When you think about basements, do you jump to the basement renovations you've seen on HGTV? Do you wonder what it would take to transform your basement into a space where your family wants to be, where you'd be proud to entertain your neighbors?
Basements don't have to be the dark, dank place you see in scary movies? If your basement is always closed, never cleaned because it's full of clutter you so you're embarrassed to have anyone see it, this article is for you.
Wouldn't you like your basement to be a warm, inviting space? A room where you can entertain and gather with friends or family, or even a relaxing retreat from the pressures of daily life?
You don't have to to live in a home with an unfinished or hidden basement. Here are five examples of basement renovations where unattractive basements were transformed into appealing living spaces, where the ugly duckling was transformed into a swan.
Basement Renovations From Basic to Beautiful
The left photo is what many basements look like today, what I like to call barely finished. They're functional but not very exciting. But there's no reason basements have to look that way. You can put a durable faux wood finish vinyl floor down, add some bright colors and a heavy-textured cloth on the walls and buy some modern fixtures and finishes to spruce up the utilitarian qualities of the room. And voila! A multi-purpose space where you can relax, sleep or even enjoy working in a home office.
Renovations That Take Dated Basements to Modern
Basement renovations are perfect if for basements like this one, that looked great back in the 1960s with the stone fireplace and overstuffed sofa. But when styles change, your basement should change with them. That means adding extra light fixtures, using bright or neutral colors on the walls and ceiling and replacing dated carpeting with hardwood flooring. Notice that the stone fireplace facade is now an exciting focal point in this basement renovation that offers a relaxing combination of entertaining space/bar area/office.
Basement Renovations Transform a Playroom to Picture-Perfect
A basement playroom is fine for young children, but what do you do when your kids grow up? As your family dynamics change, you can make lots of changes while turning the basement into a multi-use space. Put in a refrigerator, sink area, television and cabinetry to support your families new lifestyle.
Practical basement renovations start with flooring and lighting that are ageless, e.g. use hardwoods for low maintenance and area rugs that can be changed over the years. It's fun to create a theme like this beach side getaway, with a palette of sand, coral and sky-blue colors.
Going From a Loud Basement to Livable
Perhaps purple is a little too much even for youngsters, and it certainly won't appeal to adults. So the homeowners started by painting the walls an attractive cream color which nicely accents the furniture and cabinetry. The lounge area is ideal for gathering and watching sports, while the bar area displays sports memorabilia, has a slim-line fireplace, and keeps beverages cold with an attractive refrigerator.
Basement Renovations: From Empty to Extravagant
And then there are those completely unfinished basements that look like the photo below left. It might look overwhelming at first so a good place to start is to collect ideas for your dream basement (Pinterest is great for collecting photos of what you'd like in your basement or other rooms).
Now look at what you can do with this blank canvas. With floor-to-ceiling drapes, you can make the small windows feel larger. Pick furniture that you love like these modern furnishings that give the basement a heavy dose of style. Everyone loves today's open living spaces and yet it helps to divide it into multiple areas – a comfortable lounge area, high-tech media room and functional workout space.
As you can see, even the most lacking or unappealing basements can be turned into fashionable or even extravagant living spaces. If you want to transform your basement, you'll need to start with a master plan, assemble a budget for each aspect of the room, and thoroughly screen contractors before hiring them to do the job. Before you know it, your “ugly duckling” basement will become your families favorite living space and be the envy of the neighborhood.
Photo credits: hgtv.com
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