6 Ways To Make The Most of Your Finished Basement

Finishing your basement to meet your style and lifestyle creates extra living space (wonderful in a smaller home) and increases your home’s value. We work on quite a few basements here at Obelisk Home, and we’ve come up with a few tips for those of you who are rethinking the function of your basement.

Divide the Function

Most basements have an excess of unused space, this makes it important that you divide the function of your basement into zones of activities. In our recently completed Jared II project, we created four different areas – a TV lounge, wet bar, dining area, and a place for games. We suggest brainstorming what your family needs, then map out those ideas on a floor plan.

Keep It Light

Basements aren’t exactly known for their natural light, you know, because of the whole underground thing. In order to keep your basement from feeling like a dark and cold cave, keep the walls and materials light! This will make the ceilings seem taller and the rooms seem larger.

Continuing the casual elegance of the upstairs into the basement makes it feel like a real part of the house.

Create a Connection

Just because the basement is below your home that doesn’t mean it should feel totally separated. Continue the style and vibe in the rest of your home into your basement. This can be done by keeping the color scheme similar or your finishing materials consistent. You don’t have to match the upstairs, but a consistent design direction will make the basement seem like a real part of the house rather than an afterthought.

Upgrade the Game Table

We love family game night, but we’re not fans of card tables. We suggest opting for a great dining table that can act as a spot for the family to play games and an extra place to dine!

Our Jared II project basement remodel includes a wet bar.

Include a Wet Bar

It’s very common for clients to want a wet bar or mini kitchenette in their basements and we understand why. The entertaining possibilities, extra storage, and convenience are all huge benefits. Often times an unused nook of your basement can become the perfect place to retrofit into a wet bar.

Make it Usable by the Whole Family

Just because it’s a basement that doesn’t mean that it should become the “man cave”. We love a great man cave and we would never suggest wiping them from the face of the earth. But, the idea of a space the entire family can use is much more appealing to us. Keep the decor and furniture durable to ensure that the basement design lasts your family for years to come.