Basement Remodelling Ideas

Floors, Ceilings and Light

• Before you can create a truly comfortable space, taking care of leaks in your basement is a must. Moisture can seep into your floors, creating moldy carpets and warped laminate. Smoothing out your floor and resurfacing with a moisture barrier can go a long way to preventing seepage.

  Basement ceilings can also be problematic, as they are typically quite low. To enhance the height of your basement, create box frames around the ductwork, paint your ceiling light colors, or install mirrors. You can drywall your ceiling for a completely finished look, but remember to leave access points for plumbing traps and valves. A dropped ceiling is also an option, or, if you'd like to try out the industrial look, simply paint your ceiling ductwork and leave it exposed.

  Lighting is crucial in a basement to counter the low ceilings and lack of natural light. For a warm, inviting basement, provide generous light with sconces and lamps. If you have a walkout basement, consider creating additional windows to add more natural light.

Remodeling Ideas

• Home theaters: Naturally dark, basements can be the ideal place for a cozy home theater. A couple items to remember: Coth material on the walls will help insulate the room for higher quality sound, and a separate utility room may be required to house electronics. Consider lighting and speaker hook-ups so they can be integrated into the room plans.

  Recreation rooms: Your basement can quickly become the life of the party with a little work transforming it into a lively game room, complete with a pool table, dart boards or even a poker table. But before things get too lively, consider wrapping your basement posts with carpet or fabric, to cushion the blow of a game-time misstep.

  Utility rooms: Inevitably, your basement will house those appliances that don't quite fit in the main house: furnaces, oil tanks, water storage tanks and typically, washers and dryers, and it won't make much sense to finish around them. An easy way to keep your basement looking finished, though, is to integrate the equipment into utility rooms with access doors. Keep them large, so your equipment can be easily inspected and replaced when necessary.

  Ideally, your basement should be a natural extension of your home, reflecting the same style you've created upstairs. So consider what works for you and enjoy transforming your basement into that fun, distinctive space you've always wanted.