A basement is a valuable commodity in today’s housing market. The days of the basement being the long forgotten room at the bottom of the house or being the name of your storage or junk room have long since passed.
A basement allows you to make that dream room you’ve always wanted to make, whether it’s a: home cinema, recreation or games room, music studio, wine cellar or even a home library. And that’s just some of the choices, as there are literally dozens or possible types of room you could turn your basement into.
To make many of these rooms you should really make your basement waterproof (if it isn’t already) – for which you might want to take advantage of our basement waterproofing service – but once you’ve gotten this out of way you can then start designing and building your dream room.
But with all choices available where do you start? Well to help with that we’ve made a list of some of the most popular rooms people have turned their waterproof basement into.
Basement Music Studio
Many people have the secret ambition of being a bestselling globetrotting musician or would simply be happy having a place to record their own music.
A basement music studio is the ideal solution to these dreams and while it might sound like a complicated and expensive build it might be easier than you think. If you learn the basics you’d be surprised just how far you can get without needing to hire outside help.
Basement Cinema
This one is a really popular and while it might be expensive if you go all out on it, it can also be done on a budget. You can design your cinema to fit your friends and family or even just for yourself in you want to.
You could also choose to go for a big flat screen TV instead of a projection system and then of course there’s always the many extras you could have – vending machines, drink machines and popcorn makers are all popular choices.
Basement Art Room
A much more simple choice compared to rooms like a basement cinema, a basement art room can be quite a simple room. Plus the added benefit of your basement being waterproof means it will be safe to store any art supplies.
And while an art room could be quite simple you could if you wanted let all your crazy ideas flow. Want to have lots of easels set up and have a pottery wheel set up, or a sculpture space? Go for it. You could also have your own little gallery set up in the room as well.
Basement Aquarium
This one is admittedly a more complex undertaking and unless you’re prepared to do the research you might need to get outside professional help in the building of your aquarium. But once it’s built you’ll have your own undersea world to explore.
Watching fish and other sea creatures swim around is something almost everyone finds relaxing and it will be sure to be a big hit with your friends and family.
Basement Library
One for the book lovers out there – and no it doesn’t have to just be rows of book shelves – this is your own personal library so decorate it how you like. Beanbags or leather chairs and a place to display your prized books, it will surely be a room you’ll spend hours in, so make it as comfortable as possible.
This doesn’t have to be just hardbacks and paperbacks either, graphic novels and manga collections are very popular and your own personal library would give you a place to read them all in peace.
Basement Wine Cellar
The wine enthusiast’s dream room, a wine cellar is the perfect place for you to store and sample your wine, plus it’s a great bragging point to bring up when you’re with friends and family.
The wine cellar doesn’t have to be just a place to store your wine either. After all, if you have the space you could always make your own little bar or just simply add some plush seats so you have a place to taste your wine in comfort.
Basement Rec Room
Short for recreation room, a rec room can be many different things. It’s all about having your own room just to relax and hang out with friends and family, or if you prefer just enjoy your own company.
So a rec room can have many things in it, although things like pool or snooker tables are common fixtures. But really a rec room can be a hybrid of many of the rooms we’ve talked about so far, so if you’re thinking of building one then just let your imagination run wild.
Basement Bar
Basement bars are the natural extension of the home bars people have today – you know the kind, the small bar counter with some bottles and pint levers. As nice as they might be they’re usually quite small and they don’t really replicate the experience of going to an actual bar.
A basement bar on the other hand gives you a way to build your own dream bar, and you just know that’s likely to impress your friends… You could design your bar based on a particular theme or even try and recreate a famous fictional one, such as the Rover’s Return or Queen Vic!
