The pandemic has caused an incredible shift in the day-to-day operations. As work moved into the home, we have tried to do it all—from schooling to working out to working in the home to vacations—in our homes. A study showed that 36.2 million Americans (22% of the workforce) will be working remotely by 2025, which is an 87% increase from the number of remote workers prior to the pandemic. Being forced to stay home has taught families how to maximize their rooms but now they are assessing the rest of the home for a remodel. Basement projects are a great way to create multipurpose rooms and the options are endless. Unfinished basements tend to be filled with every old and unwanted item in the house from worn out furniture to childhood memorabilia. Unfortunately, this is letting precious square footage go to waste. The basement is the perfect space to be transformed into a warm and welcoming area for your family to enjoy. Remodels can not only integrate with the rest of the home but become beautiful assets and increase the value of your home.
What to Consider Before You Begin.
The first goal of any basement remodel is to decide how to finish the large surfaces: flooring, walls, and ceiling. In a completely unfinished basement, the floor may be concrete, the walls concrete block or bare studs, and the ceiling joists of the floor above. Once the major surfaces have been installed, the area can be remodeled just like any other area of the home. If your basement is finished but dated, such as old carpet, linoleum, and paneling, remove those items. This does not mean you have to tear everything out and start from scratch. Instead, consider making simple updates, like painting the paneling or placing new tiles over old linoleum flooring. Black painted rafters, ductwork and beams can create the illusion of higher ceilings.
Space. Do not be afraid to dream big but be realistic. If your heart is set on a big multipurpose space with game tables and a home theater system, make sure there is ample room. The most fun requests for an adult play area are in-home theaters, indoor bowling lanes, a pool table, dart board, ping pong table, full home bars, indoor golf simulators, and climbing walls, home-gym conversions, home video arcade room or home library. Maybe set up a full or a wet bar where you can stock juices and other beverages for the kids and something stronger for adults. You can even combine it with a kitchenette where you can prepare a few snacks. The sky is the limit!
Moisture. Before you start any work on your basement, you should detect and fix water and humidity problems. Installation of foam around your pipes and insulating your basement walls will prevent condensation from occurring. Using a dehumidifier also helps to reduce the humidity in your basement. If you get water in your basement or regularly use a sump pump to pump it out, address this before adding walls, floors, and furnishings. There are sealing products to solve foundation leaks.
Wine Bar- Sip and Dine. A wine cellar should not have direct sunlight (basements are perfect) and must be able to maintain a temperature of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are fortunate enough to have enough square footage in your wine cellar, place a dining table with chairs in the center as a dedicated space for eating and tasting. This is great for small cellars with limited room. Enjoy your feast with easy access to all the wine around you.
Mechanical Systems. You may have a furnace and a hot water tank on one wall and a water filtration or water softener system on the other. It can be tempting to move systems into a space separate from your finished basement, but do not unless you have to. That will involve rerouting plumbing, ductwork, wiring and possibly even a gas line. It is a more cost-effective plan to design around existing systems.
Safe Egress Window. If you plan to add a legal bedroom to a finished basement that’s entirely below-grade, you must ensure overnight occupants can safely exit the space in an emergency. An egress window large enough to allow safe passage is your most cost-effective option. Because it involves removing a portion of the foundation wall, you must hire a professional to do this project.
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas caused by the breakdown of subsoil uranium. It is known to seep through foundation walls and pool in basements and first floors. Prolonged exposure correlates with higher lung cancer risk in both smokers and nonsmokers. A professional can test for it and provide a negative pressure.
Other Options to Consider: When it comes to illumination, consider placing basement lights along the perimeter of the space. This design idea makes it appear as though the walls have been pushed outward, making the space look much larger. The same goes for paint choices — use light paint to open up the space. Because the basement's lack of light, you need to find the right lighting solutions that will provide a pleasant stay. Besides central lighting, there should be additional sources of lighting to improve the whole ambiance.
Conceal ductwork or ceiling pipes by adding a drop ceiling and consider building a room around the furnace and breaker box so they are out of sight.
From setting up the ultimate space for relaxation to maximizing square footage, there are tons of basement remodeling ideas that will help you create a cool hangout spot! Thinking about remodeling your basement? Contact Creative Spaces Remodeling to make your dreams come true.
