Design and Remodeling Ideas For A Practical Finished Basement

If you're looking for a way to add usable space to your home, look no further than your basement! 

In the past, the basement was considered an unused space, or at best, utilitarian storage. Maybe you'd slip a washer dryer down there, and it would be a place to do the laundry. If you were a kid, it was the place where all the scary things lived!

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Today, that's all changed as homeowners have begun remodeling the space to create a finished basement. After all, it's a large space that can be configured for almost any purpose. It's a relatively inexpensive way to add usable square footage to your home using your home's existing footprint, a good deal of the infrastructure is already in place, and as a bonus, a finished basement can add value to your home!

In the Old Days

In the past, a basement remodeling was often a way to add storage, an extra bedroom, or maybe a playroom for your kids to hang out and play with their friends. While adding a bedroom is still a common project, homeowners today are thinking creatively and expanding the options and functionality of their finished basement.

Home Sweet Home

Today, we're spending much more time at home. For many of us, thanks to recent events, home is the new office, and for our kids, their new classroom. Many homeowners have chosen to turn their basement into a killer game room, man cave, or home media center. Some have even transformed the space into a personal museum to house a growing collection.

Others seek to expand their home's living space in more creative, practical, and personal ways. Here are some of the latest trends when creating a finished basement.

Open Concept Is Still Hot!

Open concept is for more than just your main living space! It's a trend that has translated into the finished basement. Traditionally, rooms have been compartmentalized, dedicated spaces. The "open concept" tears down the walls to create free-flowing, barrier-free, mixed-use areas. Many homeowners choose to take advantage of the basement's naturally expansive side to create a flowing modern style. You can still have multi-purpose spaces, but they open up to each other, from the game room to the bar to the theatre space!

If you have a smaller basement, open concept living maximizes the space without losing square footage to walls. An open concept gives the perception of a lighter, larger space and provides you with the freedom to mix and match styles and functionality to create your own personal sanctuary.

Creating An Extension of Your Home

With more of us working from home, and our kids studying remotely, at least part of the time, many homeowners are opting to extend their living space to the basement. 

For some, that means adding a dedicated office or a classroom/craft room for the kids! For homeowners taking this approach, bringing the same finishes, flooring, colors, and overall style from the upstairs living space to the finished basement. When it's finished, your basement becomes an integrated extension of your home and not a separate area. 

While many homeowners opt to create a fun space for the family, like a home theatre, or a game room, today, the trend is moving toward creating practical additional living spaces that are functional and adds usable square footage.

Adding a Guest Suite

Another popular choice is creating extra, private space for visitors, or increasingly, in-law space to accommodate older parents or kids returning home from college. 

Today there is a growing trend of the home becoming a multi-generational space. Many homeowners are choosing to create a full guest suite. They can include a bedroom or two, a bathroom, a wet bar, or a second kitchen or kitchenette. Of course, the size and complexity of your remodel will depend on your budget and the space available. 

A guest suite is a perfect choice if you have family that often visits or for extended periods. This option gives everyone a comfortable space to stay, with plenty of privacy. 

The Perfect Home Gym or Spa

This is an increasingly popular idea with homeowners. With a large open space, the basement is perfect for conversion into a home gym. In fact, today, many homeowners are taking it an extra step and creating a home spa and including luxurious touches like a walk-in steam shower, sauna, or massage/meditation space.

This conversion can be accomplished in almost any basement. If you have a large space, you can add several machines and add a steam shower or sauna area. If space is limited, you can still have your gym, but rather than creating a separate spa area, retrofit a steam shower into the basement bathroom. 

Creating A Stylish Walkout Basement

This has been one of the most popular basement remodeling trends in recent years. For homes built on a sloping lot or hillside, adding a walkout feature can really up the wow factor of your finished basement. 

The advantage of a walkout basement is that it brings natural light into the space, and it can be directly accessed, making it perfect for a private in-law suite or rental space. 

Today, even a traditional basement can be remodeled into a walkout. In fact, the walkout basement is one of the significant trends in basement design for 2020. It does require a bit more planning, and you may need to look into permitting, but the result will definitely add significant value to your home. 

A renovation of this type involves exposing one side of it to add a door and windows. This type of renovation not only gives you independent access, but the windows also bring in natural light turning a dark, unusable space into a viable living space. 

Features To Consider for Your Finished Basement

No matter how you choose to use your finished basement, some great design ideas can help you to add value, pizzazz, and usability to an otherwise awkward space. 

• Use light colors – Most basements, even walkouts, have limited natural light. Consider using light, neutral colors to open up the space. Add some design flair by introducing bold colored accessories.

• Use proper lighting – Most basements have lower ceilings, which can make lighting the space difficult. The judicious use of track lighting can provide a discreet lighting choice that's an excellent alternative to recessed lighting. 

• Creative storage – If your basement is used for storage, keep it functional by creating exciting options. The basement is the perfect space to make a giant wall of built-in bookshelves. They're useful, look great, even if they're a little messy, and can still provide you with the extra storage you need.

• Add functional outdoor living space – If you're lucky enough to have a walkout or are considering adding this element to your home, why not extend your usable space by creating a patio outside the basement door. 

• Add a kitchenette or wet bar – The basement is a great spot to add a kitchenette or wet bar, especially if it's a gathering space for friends and family or the kids. A kitchenette can be carved out of just a few square feet, and it means easy snacking on game day!

A finished basement is an excellent addition to almost any home. It can not only add usable space and extend your living area, but a finished basement can also be turned into any type of space to meet your family's unique needs, whether it's a home gym and spa, an in-law suite, or the ultimate sports den!

If you're planning a basement remodeling project and you live in the greater Madison, Wisconsin area, why not give the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963.

We're here and always happy to answer your home improvement and remodeling questions. Let us help you create your perfect finished basement!

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 9/2/2022.