Making The Most Of Your Basement Renovation

Posted by Delilah on June 24th, 2019

If you’re planning a basement renovation you’ve probably had a moment where you’ve looked upon your less-than-appealing basement and wondered, "how am I going to make this look the way I want it to?" It’s probably not giving you a lot to work with. Let’s face it, basements have historically been given very little love. But your basement can be amazing. If you go about it the right way, your basement could look like something straight out of HGTV. It doesn't need to cost a small fortune, either.

It’s all about natural light

One of the reasons that basements look so creepy and dingy is because there is very little light getting in down there. Everything is cast in shadows, making it look more ominous than it really is. This can easily be fixed with windows. Many of them. As soon as you have some large windows in there, letting in in lots of light, the space will start feeling more inviting and homey. It’ll actually be somewhere you’ll want to spend your time, rather than the sort of place you want to get out of as quickly as possible.

And unnatural light

Even after blowing out a bunch of windows the light still probably won’t be comparable to the rest of your home. Having good lighting that brightens the whole room is the next important step to your new basement. As said above, lighting is one of the biggest factors that comes into play in making the space more inviting.

Plan ahead

As with all other renovations, planning ahead is imperative. You need to know what you’re doing with the space. Thankfully, when it comes to basement renovations there is no shortage of options. You could add new rooms, upgrade your laundry room, add that extra much-needed bathroom, splurge on the man-cave or craft room you’ve always dreamed off, add an entertainment room, a playroom, a gym, an office space away from the noise of day to day life. The choices are limitless. Planning ahead can help you make the most of your space, budget and time.

The ceiling matters too

One of the most unsightly things about an unfinished basement is the ability to see all of the ducts and wires right above you. While this can be really neat if you’re aiming for an industrial look, it’s probably not the direction you’re planning on going for your new, modern basement. Topping off your new renovation with a brand new ceiling makes a huge difference in the overall design. Even if you think it’s not that big of a difference when it’s all done it’ll stand out like a sore thumb. Just make sure that you do it the right way so that there’s still access to important plumbing. Maybe even consider soundproof while you’re at it.

What about flooring?

Because basements don’t always have a lot going on for them, the floor may end up being your big statement piece. Lighter colors will make the space feel bigger but darker colors could make it feel warmer and homier. The aesthetic isn’t the only thing that you should be considering though. Does your basement get humid? A subfloor can be an excellent option before laying down your new flooring. This will help keep your basement from becoming too humid. This is especially important if you’re considering genuine wood flooring, as they can curl and warp in excessively humid environments.

And what about plumbing?

This is one of the reasons that planning in advance is so important. Do your dreams involve a new bathroom, a wet bar or moving around your laundry room? If so, you’ll likely need to be moving around or adding plumping and that should happen before anything else does. Don’t plan too much before you actually consult a plumber, as some of your placement may be entirely dependant on where you can or cannot have new pipes. Don’t try to take on this work yourself. Foregoing a plumber and trying to do this delicate work yourself can end horribly.