Basement Remodeling Possibilities

Basement Finishing Possibilities

If your home has unfinished basement space, you’ve probably given at least some thought as to how you’d utilize that space if it were a little less dark, damp, and uninviting. In an ideal world, your basement would hold some sort of utilitarian purpose, even something as humdrum as a laundry room. But you probably have loftier goals than merely creating a laundry room. After all, a finished basement is basically a blank canvas that could be transformed into just about anything imaginable. Basement remodeling can showcase your personality and transform your dank basement into a space that caters to your own unique needs.

Man Cave

During the last decade, one of the most popular uses for a renovated basement has been as a man cave. While you may envision a dimly lit space with a grimy futon and empty beer cans strewn about, it’s important to note that man caves and bachelor pads are two completely different things. Man caves aren’t glorified dorm rooms, and they’re certainly not just for twenty-somethings. These spaces are usually quite sophisticated and some are even filled with fine (yet manly) furnishings, big screen TVs, and pool tables.

As you can imagine (and may fear would be the case in your home), some men are deterred from creating their ultimate man caves by the fairer members of the household. Luckily, there are plenty of spaces you can create in your finished basement that will appeal to every member of the family.

Home Theater

Many households go the family-friendly route and design a space that can be used by the kids and the adults alike. Some families create state-of-the-art home theaters with projection televisions, plush recliners, and - of course -popcorn machines. Since basements are already pretty dark spaces, not much needs to be done as far as lighting is concerned. While this is one expense you may not have to incur when designing a home theater, other components can get a little pricey.

Game Room

If a home theater is out of your price range, you may want to consider creating a game room. You can customize your game room to your family’s preferences by adding a pool table, poker table, pinball machine, or even a video game console or two.

Spare Bedroom

Of course, some households need to take a more practical approach to basement remodeling. If your home has run out of bedrooms for your growing family, finishing your basement can certainly be more affordable than an above-ground addition. It’s also becoming more and more common for senior citizens to live with their children’s families, and a finished basement can provide the perfect home away from home for these individuals. Even if your basement come bedroom doesn’t have a full-time occupant, there will still likely be plenty of opportunities for overnight guests to make use of your comfy space. Plus, it creates an excuse to invite company in from out of town.

No matter how your family chooses to use its finished basement, one thing’s for sure: You’ll have a blast designing your space to meet your household’s needs.