Basement Ideas to Add Liveable Space
ways to remodel and complete your dungeon Inspired by these basement ideas they will allow you to maximize your space
Dungeon ideas are just what you need when you're considering turning an unfinished basement into a livable zone
Or even dig to make one for a house built without it. This is a smart way to create extra square footage especially if you've run out of opportunities on the ground, or prefer not to build.
From spacious living rooms, playrooms, and home offices, to dedicated spaces including a home gym, cinema, and wine cellar, the opportunities for expansion are endless with converting a basement as part of your entire home's design.
Here, we've rounded up basement ideas to inspire you in your remodel along with expert advice for a successful project.
While basement ideas can cover a whole different room, what matters to all.
1. GET AS MUCH NATURAL LIGHT AS YOU CAN
An open tread staircase with glass railings leads to a neutrally decorated basement with a seating area and a table
One of the most important small basement ideas you can incorporate into your design at an early stage is to increase natural light. This is best done by illuminating the basement with overhead light – through skylights, glazed exterior panels, or even the open trend and glass balustrades on your basement stairs.
Choosing a light paint color for the walls also helps. 'Prioritize creating a bright, well-lit environment so this is the place you want to be,' says Andi Morse, founder, and lead designer, Morse Design.
2. INSTALLING THE LIGHTS WELL
Glossy light wells, which can be placed on a deck, patio, or simply in the backyard, will bring overhead light into the basement, and allow you to expand the basement floor space beyond the home footprint. Or you can choose to have an interior light nicely positioned near a window on the ground floor of your home.
About three times as bright as a side lamp, the top lamp will flood the basement with light, and allow you to use the walls for other purposes – whether to house a luxury bathroom, like here or just for storage.
In addition to increasing light levels, decorating with mirrors can beautify a small room with low ceilings, so this is a real bonus for a small basement.
'Don't limit mirrors to basement bathrooms - mirrors are a bonus in bedrooms and especially hallways and other narrow spaces where there may be no natural light at all,' advises Lucy Searle, Editor-in-Chief of Homes & Gardens.
4. BE CREATIVE WITH STORAGE BASEMENT IDEAS
Bedroom with wood-paneled walls in gray and gray ceilings and peg rails for clothes
Underground bedroom ideas and storage need to be thought out carefully. If you have very little floor space in the games room or living room, built-in storage, such as shelves, space-saving wardrobes with sliding doors, or under lift lids on the seat are great options. In a guest-only bedroom, you can swap closet space for peg rails, but investing in a storage bed underneath you can hide everything from spare linens to out-of-season clothes.
5. BE A FUN SPACE
Renovation of the basement with blue sections, wine shop, pool table and built-in shelves and neutral décor
Planning a basement paint colors conversion is a great way to add a fun space to a home that you can't sacrifice on the first floor. This renovation by Aspen, Colorado-based Charles Cunniffe Architects, transforms a mechanical and crawl space into a large living room with a bar, billiards, and games room, plus a glass-lined wine shop.
Keep in mind that you may need to create extra head height for a successful dungeon remodel. Here, the house level is lowered by two feet to provide adequate ceiling height in the basement.