Finding a use for your basement can be quite a conundrum.
Giving your basement a purpose is the best way to get the most out of your living space. Basements can bring extra comfort and functionality to your home when utilized effectively.
In this article, we provide you with 10 excellent renovation ideas to bring new life to your basement.
Keep reading to learn how to maximize your home’s comfort by renovating your basement!
What Can You Do with a Basement?
When deciding what to do with a basement, the world is your oyster.
Depending on the size of your basement, you can select from a wide range of renovation ideas that can transform your basement into a cozy lounge area, useful storage space, or anything else you dream of. By creating a new room out of your basement, you gain more room to spread out and enjoy your living space.
Plus, turning your basement into a functioning room adds monetary value to your home. In turn, if you ever decide to sell the property, you can earn more than you would have with an unfinished basement.
Regardless of what you decide to do with your basement, you will likely need to cover the following renovation basics before repurposing the space:
Wire Electricity to Your Basement: If your home electricity does not currently run to the basement, your first key step should be to contact an electrician and have your basement properly wired. Completing this step first is crucial, as some minor construction may be required to access the wiring in the basement and upper floors.
Install New Flooring and/or Walls: Unfinished basements often feature concrete floors and empty or partially finished walls. After your electricity is completed, installing new floors and finishing your walls with the materials of your choice will give your basement space a more polished and homely look. Plus, this is an essential requirement for a property appraiser to consider your basement finished.
Finish Your Basement Ceiling: Like with the floors and walls, many unfinished basements will have unfinished ceilings. For a ceiling to be considered finished, it needs to fully cover any construction elements (such as floor joints) and be leveled out properly.
10 Basement Renovation Ideas
Are you ready to renovate your basement but aren’t sure what to turn it into?
Fret not — we have curated a list of 10 awesome basement renovation ideas to help you decide what to do with your basement. We also provide you with a breakdown of what you need for each idea.
Without further ado, let’s jump into our list of 10 basement renovations:
1. Basement Storage
The easiest renovation idea for your basement is to turn it into a storage space.
Basement storage rooms require less overall work than other renovation ideas, as your main task is simply to ensure the room is suitable for storing items.
One of your main priorities when turning a basement into a storage space is to ensure there is not an excessive amount of moisture building up in the room. Moisture in storage rooms can lead to mold, which can ultimately damage or destroy your belongings.
A quality dehumidifier and heating system can help to combat unwanted moisture. Additionally, when finishing the walls, floors, and ceiling of your basement, make sure any gaps leading to the exterior of the house are covered and sealed.
Other key supplies for a basement storage room renovation include:
Airtight storage boxes and containers
Sturdy storage shelves (either standing shelves or hanging shelves to install on the walls)
Ceiling lights or standing lamps
2. Basement Office
With so many people now working remotely, the need for a home office space has skyrocketed.
If you are in need of a home office, your basement may be the perfect opportunity to build one. Luckily, a basement office does not require a ton of work once you have finished the basement — all you really need are the right office supplies to fill it out!
Basement office supplies can include:
A desk and computer setup
Ceiling lights and desk lamps
A desk chair
Foam insulation or other noise-canceling materials
Shelves
3. Turning Your Basement into a Bedroom
Why not use your basement to add an extra bedroom to your home?
An important consideration for creating a bedroom out of your basement is the British Columbia building code. For your basement to be legally considered a bedroom and meet the building code, if a bedroom does not have a sprinkler, it must have one outside window or door to use as an emergency exit.
As such, if your basement does not currently have a sprinkler, an outside window, or an outside door, you will need to add one of these features. This is especially important if you plan to ever sell or rent out your home, as the basement bedroom will need to meet the BC building code before you can proceed.
In terms of what you need to complete your basement bedroom, you should obtain:
A bed, box frame, and headboard
A dresser and/or vanity
A mirror (ideally a tall mirror)
A television
Extra storage (shelves, storage boxes, etc.)
You can also take things a step further by constructing a closet and/or a half bath to make your basement bedroom feel complete. For a half bath, you will need to consult with a plumbing professional to figure out if your plumbing system can extend down to the basement.
4. Basement Bar
Want a fun adult space for hosting get-togethers or simply for having a pleasant night at home?
A basement bar is a fantastic way to liven up your home and add a new space for hosting parties, dinners, or just hangouts. Depending on how extensive of a home bar you plan on building, you may need to add plumbing to your basement to install a bar sink and dishwasher.
