One of the ways homeowners can expand the value of their home is by finishing their basement space. A finished basement will add square footage to an existing home and also add living space that can be used for a wide variety of activities. Here are a few basement remodeling ideas.

Living Space

For families with older children or teens, a finished basement is the perfect place to have new bedrooms and even a hangout space. Since sound does not easily travel, kids can play music, laugh and play and be allowed autonomy while still being in the house under adult supervision.

Another way to expand living space is to create an apartment. An apartment space can include a private entrance, bedrooms, living areas like kitchens or a living room, bathrooms and even a utility or laundry room. Apartment spaces can be used by older children for multi-generational living or as a source of extra income for a homeowner.

Specialized Use

Another basement remodeling idea is to use the basement as an area for a specialized use. For example, many homeowners use their basement for the primary location of their home business or home office. A basement home office separates the working area from the rest of the house, providing privacy and quiet. Additionally, with a private entrance, using a basement for a home business can make the space an excellent place to meet with clients or colleagues for meetings or consultations.

Finished basements can also be a great place to locate particularly specialized activities like playing, practicing or recording music. Another very popular basement remodeling idea is to use the space for a home theater center, since the basement is underground and is easily completely darkened, making it conducive to watching DVDs with surround sound.

Specific Concerns

When contemplating a basement finishing project, homeowners should be aware that most basement areas are poorly ventilated and special attention should be paid to providing adequate air circulation and ventilation. If you plan on including rooms that require plumbing, be sure to locate those rooms underneath already existing plumbing upstairs. Also, it is important to consider whether or not your furnace or heating system will need to be updated or supplemented to accommodate your new square footage.

Additionally, before launching into a basement finishing project, make sure you have made repairs to any cracks in the foundation or repaired any existing water damage. Also, you should make sure you meet any building code requirements and get any required permits before beginning construction.

Design

Using the services of an architect or interior designer can help a homeowner make the best use of the basement space available. An architect or inferior designer will have basement remodel ideas that may have never occurred to the homeowner. Additionally, they will usually have a list of recommended contractors. When meeting with a design consultant, bring your basement remodel ideas to them, including rough diagrams and any photographs or pictures of basements or rooms that you like and would like to incorporate into your design.

Interested in remodeling your basement? Get your project started by submitting a free BuyerZone request for basement remodeling price quotes.