Basement ideas can include a variety of rooms, such as home offices and mudrooms. What’s key to a basement renovation is creating enough light, successfully dividing up the space if it’s open plan, and making the decor aesthetically pleasing as well as sympathetic to the rest of the home.
Some basement design ideas are more whimsical, such as this child-friendly living room that features crisp white built-in shelving and a bright sofa. Other basement designs are more functional, such as this laundry room or a gorgeous bar.
Home Theater
Whether it’s a modern movie theater design or an eclectic mix of styles, a basement home theater is a great way to bring the family together for movies and entertainment. Add a large screen and comfy theater seating to create the perfect space for relaxing. A bold wall color helps to draw attention to the television or projector display, while a gallery arrangement of favorite art and family photos adds personal touches.
Home cinema designs range from the traditional, which mimics the style of real movie theaters with stadium-style seating and a high-profile projector, to the contemporary, with a focus on smart electronics and sleek furnishings. No matter what you choose for your basement movie room, be sure to include plenty of soundproofing materials to help block out ambient noise. Resilient channel drywall is one popular choice, along with the installation of extra fiberglass batt insulation in the ceiling and walls.
The home theater idea is also an excellent opportunity to be creative with your basement color scheme. Deep hues like moody gray, sapphire blue, or forest green provide an ideal backdrop for your media room, and you can get even more dramatic with a richly colored accent wall. Add a starburst chandelier for flair and patterned carpeting to tie the room’s look together.
A basement home theater is a wonderful place to include a bar, too, so you can entertain guests while enjoying your movie nights or sports sessions. Set up a bar with built-in cabinets to showcase your favorite liquor selections, then create a comfortable sitting area to relax in between rounds of beer and popcorn. You can also install a wine cellar or tasting table in the basement to make the most of your new entertaining space.
Home Office
Often, the best basement home office ideas focus on creating a functional space with plenty of storage. Bookshelves or track system shelving are great basement options for storing large items like books and files while offering plenty of display space. A cozy sofa or chaise lounge is an ideal addition for taking a break from working to relax and recharge.
Finished basements have low ceilings, so it’s important to include design elements that draw the eye up and add a sense of height. One of the easiest ways to do this is by adding wall art or other decorative elements that extend up toward the ceiling. Here, soft blue wainscoting and a simple wall sticker extend up to the ceiling, adding a sense of openness and visual interest to the space.
A basement home office is a perfect place to experiment with decor styles you may be reluctant to try in other areas of the house. For example, a bold wallpaper might look fantastic in the basement, where it can be enjoyed by family and guests while remaining relatively out of the way.
Whether your basement home office is used to host Zoom meetings with clients or as a kid-friendly homework zone for the whole family, you’ll want it to be well-lit and comfortable. Bright overhead lighting is a must, but it’s also a good idea to invest in some lamps or other light sources that provide softer lighting for reading and relaxing.
Wine Cellar
Wine cellars provide a fully climate-controlled environment for storing large wine collections. A cellar should be heavily insulated and outfitted with a cooling system to maintain a temperature between 55 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature range is optimal for aging wines. The insulated space should also be fitted with wine racks that provide ample storage and display for the collection. Some wine cellar designs include a tasting room where bottles can be opened and enjoyed in an environment conducive to maximizing the flavor of the wine.
Aged wines are increasingly viewed as investments because of the potential for substantial increases in value over time. To increase the chances of a wine increasing in value, it must be properly stored and kept in ideal conditions. This is one of the reasons that many wine collectors turn their basements into a wine cellar.
Investing in a wine cellar can be expensive, but it’s also a great way to enjoy your favorite vintages. If a full bar isn’t possible for your basement design, look for slim bar ideas to create a functional wine-serving area. A simple wooden wine rack can be a beautiful way to store and display your collection.
When deciding on the floor material for your wine cellar, opt for something that is durable and easy to clean. Tile and concrete are good choices. Cork wood floors are another option. Opt for dim lighting in your cellar to reduce the risk of light damaging the wine.
Wine cellars must be designed to protect the wines from light, heat, and humidity. Cellars are often located in the home’s basement, and should be heavily insulated to provide a fully climate-controlled environment for long-term wine storage. The walls should be constructed of 2″ x 4″ studs with R12 insulation or higher. A moisture barrier is also important, and should be installed around the walls.
Craft Room or Music Room
A basement is the ideal place for a craft room or music room, as it’s usually soundproofed and can easily accommodate a piano or other musical instruments. A home art studio can also thrive in the space by bringing in work tables, pegboard wall storage and a variety of other accessories to inspire creativity. Similarly, a hobby room can become an ultimate retreat by incorporating a home library with a comfy couch or a yoga or meditation area complete with a daybed.
Basements can be a great place for the whole family to hang out, as it’s often a more informal living space than other rooms in the home. This family room has an awesome floor-to-ceiling stone accent wall, a modern gas fireplace and plenty of comfortable seating, creating a cozy spot to relax.
If you like to host parties, a basement bar is a great idea for your finished basement ideas and designs. Line a wall with bottles and glasses for a classic look that’s sure to impress your guests. Or, opt for a slim bar design that takes up less space while still giving you the same amount of room to mix up your signature drinks.
Having a dedicated playroom for kids is another way to make the most of your finished basement. This kid-friendly basement features a cozy sectional, an abundance of storage and plenty of toys to encourage learning and fun. The room also includes a slide, a tent and a chalkboard wall for creative expression.
Having separate spaces for different functions in your home can help keep your main living areas uncluttered and clean, so consider grouping super-useful and desirable rooms in the basement to keep your upstairs more manageable. You can use barn doors to separate areas completely or add curtains, screens and accordion doors for a more temporary transition between spaces.
Sports Themed Room
A sports-themed room can be a fun and functional way to use your basement. For example, if your kids love baseball and other athletic games, you could deck out their bedroom with sport themes. You can also add sports memorabilia to their rooms to create a fan zone where they can gather with friends and family to watch their favorite teams play.
If your kid is a big baseball fan, you might decorate their room with MLB or NFL team colors to help them root for the home squad. Alternatively, you could go with a more subtle look by using a blue-and-white color palette and adding team-themed decor like a baseball mural or a framed baseball autograph. Another idea is to deck out a kids’ room with sports-themed bedding and rugs. This is a great way to make a small space feel bigger and allow them to express their personality.
You can also turn a basement into a sports-themed recreation room or bar. This cool gray basement features a home bar, air hockey game table and sports memorabilia display. This is a perfect place for your family and friends to gather and enjoy the game while playing a friendly match.
This sports-themed basement is also a home workout room. You can create your own personal gym with a wall-mounted TV and inexpensive birch plywood shelves for displaying workout equipment. The striped wallpaper adds a fun pop to the room.
You can transform your dingy basement into a sleek and modern speakeasy-worthy bar with this design. The neutral color painted ceiling is a nice contrast to the dark wood accent walls and bar stools. You can add a more dramatic touch to your space by including a three-dimensional terracotta backsplash and antique mirror accents.