If you’ve been dreaming about finishing your basement for some time, then perhaps 2021 is the year you will finally decide to do it. Many homeowners dream of having their basement finished because doing so will give them more living space in their home. Whether you’re dreaming of the ultimate family games room, a home theatre, or even a home gym where you can blast your tunes and pump some iron, The Basement Store can help you.
But while you’re thinking about exactly what it is that you would like in a finished basement, here are a few considerations to think about.
1. Consider the utility
Regardless of what your plans are for your finished basement, it still needs to be a utilitarian area and whatever upgrades you make to your basement, the end result should be that it is more functional – not less. To ensure that you get maximum utility out of your basement:
Wall off areas that require privacy.
Leave enough area around your water heater unfinished in case of leaks.
Avoid moving plumbing if possible in order to save on costs.
2. Know when to bring in professionals
You may be able to save yourself some money by taking on some of the projects yourself, but remember that certain DIY projects can also end up costing you more in the long run if you don’t know what to do. Because you are starting from scratch, there is often a lot of construction work involved in finishing a basement – and unless you have some real expertise in this area, it is best to leave this to the professionals. The same is true for repairing any foundation cracks or repairs to ductwork.
3. Learn to master the art of open concept design
Most finished basements are a fairly open concept, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t require some planning at the design stage. Consider how you want to use your space and what areas you might want to have within that space – a place to watch TV, a play area for the kids, perhaps a bar area for the adults, etc.
Ensure that each of these areas has its own lighting and that there is enough negative space between them. If appropriate, you may even want to use area rugs to make each space more distinct.
4. Don’t neglect the details
For years, basements have been the domain of mismatched furniture and bare walls. But really! If you are going to finish your basement, why not treat it with the same respect and eye for detail as the rest of your home? After all, the whole point is so you can spend more time there.
Think about using a unifying colour scheme, adding some art to the walls, or picking out some unique furnishings that you love.