Reclaim Your Basement: Creative Ideas for a Functional and Stylish Space
Basements are often viewed as places to dump clutter, but what if you turned yours into a functional and stylish space? It's a blank canvas ready for your creative touch, so how about taking full advantage of this opportunity?
There's been a rising trend of homeowners turning their basements into practical areas that serve a purpose while looking easy on the eye at the same time. You've got small underground libraries, expansive bars, and full-blown gyms; revamping your lower level is more popular than ever right now.
Now, it's your chance to jump on that trend! We're going to show you our 6 much-loved innovative ideas for a trendy and efficient lower story.
Build a Gym
Most people who build gyms usually opt to set them up in a shed because it's a nice way to keep weights and tools out of their home. If you like the idea, you can start looking for the right shed for you. They can be adapted to your needs and your budget, and make sure you have the room and the privacy to keep your body healthy.
As an alternative, you can consider using your basement. It doesn't require much space or design; you just need enough area to fit in your equipment, like your treadmill, yoga mats, free weights, and spin bike. To keep things as organized as possible, give your equipment an area like the back of the basement away from the entrance so there's no distraction. This way, you can even use half of the room for a gym and the other half for something else, like an entertainment area for your kids.
Set up Your Dream Bar
Instead of hitting the bar every weekend, take the bar to your basement. Not only will it save you some money in the long term, but you'll also have space to relax and enjoy some drinks with your friends whenever you want.
Building a bar is a long-term project, and you'll always find something to do with it, even when you think it's finished. First, you build the bar and storage units to have a place for people to drink and a spot to store your glasses and bottles. After that, you can chip away at the style and maybe add some mirrors, cool cabinets, and a barrel with your favorite beer logo on it! You'll also need to remember to buy your liquor bottles to hang on the optics.
One thing you can't forget about is lighting because every good bar has nice lighting to set the tone for its patrons. Some pendant lights can bring the focal point to life, while a few wall sconces can set the atmosphere throughout the basement.
Design Your Own In-Home Sauna
If you occasionally enjoy going to the sauna, consider designing your own so you can sweat it out at home. On average, they cost around $4500; however, the size and contractor you use will dictate the price. The materials alone aren't actually that expensive; for example, you could use pine, which only costs $2 and $5 per square foot. It's the preassembled kits that rack up the price; their prices range between $2,500 and $7,000.
You'll want your sauna to really look the part, so don't forget to add some seating on the inside and a bronze glass door for some added privacy.
Transform It Into a Guest Bedroom
Do you have space for one more? Transforming your basement into a guest bedroom could be a fantastic idea, especially if you regularly have family over. Or, even better, you can get your own little Airbnb side hustle going.
Guest bedrooms are amazing for experimenting with different styles and furniture that you wouldn't usually use in the rest of your home. For example, you can adopt a moody dark brown style for your visitor suite, giving it a sophisticated edge with a Coffee Date dark brown color code.
You don't want to just throw a bed in and leave it at that; unleash your imagination and showcase some personality. Throw up some eye-catching artwork on the walls, add some lamps, and dress the bed in fancy sheets.
Bring the Cinema to Your Home
Grab the popcorn and the cola because it's time to bring the cinema to your basement. Setting up a cinema in your home is another wonderful way to use your basement. You just need some snug chairs, a widescreen (or a projector), soundproofing, dimmed lighting, and a good (and legal) streaming platform to watch your movies.
Seating is everything in the cinema, so be sure to choose with comfort in mind. For the ultimate theater experience, go for leather recliners with some holders on the sides. The screen size you go for should reflect the basement area; anything over 70 inches is suitable for an at-home cinema.
Add an Underground Dining Room
Not to take away from your dining room on your ground floor, but how cool would it be to take your guests downstairs for dinner to an underground dining room? You could turn it into a secret restaurant with a swanky meal table, plush seating, some tiling, and a greenery feature, making people feel like they're eating out!
If you want to go all out, consider setting up a little kitchen down there to save you from running up and down stairs. It doesn't have to be anything too extravagant; just stick to the basics, like some storage units, useful utensils, and a sink to clean up afterward. One approach you could take is adding a wood-fired pizza oven to offer a unique touch. Their prices vary, but you should expect to pay between $2,000 and $8,000.
Start Getting More Out of Your Basement Today With One of These Ideas
Are you still considering doing something special to your basement? Start taking action now with one of these ideas. We could have kept listing more ideas; that's the great thing about extra space—anything is possible.
One brilliant thing about basement revamps is that nobody can see what you're doing, so you don't have to rush anything. Start off slowly, take your time, and your transformation will be completed when the time is right.
