Ways a Finished Basement Could Improve Your Life

We’ve all been there: Life has changed in some way (Adding another child to the family! Kids growing into teenagers! Job changes!) and now we’re feeling the pinch of a home that’s just a little too small or isn’t functioning quite right anymore. We know we need to make some changes, but it’s hard to know the best move to make our home feel comfortable again. One great option is to finish your basement.

An unfinished basement is a wealth of untapped potential. You’re literally sitting on top of so many possible solutions to the ways your home isn’t fitting you well anymore. Basements often contain a lot of square footage that you can leverage to your advantage. Building an addition may not always be possible if you have a small lot or close neighbors, but finishing a basement could be an option–since it’s already part of your house, built into your home’s footprint. Financially, finishing a basement is often less expensive than building an addition since the basic structure is already there.

How a Finished Basement Could Meet Your Needs

More Bedroom Space

Turning an unfinished basement into bedroom space is a great way to let your family spread out a little bit. A basement bedroom can be great for a teenager or young adult, giving them privacy and more independence. If you have out-of-town visitors who like to stop by, a guest suite is an easy way to always have the welcome mat out.

Multi-generational living, where three generations live in the same household, continues to rise. Many people enjoy the relational, financial, and caretaking benefits that come when households are shared. Ensuring that everyone has their own space can be a key factor in making multi-generational households work. A basement suite–including a bedroom, bathroom, living space, and even a kitchen–can be the perfect solution.

Creative Spaces

Maybe more bedroom space isn’t what your family needs right now. A huge benefit of a basement is that it’s a completely blank slate, ready to be used for anything. A multifunctional basement space might be perfect for you. Some creative and helpful ideas include:

• a playroom where messes are contained and out of sight of the rest of the house
• space for hobbies–a craft room that holds everything you need, a music room with acoustic panels on the walls, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, and more.
• a place for entertaining, with a movie room (complete with comfy chairs and a big screen), or a game room (with tables or couches, a ping-pong or pool table, and shelving to hold games and gear).

Work From Home

Working from home might have seemed like a temporary solution during the pandemic, but many people are working remotely permanently now, and the need for a pleasant, quiet home office has never been greater. A finished basement can often be the best place for a home office–especially in busy (noisy!) households. 

A home office in the basement can be bright and cheerful with the addition of recessed lights and other lighting, egress windows, and a well-designed layout. You can create a great workspace and then, at the end of the day, head upstairs and close the door, making it the perfect work-from-home experience.

For students, the basement can be a great place for a homework station. Add some tables or desks with comfortable chairs, well-stocked shelves with everything they might need, and a place to keep backpacks and books, and you can set them up for success. The quiet and distraction-free zone can make for a great place for them to get their work done.

Focus on Health

A home gym or workout room is one of the most popular uses for a finished basement, and it’s easy to see why.

• A home gym is more convenient than a gym membership. No need to pack up your gear and drive across town. Just walk downstairs!
• No membership fees mean you’ll save money.
• You’re more likely to stick to a workout routine if your exercise space is close by and easy to access.
• You can exercise whenever you want.
• A home gym offers privacy.
• You can design the perfect gym for you–the right equipment, layout, and environment.

A More Functional Home

If your home lacks some functionality, you can change that with a finished basement. For example, if you don’t have a mudroom, a basement might offer the perfect place to hang up coats and take off muddy boots, or store sports equipment. A basement laundry room can be big enough to store off-season clothing and contain a large table for folding. 

If you need your basement for storage space, finishing it is still a good idea. You can add built-ins, clothing racks, shelving, and more, customized to your needs. It’s so much more pleasant to find the camping gear or winter coats in a clean, well-lit, organized space than in a dark and damp unfinished basement.

Other Benefits of a Finished Basement

Financially, finishing a basement is often a great move. Increasing your useable square footage means increasing your home’s value. Potential homebuyers love to see a well-done finished basement because of the flexibility the space offers them. And according to Remodeling, a midrange basement remodel can often expect to have a 78.8% return on investment (ROI), and often higher. 

A basement can also potentially be a source of income. Depending on the laws and codes where you live, sometimes it’s possible to turn a basement into a studio apartment or suite and rent it out, meaning a previously unused part of your home could actually make you money. 

A finished basement offers other benefits as well. For busy families, it can provide a place of privacy for growing teens, parents who need their own space, or grandparents who want a quiet place to retreat to.

A finished basement will boost your home’s energy efficiency. Uninsulated basement walls account for some of the heat loss from the house, and damp basement air is harder to heat or cool. By finishing the basement with insulation and drywall, dealing with any moisture issues, and making the bottom floor conditioned space, your whole home will be easier to keep warm or cool. Energy-efficient windows can help make your basement a more pleasant and “green” space. A finished basement is an energy-efficient basement that will affect your entire home’s efficiency, saving you money and reducing your carbon footprint.

Special Considerations

When finishing a basement, there are a few unique issues that need to be addressed. First, it’s important to get the lighting right. There’s nothing more depressing than a dark and dreary space, and because some basements don’t have natural light, without care, they can be a little gloomy. Layering your basement’s lighting will solve this problem! You want to make sure every room has three types of lighting:

• Overhead lighting like recessed lights, ceiling fans with lights, and track lighting.
• Eye-level lighting like wall sconces, accent lights, and vanity lights.
• Tabletop lighting like lamps, under-cabinet lighting, and puck lights.

By taking advantage of any natural lighting that is available and layering lights as much as possible, you can make your basement a cozy and warm space.

Second, basements often have moisture issues that need to be dealt with. You can keep water away from the basement walls from the outside by using French drains, grading the land, and ensuring proper drainage from the roof. Inside the basement, you may need waterproofing, interior drains around the perimeter of the space, and dehumidifiers. Your contractor will often use special insulation and drywall that is meant for spaces with more moisture. 

Third, the right insulation will take your basement from cool and clammy to dry and comfortable. Moisture-resistant green board is a popular choice, but your best bet is to talk to your contractor about what he recommends.

Ready to Get Started?

Finishing your basement is a great option for increasing your home’s usable space and adding functionality. Your options for your basement are vast and you can tailor the space to fit your family’s specific needs. There is a lot to think about when you’re considering finishing your basement and we can help. Our in-house designers can talk you through your needs and wants and come up with the perfect solution for you. Look through our gallery of basements we’ve remodeled–projects our team has completed that we think turned out great. And then check out our Lancaster Home Remodeling Cost Guide to get a sense of what a finished basement project in Lancaster might cost.

When you’re ready to get started, contact us for a consultation, and let’s make your basement the perfect space for you and your family.