If you’ve got an unfinished basement, your
home has a blank canvas just waiting for you to “paint it” with updates. If
you’ve just been using that square footage for storage or laundry space, then
you probably know it’s underutilized - and there’s plenty of things you can add
to make this underappreciated area more accessible, more welcoming, and more
valuable.
While there is some construction work that is
necessary to bring an unfinished basement into a more usable space - things
like drywall, electricity and plumbing all come into play - we’re here to
provide some initial inspiration on what to do with this underutilized area.
Once you decide what’s going into that
basement, the team at Final Touch Construction and Remodeling is here to help
you make it happen.
Make a Media Room
If it’s been a while since you’ve been to a
movie theater, either for health and safety reasons or just because it’s hard
to get out of the house for two straight hours, a media room is a great - and
simple - thing to add into a subterranean area. The first immediate benefit? A
basement is a natural destination thanks to the minimal light that gets down
there, making your movie watching experience that much better.
Beyond that, you’ll just need to put up some
new walls (keeping in mind where you’re going to need electrical outlets for
your A/V gear), preferably some sound dampening material like curtains on the
wall and some carpet on the floor, and you’re most of the way there. Once those
basics are in, you’ll need a screen, a projector, some speakers and a nice
chair or three, and there you have it - your own theater. (A popcorn machine is
never a bad idea here either.)
Build Yourself a Minibar
What do you usually want to do when you leave
the movie theater? Chances are you might want to grab a drink and talk about
the film. This is a great reason to put a small wet bar in your basement (even
if you don’t opt for a media room).
A basement is a great place to get creative
with wall coverings, decorations, ceiling options like tin or wood, counters,
barstools and chairs. You can make the space a total Man Cave (don’t forget the
poker table!) or give it a more welcoming wine bar feel - after all, you are in
your very own “cellar.”
You’ll likely need to run some plumbing lines
for a sink or an ice machine, and some extra electrical outlets for a
refrigerator or a kegerator. After that? It’s time to start figuring out what
neon sign goes best with your basement’s color palette. And once you’ve
finished off that post-movie nightcap, here’s the best part: You’re already
home!
Burn Off Some Calories in Your New Home Gym
If you’re looking to work off that popcorn and
glass of wine from the night before, it’s time to turn to the corner of the
basement where you’ve built your own home gymnasium and fitness area. This is
another low-impact type of update, as you really don’t need to do much other
than mount some new walls for some mirrors or to mount exercise equipment in.
Don’t forget to make the doors large enough to
fit that new elliptical machine or weight bench in, and it’s not a bad idea to
grab a small fridge for some bottles of water or some cool towels. Throw down
some padding on the floor, a yoga mat or two (and maybe a flat-screen TV for
those online fitness classes) and you’re good to go.
Relax in a New Spa-Style Bathroom
After all that activity, you might want a new
place to relax. If you don’t want to sacrifice an existing bedroom by
converting it into a new bathroom, your basement might be the next best place
for a new sanctuary. A downstairs space is a great place to put that big tub or
walk-in shower, steam room or infrared sauna, especially since you’re not
constrained by any existing floor plans or limited square footage above ground.
There’s certainly a decent amount of plumbing
work that goes into adding a soaking tub or even an extra water closet in a
basement. That said, once it’s completed, you can fill up that tub, light up a
few scented candles and hit “play” on that streaming spa music channel, and
you’ll soon forget all about it.
If we’ve inspired you to make some additions
to your basement, the team at Final Touch
Construction and Remodeling
should be your first call
when it comes to figuring out your next steps. Whether it’s a basement update,
a full kitchen remodel or adding a new bathroom, Final Touch has 25 years of
experience working with hundreds of homes and businesses in the Cleveland area.
