Print Article for : Finishing A Basement Ideas

Your Online Guide » Home Decor » Home Management

[F290]Finishing A Basement Ideas

by Dennis Frank, Den

Being banished to the basement doesn't always have to be punishment! Nowadays, owners of homes with a basement consider the space to be prime square footage. Everything from hobby rooms, play rooms, media centers, music rooms, poker parlors, exercise areas, office space and of course, it's original purpose, storage space, is finding new life in the space “down below.”

The definition of a basement is an area that is either fully or partially below ground level. This is not to be confused with the crawl space of a house, since another part of the definition is that a person should be able to stand upright in the area.

The amount of square footage in the basement is generally equivalent to that on the ground floor. In most homes, it's like having another entire level of living space, which can add up to quite a bit! The options for utilizing that amount of space really are limited only by the imagination since the space usually will have electricity and plumbing.

The basement can be partitioned off into different rooms or it can be one huge open space. If this part of your home is “finished” then consider yourself lucky. If not, or if the space is on the remodeling To Do list, there are issues to consider before proceeding with the project. First, it's important to identify “trouble” spots such as lowered ceilings, enclosed boiler rooms, and ductwork. Second, the space must not leak. Uncontrolled moisture will cause a number of dangerous and damaging problems including the growth of mold.

Once the identification and remediation of basement problem areas is finished, the next step is determining a layout for the space. The task can be overwhelming, and a good way to begin is by determining the activities that'll likely take place in the space. Looking at pictures or at what others have done always helps jump-start the imagination.

Keep in mind that the basement will have little or no natural light so consider this when planning the layout. Slowly but surely this space will spring to life and you'll wonder how you ever lived without it!

Most homes have a basement that either sits empty or is used for storage. What a waste that is for a room that ads an entire extra floor to your home! There are many different things you can do with your basement and uses you can have for it. All it takes is a little imagination! Here then, in no particular order, are some basement ideas you may want to consider:

1) The basement is a great place for a hobby room. For instance, some people like miniature trains and what better place is there than the basement to set up your realistic village and train track? The basement can be used for most any hobby and lets you get away, relax, and concentrate on your hobby.

2) Now that so many people have large flat screen TVs, they need a room that can be devoted to watching TV. The basement is a great place to set everything up just like you want to have the in home theater experience.

3) Basement lighting can be critical because it will set the mood for the room. Basements typically have little to no sunlight and thus the artificial lights you choose are critical. Try things like string lights, globe lights, Onyx lights, and novelty lights to get just what you want the room to look like.

4) The basement will naturally be the coldest room during the hot summer months and it might be made into a bedroom or guest room. If your house does not have air conditioning, sleeping downstairs in the basement during the summer might be a cool idea and get you a better nights sleep.

5) Your basement can also be turned into a themed area. Does your son like baseball or a certain sport? Turn your basement into a room devoted to his favorite team or sport. If you have a daughter it can be a room about whatever she is intensely interested in.

6) Many people do more work from home now and are looking for that extra room to turn into an office. The basement might work great as it is a secluded place where you can concentrate on your job and not be distracted by all the goings on in the rest of the house.

7) Do you like wine? If you have been looking for the right place to store it then the basement is surely it. Wine needs to be kept at a constant cool temperature and the basement can be turned into a wine cellar. You can choose to make your basement wine cellar as sophisticated as you wish without worrying about others in the house getting in the way and disturbing the wine.

Article Source : Pg. 165

About Author

Both Dennis Frank & Ben Needles are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Dennis Frank has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stress Management, Bank of America and Cooking Tips. Dennis Frank is an Internet Entrepreneur and Author of many fine websites such as Please visit the website for more related articles and information about. Dennis Frank's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.

Ben Needles has sinced written about articles on various topics from Business Credit Cards, Anger Control and Business Credit Cards. About the Author (text)Please visit my website for more exciting things to do with your basement.. Ben Needles's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.