Other key supplies needed to build a basement bar include;
A bar top and counter space
An industrial or commercial sink
A mini or full-size refrigerator
Liquor and mixers
Bar glasses (shot glasses, martini glasses, highball glasses, etc.)
Fresh ingredients (fruits, herbs, etc.)
Bar stools or other seating arrangements
A television (if you want this to be a combo bar and entertainment space)
5. Basement Kitchen
Building a basement kitchen can be one of the more challenging renovation ideas but an excellent way to add extra value to your home.
To create a basement kitchen, you will first need to ensure you have the proper plumbing and ventilation needed for a safe kitchen space. Once complete, other key supplies you will need include;
A sink
An oven, microwave, or other heating appliance
A refrigerator
A pantry or food storage shelves
A food preparation counter
A table and seats
Kitchen utensils, glassware, and tableware
6. Cozy Basement Living Room
One of the most common uses for a basement is a cozy living room and lounge area.
Basements make a great space for a living room, as they are separated from the rest of the house, allowing the noise from the living room to be minimized throughout the home.
Aside from adding the renovation basics we discussed earlier, minimal renovation work is needed to transform a basement into a living room. Supplies you will need include:
A couch, sofa, love chair, or other seating
A rug to place under large furniture (to avoid scraping or damaging the flooring)
A coffee table or side tables
Mood lighting (such as dimmer lights)
A television and accessories (Roku, cable TV, etc.)
Blankets and pillows for extra comfort
7. Basement Playroom & Family Room
For anyone with kids, finding space to play and spend time together is paramount.
Your basement might just be the best room in the house for this purpose. In your basement, you can create a playroom that is safe for kids to hang out alone in or a family room for everyone to spend time in.
To make your basement into a playroom and family room, you will need:
Carpet floors or rugs (kids like to rough house — carpet floors give them a soft place to land)
Toys and toy storage (shelves or boxes)
A television and accessories
A couch or other seating
Bean bag chairs
A small side or coffee table
Colorful lighting — adding colorful neon lights to your family room can make the space all the more fun for your young ones
8. Basement Gym
A major perk to owning a home is the opportunity to build a home gym.
Home gyms give you the convenience to work out at home when you want to, rather than having to plan trips to a public gym. Additionally, a home gym also helps you save money on gym membership costs.
For a home gym, make sure you have:
Sturdy floors and mats (mats are necessary for dropping large weights to prevent floor damage)
Cardio machines (treadmills, ellipticals, etc.)
Dumbbells, barbells, and other weightlifting equipment
Warm-up and cool-down equipment (resistance bands, foam rollers, etc.)
A pre-workout station (stocked with protein bars, pre-workout powders, and other goods)
Storage space for unused gym equipment
9. Man Cave Basement
Who hasn’t dreamt of having a legendary man cave for watching sports and enjoying some alone time?
Man caves are generally designed for one person or small groups of people to drink, enjoy entertainment, and relax. It is essentially a living room tailored to one person.
Great supplies for a man cave include:
A television and accessories
A large couch for spreading out
Sports memorabilia (or other memorabilia that you love)
A small bar counter and mini-fridge
Foam insulation for noise canceling
10. Basement Home Theater
Our final basement renovation idea for you to consider is a home theater.
Save money on going to the movies by building a theater in your home! Home theaters are great for entertaining kids, family members, guests, or just yourself. Enjoy all the fun of watching a movie on a big screen with all the comforts you can find in your home.
The biggest consideration for a home theater is the movie screen. You will definitely need a projector for showing the movies. However, you can choose between either an accompanying projector screen or a blank wall for your actual theater screen.
If you opt for a blank wall, make sure it is white and smooth for the best picture quality.
Other supplies needed for a home theater include:
A snack bar and mini fridge
Theater seats (this is up to you what types of seats you want — you can purchase recliners that resembler actual theater seats or opt for a couch, loveseat, bean bag chairs, or other seating)
A surround-sound speaker system
Power surge strips to protect your electrical system
Source components (ROKU, DVD player, etc.)
Final Thoughts
If you have a basement that you’re not sure what to do with, this list is a great place to start. No matter what you choose to do with your basement, having a finished basement adds value to your home and gives you the freedom to utilize the extra space how you see fit. For anyone planning on building a bedroom or kitchen space, make sure to check local and regional building codes for any additional requirements you may face. With that said, we wish you great luck on your basement renovation journey!