If you have a basement that is just sitting there forgotten, you are missing out on an entire floor of space that could provide that extra bit of room you have been looking for. Of course, getting the basement in shape for family use may take a bit of work, but the results will be well worth it.
There are many ideas for making your basement a part of your home and creating cozy little getaways. The first thing you will need to do is decide what work needs to be done in order to get your basement ready for use. In some cases, you may need to completely remodel. You will want to be sure that existing walls are finished and you may even want to build new walls in order to divide the basement into separate rooms. You will also want to be sure that you have adequate light in the basement, especially since this is the place in your home with the least amount of windows. Once you have remodeled your basement to meet your needs and to ensure that it is a safe place for family members, you will want to move on to the decorating.
Decide just what you want to use the basement for. Here are some ideas:
Home Theater or TV Room - the basement is the perfect place for a home theater because of the absence of windows.
Game Room - If you have always wanted a pool table or other games that take up too much space, a refurbished basement is the perfect place to create a game room where family and friends will spend many hours shooting pool, throwing darts, and other activities.
Hobby Room - If someone in your family is interested in toy trains, the basement provides an excellent place to create their very own railroad line. Space can also be set up for other hobbies such as building model cars or planes.
Extra Bedrooms - You can even create extra bedrooms in your basement. Maybe you have a teen that is tottering on the edge of being his/her own person, yet still needs the protection a parent provides. A basement bedroom will allow the privacy needed for your teen while still keeping him/her within the family fold.
Basement Lighting - Since the basement is the area of your home that receives the least amount of natural light, it is very important that the lighting be adequate for safety. Here are a few lighting ideas for basements:
Globe Lights - These lights are wonderful for creating a soft and romantic atmosphere.
Onyx Lights - These lights offer soft, gentle lighting and will work well in your home theater.
String Lights - String lights are a perfect way to create a colorful light display. Use your imagination and string the lights to create whatever atmosphere you after. Colorful Christmas lights can be strung in the basement any time of year for an added dash of color.
Lava Lamps - These lamps can be used to give your basement a psychedelic feel. These are a great idea for a teen's bedroom or family game room.
Brighten your basement with some area rugs. Think bold and colorful. A fun red area rug would be stunning or go with a modern geometric area rug instead. The choice of rugs is unlimited.