basement with armed living room

Basement Remodel Ideas

Statistics show that 40% of homes were built with a basement in the year 2000. Whereas only 32% were in 2013. However, despite the downward trend of the feature, those who are lucky enough to have a basement in their home might simply look at it as storage, and nothing more. Whether you’re looking to remodel your basement living space or are planning for your son or daughter to move back in, here’s how you can turn the damp space into a thriving environment.

Creating a livable environment

Basements are notorious for being cold, damp spaces. This is primarily because the basement is underground, making it prone to being damp due to the moisture that is forced in through the walls via hydrostatic pressure. In turn, a damp environment can contribute to health concerns, such as mold and mildew. For instance, as mold grows, spores and other organic compounds can enter the air. This causes irritation in the nose, lungs, and throat. Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that such an environment can also lead to rodents. Likewise there are cockroaches, which are known for liking dark, damp spaces.

For such reasons, waterproofing or damp proofing your basement is a great way to eliminate the dampness, and can aid greatly if you’re living in an area that rains frequently or is prone to flooding. Adding other features, like a dehumidifier can also help relieve dampness, and make the air more comfortable and livable, too.

A warm, inviting space

After eliminating the dampness in your basement, eliminating the coldness that such rooms are prone to is also an important aspect of creating a warm and inviting space. In fact, even the warmest basements run 5 to 15 degrees F cooler than grade level floors, highlighting the necessity to heat the room. However, while newer homes are likely to already be equipped with HVAC systems, remodeling a basement that has already been finished with closed walls can make things like running ductwork nearly impossible. Thankfully, if you find yourself in such a situation, there are other options. For example, baseboard heaters, extending existing ductwork if it’s possible. Using wood pellet stoves or even space heaters in order to make the space more comfortable is a great option.

Incorporating the finishing touches

After making your basement living space, designing it is perhaps one of the major finishing touches that can make it feel more like a comfortable living space. If your basement features brickwork or a rustic fireplace, for instance, using this to your advantage when designing the space (such as by hanging unframed artwork or adding accent shelving on it) can make the space feel more cozy while giving it a rustic look.

Incorporating carpet or rugs in addition to throw pillows and blankets help add a more cozy and inviting feel. Also, it offsets any lingering chill that might be present. Chose the right color palette. Such as, one that involves soft tones like grays and whites with a pop of color like navy blue. Then, you can easily make the basement feel like another room in your home.

Adding personality

There’s no doubt that adding finishing touches like elegant rugs designs and throw pillows can make your basement living space more inviting. Adding personality can do so much more for the design aspect. Especially, when it comes to making the space feel that much more like your home. Adding pieces of your favorite artwork, or showcasing a personal collection can be a great way to achieve this. This can make the space feel more uniquely yours.

Picking the right furniture can also help to add personality and define what the space is meant to be as well. For instance, are you planning on using your basement for entertaining guests? Then, incorporating furniture like a sectional couch or a pool and shuffleboard table. Perhaps, even a home bar area will certainly achieve such an aesthetic. On the other hand, maybe you’re looking to turn the space into an alternate living space. For instance, if your child is moving back in. In that case, ensuring the basement is equipped with the right hookups for a washing machine and other appliances can make the space fully functional.

Turning your damp, cold basement into a comfortable living space can seem nearly impossible. However, it doesn’t have to be difficult by any means. Try water/damp proofing and removing the chill that basements are known for and incorporating the brickwork as part of the interior design. You can easily create a warm and inviting space suitable for living in no time at all.

We hope that you learned helpful ideas to improve your home basement from this blog article. On this page, there are many more tips and advice: Latest Trends in Home Improvement


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