Better Homes And Gardens Basement Remodeling Ideas

Basement ideas are what you need when you're considering transforming an unfinished basement into a habitable zone – or even excavating to create one for a home built without. It's a smart way to establish extra square footage – especially if you've exhausted the opportunities above ground, or prefer not to build out.

From spacious living areas, playrooms and home offices, to specialist rooms including home gyms, movie theaters and wine storage, the opportunities for expansion are endless with a basement conversion as part of your whole house design.

Here, we've put together basement ideas to inspire your remodel together with expert advice for a successful project.

Basement ideas

While basement ideas can encompass a whole host of different rooms, what's crucial to all is creating sufficient light, dividing up the space successfully if it's not to be open plan, and making the decor aesthetically pleasing as well as sympathetic to the rest of your home.

1. Make it a fun space

Basement remodel with blue sectional, wine store, billiards table and built in shelving and neutral decor

Planning a basement extension is a great way to add the fun-to-have spaces to a home that you can't sacrifice space to on the first floor. This remodel by Aspen, Colorado based Charles Cunniffe Architects transformed what was a mechanical and crawl space into a large family room with a bar, billiards and game room, plus a glazed wine store.

Bear in mind that you may need to create extra head height for a successful basement remodel. Here, the levels of the home were dropped by two feet to provide adequate ceiling heights in the basement.

2. Opt for a playroom

Basement remodel with sectional sofa, side table and rug, dining table and chairs, kids' playhouse and white walls and dark floor

If your basement ideas include creating dedicated space for kids to play – plus valuable room for toy storage – follow the lead of this project.

Boise-based design practice Lyn's Design Style created a kids' play zone for the family's youngest two children, aged three and five. The space provides a cozy nook for fun and games with the separate door and window making their space more of a feature within the living area.

3. Boost the usefulness of a basement

Basement with entry door and bench, and laundry room through doorway with grey flooring and white walls

Consider grouping the super-useful and desirable spaces of a home in the basement to keep the first floor uncluttered, cleaner and quieter.

Designed by Vancouver-based One Seed Architecture + Design, this sleek basement accommodates a mudroom/entry, and laundry room. There's a home gym, too, that keeps exercise equipment out of living spaces or bedrooms.

4. Brighten up the basement

Basement with living area with sofa and chair, rug, trunk coffee table, white walls and dark beams

Take advantage of basement ideas that will make it a light and airy part of your home. 'The goal is to maximize ventilation, natural light and sense of connection with the outdoors,' says James Burrell of Burrell Architects. 'You may be able to cut back the floor above to introduce light, cut a light well all the way through the house, or install a glass ceiling to borrow light from windows above.'

However, if the design of your home precludes these strategies, or your budget doesn't stretch, opt for decor that will make it feel bright and open. For this subterranean space in Seattle by Unique Home Construction a bright white finish was chosen for the walls, while the ceiling joints and lumber have been left exposed and finished in matt black, increasing the feeling of height.

5. Create clever space dividers

Basement with grey sofa and coffee table and open bookcase with gray walls and neutral floor

It's possible to divide up a basement to create different zones without detracting from the open feel of the space.

Designed by MODE4 Architecture, this basement remodel uses a two-sided open bookcase to separate the main living space from the back hall and utility areas. The project was driven by the family's need for a space that could serve as a chill-out zone for teenagers, and a guest suite for friends and family to stay.

6. Think texture

Basement-ideas-the-ultimate-guide-Best Practice-Architecture-Ed-Sozinho

Add decorative interest to a basement remodel by opting for different textures. When Seattle-based Best Practice Architecture transformed the basement of this 1912 home into a bright and spacious family area most of the walls were painted white to enhance the airy feeling of the space, while portions of exposed brick wall and the exposed overhead timber ceiling add warmth and contrast to the space.

7. Introduce windows to a basement

Basement-ideas-the-ultimate-guide-VFA-Architecture-and-Design-Scott-Norsworthy

Introducing windows as part of your basement ideas is highly desirable. 'Add new windows to bring in as much natural light as possible,' advises Sean Barnett, owner and principal architect at Portland-based Polymath Studio Architecture. 'This is the most effective way to make your basement feel like it's no longer a basement, but rather a comfortable, inviting part of your home.'

For the basement of this Toronto home by VFA Architecture + Design, the rear yard was stepped to create a sunken courtyard. The lower grade allowed for larger windows, channeling more natural light into the basement. Previously mainly used for storage purposes, it's now a light-filled playroom.

8. Benefit from the peace

Basement homework area with white desks and cabinets, white table and pink chairs

Its separation from the rest of the home makes the basement an ideal venue for a home office or a study space for kids that's quiet and away from the distractions and hustle and bustle of the other stories.

The basement in this Boston home was designed by Beige & Bleu and caters for a family of teenage girls, providing a space for them to study together with a lounge area separate from the rest of the house.

9. Boost the number of bathrooms

Basement bathroom with shower and vanity with white tile

If you plan to incorporate a basement bedroom or guest annex in the basement, it makes sense to add a basement bathroom for convenience and ease of access.

