8 Basement Remodel Ideas That Will Make You Rethink Your Favorite Room

Just because your basement is on the bottom level of your home doesn’t mean it has to be at the bottom of your home-remodeling priority list. In reality, the opposite is true—remodeling a dingy or rarely used basement is a chance to create more space for your family or add some features to your home that your main level(s) won’t accommodate.

Need a few ideas to inspire your upcoming basement remodel? We’ve put together eight of our favorites (with the caveat that when it comes to designing your dream basement, your options are truly limitless).

1. Think Light and Bright

Maybe you are dreaming of creating your own home fitness studio, complete with a ballet barre, a rowing machine and a complete set of free weights. Or, maybe you need an extra bedroom or a home office. No matter what, avoid dark colors and fixtures, says Kirsten Gable, a designer with Anthony Wilder Design/Build Inc., in Cable John, Maryland.

“This is key when you are designing a basement,” Gable says. “Nobody wants to go into a space that feels like a dungeon.”

Fortunately, the light-and-bright feel isn’t hard to achieve—even in a space that was previously adorned with dark paneling on the walls and few, if any, sources of natural light.

All you have to do is select lighter paint colors, lighter flooring (Pro tip: Never use wood flooring in a basement due to its propensity to warp) and plenty of, well, lighting. This could be in the form of strategically placed recessed lighting, decorative lamps or even windows (if the structure allows for windows).

2. Consider a New Type of Space

Do you already have a media room or sufficient home office space upstairs? If so, no need to be redundant in your remodeled basement. This is your chance to add something else to your home that doesn’t already exist.

“You aren’t going to spend time in your basement if you have it elsewhere,” says Gable.

If you are not sure what exactly this new space is, make a list of what might be missing. A place for out-of-town guests to stay? A playroom? A game room? The project is a blank space, so you can take it in any direction you like.

3. Add a Dedicated Home Office

OK, but how many of us truly have enough dedicated office space these days? A basement is a perfect place for a quiet work area because it is most likely removed from the home’s primary activity zones (meaning you can escape from all the noise and dive into that big work project).

This is also your chance to really home in on your preferences when it comes to the sort of workspace that fosters your own brand of productivity. Quirky? Corporate chic? Minimalist? It is up to you.

4. Build a Guest Suite

Soon, it will once again be feasible for friends and family to come over for more than just a socially distanced driveway visit—they’ll actually be able to spend the weekend. If you would rather offer accommodations more appealing than the living room floor or your twins’ bunk beds, adding a guest room to your basement will accomplish the goal.

If you have the space, you might even consider making it a guest suite—complete with a private bathroom and all the little extras that will truly make them feel at home throughout their stay.

5. Create a Home Gym

Tired of exercising in the garage (especially in extreme temperatures)? Your soon-to-be-remodeled basement is just begging you to turn at least a small section of it into a home workout studio.

All your equipment will be tucked away in its very own space (no more tripping over the treadmill in the middle of your bedroom), and you won’t have to worry so much about damaging that beautiful wood floor with your free weights.

The ground level is much more accommodating to the impact, and you can also install flooring that is engineered specifically for home gyms (without worrying that it will clash with any of your home décor).

6. Design Multi-Purpose Room

The mere existence of a basement doesn’t necessarily mean you have the luxury of adding guest suites and workout rooms though—maybe your upstairs is smaller and you need the space downstairs for actual living?

If this sounds like you, you can easily transform your basement into a versatile living space, with a play/school area for kids, a family gathering space (a couch and a coffee table for playing board games will accomplish this), some extra storage and maybe even a cozy reading nook.

The key with this type of design, says Gable, is to create a cohesive look while also providing some separation between the various areas (room dividers, tall furniture or a partial wall will all do the trick).

7. Showcase a Collection

Are you a wine connoisseur, or a collector of vintage teacups? Basements often provide the perfect backdrop to store or display your favorite things, especially if the upper level of your home lacks the space needed. You can dedicate a certain corner or design a walk-in/temperature-controlled room, depending on the size and content of your collection.

8. Make a Space for Hobbies

Kitchen tables often double as sewing or craft stations, and living rooms are used for everything from practicing music to drawing to folding origami.

If you would like to reclaim your kitchen table for actual dining, or if the concept of sitting in your living room watching Netflix without hearing the sound of your 10-year-old’s squeaky violin, the time to turn your basement into a music, craft or hobby room is now.

Bottom Line

These ideas just the very tip of the iceberg—the options for your basement remodel are vast, Gable says. The main thing to do when creating your basement renovation plan is to determine what you truly need to make your basement work for you and your other household members.

“You can create a really cool basement, but if it doesn’t function for (you) on a day-to-day basis (you) are never going to go down there,” she adds.