How to Redo a Basement Room
Redoing your basement means either updating it with a new theme or completely renovating the area into something new. If the room has never been used, except to store boxes and bikes, you will need to completely refinish the area. However, if your basement is already in living condition, but simply needs an update in design or function, simply ask yourself what purpose the area needs to serve in your life. Whether you want an area for entertaining, another family living space or a secluded office for your work, redoing your basement simply adds more square feet and character to your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Large clearing bin
- Lighting
- Flooring
- Paint
- Furniture
- Shelving
- Accessories
Instructions
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Decide the purpose of the basement. If you are in need of work space, create an office with organizational items, a computer desk and a filing system. When the children are small, make your basement a playroom complete with chalkboard paint and plenty of small storage cubbies. Or, turn the basement into a gaming room. Place a pool table, television and a few gaming systems in the basement. Add as many board or table-top games as you would like.
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Clean out the room. Take everything out and examine each piece of furniture. Make decisions on keeping an item or donating it based on what your needs are for the new space. If you have ottomans that were used in a living room setting, keep them for the playroom renovation. Think about storage and see what you can move over to the new room. If food was stored on a shelving unit, but now the room will be an office, keep the unit and use it as a bookshelf. Only purchase new items after you make use of what you already own.
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Take down existing curtains, wallpaper and pictures. Remove anything hanging from the walls or ceiling, such as lighting fixtures. Assess the carpet and floors. Figure out if the existing flooring will work in the new space or if you need something different. A game room or basement bar looks good with an unfinished concrete floor, for example, while a den or bedroom is cozier with carpet.
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Explore lighting options. Incandescent lights are best for stairways and closets because of the lowered expense. These also work nicely on dimmers, which is a nice option when watching a movie or having cocktails with friends. Florescent lighting lasts longer than incandescent lights and is a great option for brightening up a toy room or office. LED lights are a good choice for task lighting, highlighting a bookcase or lighting up a cabinet.
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Figure out your color scheme. If the space needs to be light and airy, choose soft colors such as butter or violet, while a homey feel is created with earth tones, such as gray, brown or taupe. Mix textures, such as wall grass, and layer fabrics in the same color family. If you are working with green, for example, use hunter, celery and jade in a variety of items and textures. Color in your new basement makes the space less dreary.
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Add accessories to complete the room. A neatly organized storage room may warrant a white board for listing needed items, while a bar could use wall art consisting of beer and alcoholic beverage advertisements. If the basement is converted to a child's playroom, add alphabet letter art to the walls or a magnetic board and plastic numbers used for counting. Over-sized stuffed animals can highlight a reading nook. A basement office, for example, will need a large wall calendar for highlighting due dates, picture frames for your desk and shelving for your awards or work-related creations.
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Tips & Warnings
Make sure the room is comfortably ventilated.
Measure the area and take a tape measure with you while shopping for new furniture.
Make the basement an extension of your home. If your house has a modern feel, you may want to continue it in the basement for continuity.
Consider breaking the room up with sliders if the area is exceedingly large for one room.
If you change plumbing, such as adding a bathroom, get a permit.
If the basement has a window, make sure to add decorative and functional treatments.
Add insulation for sound proofing if musical instruments are played.
Consider the electrical outlets when designing the room.
References
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