equipment to out-of-season clothes, holiday decorations, and memorabilia. As you remodel to make the most of your basement’s square footage, plan for attractive, well-designed storage, too.
6. Try something new
Basements are a great place to add some personality to your home. Because your basement won’t be the first thing that someone sees when they walk into your home it’s okay to make the basement a little less formal. If you’ve never had the courage to paint the walls of your upstairs rooms with a bold color, then try it in your basement. If you are a collector of any particular item, then make your basement a mini museum to display your favorite collectables. Have fun and express yourself, you need at least one part of your home that screams you!
Here at Remodel West (RW Custom) we are experts in remodels and additions… If you can envision it for your house, we can make it happen – and even better than you imagined. We at Remodel West are excited to be you northern Utah custom homebuilder. We look forward to helping you and any of your friends and loved ones with their building projects. Please contact us anytime at 801-394-1332 or email us at Info@RemodelWest.net