One great reason for finishing your basement is the added bonus space. The basement is your oyster! You can turn it into your ultimate hobby or private guest space. However, there are a few things that are critical to add to your basement, despite your intended use for the space. From a fireplace to a bathroom, here are 4 things to consider for a successful basement design.
Logical Space Planning
Some elements in your basement are fixed and some are not. For example, the water heater, furnace, stairs, and bathroom connections are all somewhat “fixed” items. We say this because technically, they all can be relocated given extra time and money. Most homeowners find it doesn’t make sense to go through the cost and hassle of moving them so they leave them where they are.
Once you’ve assessed where these landmarks fall, you can start filling in the spaces in between. Ever been in a basement that was dark, confusing, unwelcoming and made no sense? We shudder at the thought of those basements. You don’t want your basement to feel this way. You want it to be an extension of your home. So it is important to put some consideration into laying it out logically. For example, not all rooms in your basement need to be entirely finished (laundry, storage, furnace, and water heater), so consider grouping these together. If you’re considering a spare bedroom consider putting this near the bathroom but also consider where the windows are and if that is feasible.
The bottom line, it is important to consider the rooms you will be putting in your basement and their relationship to one another. As mentioned, some things can’t move and you will need to work around that. Additionally, some rooms benefit from windows and you will want to arrange rooms based on that as well.
Storage
Storage is very important. If your basement is currently unfinished, this is likely what you use it for. When framing out a room for storage it usually makes sense to put this next to your furnace and water heater. They can be separated into two different rooms, or they can be in the same room. If your washer and dryer live in the basement, they can be combined with these items too.
Bathroom and Spare Bedroom
Another key element to include is a bathroom. This is easy to add because most basements already have the connections stubbed out for this. Whatever you choose to do with your basement, it is guaranteed you will want a bathroom down there. A spare bedroom is also nice to have. Not as critical as the bathroom, if you’re pressed for space and want to design the basement for other things. This is a great way to give your house guests a space of their own.
Warming Elements
The last key element worth considering is the heat factor. Even finished, basements tend to be the cooler space in the house (temperature wise). If you want your finished basement to feel warm and cozy, like an extension of your home, then we recommend using carpet and adding a fireplace. These two things help add warmth, and ensure the “cozy” feeling.
There are two types of finished basements out there. The first type is the one where you enter and your response is “Wow! This doesn’t even feel like a basement.” The latter is where you enter the finished basement and you’re like “Hmm, this feels like a basement. I don’t really want to hang out down here.” Consider these 4 things and you will have a successful basement design.