'I usually recommend a full bath in the basement so you can shower after a workout or wash the dog in the basement, for example,' says Liz Caan, founder and principal at Liz Caan & Co, a Massachusetts-based design firm.

Bear in mind, of course, that this will require extra electrical and plumbing work and will therefore drive up overall project costs.

This master bathroom was added to the lower level of this Freedman's Cottage home in Austin, Texas. The original property was extended significantly as part of the remodel by Webber + Studio. The bathroom is filled with light thanks to the installation of floor to ceiling glazing to the rear of the property.

10. Work a small space

Basement wine cellar with wood storage and wood stools and ceiling lighting strips

Even a tiny basement can become a luxurious and functional addition to a home. In this basement renovation by Seattle-based Hoedemaker Pfeiffer, the long neglected cold storage space beneath the porch of the house was re-purposed and transformed into a contemporary wine room. Built-in joinery has been incorporated to maximize every inch of space.

11. Build out from the basement

Basement kitchen diner with island unit, dining table and chairs and doors to the exterior with gray tile floor and white walls

It's worth contemplating building out as part of a basement remodel, creating a connection to the outside and simultaneously bringing in extra daylight. In this London home, Granit Architects designed a glazed double height space that ensures the basement kitchen diner is filled with natural light.

12. Select characterful materials

Basement with wood floor, brick partition wall, wood paneling to half height and white painted walls above, and built-in bench seating

The palette of materials used to finish a basement can create a link with the remainder of your home. In this basement renovation Maximilian Huxley Construction restored the lower level of the 1903 home from two separate suites into one shared family space.

The project was respectful of the home's 1903 origins, and has incorporated reclaimed wood floors, countertops, shelving, stair treads and paneling. Exposed steel beams and masonry elements give the space on industrial feel.

13. Avoid blocking light

Basement with staircase and clear baluster, wood floor, dining table and feature wall

Think about fitting a glass balustrade to basement stair ideas to keep the light flowing freely through the space. Other strategies to ensure it's light-filled? 'Keep the space as open plan as possible to allow the available natural light to flow through the room,' advises Kieron Bell of Kitchens International.

If the basement is the location for a kitchen, use the areas with the most light for the cooking and dining areas where you will spend most of your time, and those furthest from the natural light for ancillary rooms, such as laundry areas, pantries and storage. Glass partitions, rather than solid walls, will ensure the best light flow through the space.

What should I put in my basement?

A basement can provide space for many different rooms. You might want to consider making it a more relaxed living room while the main living room remains a more formal space. It could also be playroom for the kids, or a library.

'If your basement has a separate entrance, consider the uses and the flexibility this can provide,' suggests Liz Caan. 'Maybe a guest suite would be nice, an au pair area, a home office, or a media gaming room?'

If you plan to incorporate a bedroom or guest annex in the basement, it makes sense to add a bathroom for convenience and ease of access.

Other uses to which a basement can be put are as a laundry room, mudroom, or maybe a space for crafts. Think about including a kitchen, or kitchenette to make entertaining easy, adding a basement bar, or creating a wine cellar.

How much does it cost to finish a 1000 sq ft basement?

Where to buy basements – and how much does a basement cost? Well, the outlay for basement remodel or finishing project is largely determined by the space you're starting out with. However, to finish a 1,000 square foot basement, you might expect to pay from around $20,000.

However, there is an enormous range in costs. 'It really depends on the amount of clean-up work required; for example, the relocation of existing utilities and things like the addition of a bathroom or kitchenette,' says Christopher Tucker, principal/owner at MODE4 Architecture, a design practice based in Alexandria, Virginia.

If your existing basement is unfinished, it's likely that you're working with a space that's completely open. Putting in partition walls to zone off bedrooms and bathrooms is an addition that will drive the price up.

Jobs that involve moving the plumbing or incorporating additional structural elements, such as digging down to create more height, add to overall costs, too.

The cost of specialty rooms is another key consideration. Incorporating a movie theater, for instance, will require custom AV work and potentially extra sound insulation. It's important to consider all these factors from the outset so you can get a realistic budget plan drawn up. The materials you choose will also influence costs.

Hello! I'm Rebecca, and I freelance for Homes & Gardens. I contribute a range of articles to the magazine, from design-focused features to real life case studies.

After starting my journalism career at a luxury property magazine in Bangkok, I re-located to London where I started out as a sub-editor and features writer. I later became the features editor of a popular self-build and renovation magazine, where I delved into the world of structural systems, eco tech and smart homes.

I went freelance in 2017 to pursue my dream of becoming a yoga teacher, but I still write for numerous titles in the homes and interiors sector.

My background is in self-build and renovation, so I'm happy to chat about a plethora of topics, from oak frames and kit houses, to glazing innovations and cladding.

My dream is to build a contemporary glazed extension to the rear of a traditional Victorian property, and then fill it with furniture from Oliver Bonas, Made.com and Swoon Editions. After visiting an array of spectacular homes across the country, I can't wait to install underfloor heating in my own house! In my own home, I have cultivated a Japandi style, with a mix of warm Scandinavian tones and textures complemented by Japanese, Korean and Chinese accessories.