Top Tips to Spruce up Your Basement Remodel

Finished basements can add a lot of extra character and living space to a home. Not only this, but having a beautiful basement can also dramatically increase your home’s value. As Kansas’s preferred remodeling contractor, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop-shop for all your remodeling and Wichita roofing contractor needs. Here are some great tips to help you spruce up your basement remodeling project:

 

10 Basement Remodeling Tips

Enhance the value of your home and increase your living space by finishing or remodeling your basement.

1. Make a Family Room or Rec Room

Basements are ideal for casual social activities for the whole family, or just for the kids. It's the perfect spot for the big screen TV, pool table, and to stash board games and craft supplies.

Make this space inviting by finishing and decorating it like any upstairs room. Choose comfortable furnishings that can be easily rearranged to accommodate a few people or a crowd. Incorporate sound systems, internet connections, and good lighting to make the space functional.

2. Include a Bedroom and Bath

A basement bedroom and full or half bath makes an ideal suite for guests or teens.

Think about who will sleep in the basement and the amenities they'll need to help you determine the best dimensions. To comfortably fit a double bed, you'll need a room with a minimum of 125 square feet. If twin beds will serve your needs better, plan on at least 150 square feet.

Building codes also require that basement bedrooms have an emergency exit that leads directly outside, either through a door or a window.

3. Add a Kitchen or Laundry Room

A wet bar or mini kitchen in the basement makes entertaining much easier. The inclusion of a mini kitchen makes a basement with a bed and bath into an entire guest suite.

A kitchen requires access to hot and cold water, as well as electrical outlets for an undercounter refrigerator, a microwave oven, small countertop appliances, and possibly a small dishwasher or dishwasher drawer.

A laundry room is a good idea in the basement, but it needs a floor drain and access to an outside wall to vent the dryer.

4. Design an Attractive and Safe Staircase

You already have stairs to the basement, but when you're remodeling, make sure they meet code and look good. If they're not in a convenient location, consider moving them to a better spot.

Codes vary with staircase configurations and baluster shape, so you'll need to talk to the building inspector about your plans. It's also a good idea to consult an architect or other design professional for help in designing a staircase that works well with your other plans for the space.

5. Plan for Windows and Doors

Adding or enlarging basement windows and adding exterior doors are jobs for a professional, but the resulting natural light and ventilation will significantly increase your enjoyment of this living space.

To add belowground windows you'll need to dig a window well. The retaining wall for the well may be made of masonry, limestone blocks, or treated landscape timbers, as in this window well. The terraced timbers serve as pot garden perches as well as steps for an emergency exit.

6. Finish the Walls for Inviting Ambience

Foundation walls are usually made of poured concrete or stacked concrete block, materials that reinforce the feeling of the basement as a secondary space. To give the basement main-floor style, cover the concrete with your choice of materials: drywall, plywood, paneling, or paint over the concrete.

The walls in this basement living area are covered with sheets of maple-veneer plywood with stained poplar boards covering the seams to create an Arts and Crafts look.

Read the full article at bhg.com

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