Basement Remodel Design Concept

I have been working behind the scenes on a personal project: our basement. We have lived in our home for about 8 years now and have decided to finally give in to finishing our basement out. Like many others, this wasn't the house we intended to live in long-term but the interest rates had other plans, so we find ourselves maxing out every inch of our current home. I thought it would be fun and helpful to take you along the process and show you how I approach all design projects for my clients. I have found that designing for myself is much harder than designing for my clients. Alas, let's dig into the design concept and mood board.

Our goal is to maximize this space by including built-in cabinetry. Our house has very little closets, and essentially no storage space. To address that we have put a significant focus of our dollars into custom cabinetry. We will have a stand-alone furniture piece for kids stuff, a storage banquette bench for all of our games, a wet bar with cabinetry, and built-in bookshelves/ cabinets.

I start every project with inspiration which often includes a pinterest board. To view my board for our basement project, click here. Then after all my inspiration images are gathered, I like to create a virtual mood board and physical mood board (see above). What is driving this design is the floral painting found on ebay and my favorite paint color that I have been dying to use for awhile- Benjamin Moore's Golden Retreiver. From there I pulled some of my favorite fabric samples and created a scheme.

Secondly, I started to draft the walls to create a space plan for the footprint of our basement. I knew we wanted a TV/ lounge room or "snug" as it is called in the UK. We needed a room that could serve as a home office and then evolve into a bedroom, a bathroom, and an area for a wet bar. See the floorplan above. I wanted the basement to feel open yet have distinct areas. One of the issues I needed to tackle was creating a natural transition from the tile to the carpet. We needed tile in the wetbar area which also is the room that has the only outside entrance into the basement. I definitely did not want to deal with cleaning dirty carpet on a regular basis. To create that transition I created a wide cased opening.

Lastly I created soffit plans and cabinetry plans to address our storage needs as seen above. In my next blog post i'll be sharing the details of the soffit placement, cabinetry, and the lighting plan. Thank you for following along!

FAQs

What should I consider before remodeling my basement?

Ask yourself: how would I use this space? What activities do I envision happening here? What needs do you have that aren’t being met in the upstairs areas? That will guide you when creating the basement floorplan.

Do I need permits for a basement remodel?

Yes, especially if you plan to resell your home.

How can I make a basement feel bright and welcoming?

Good lighting and not just recessed lighting everywhere. You want to layer in your lighting with table lamps, wall sconces, and flush-mount lighting. Also, consider not painting the walls white! This is especially true for rooms without natural light. Walls that are painted white with no windows are dull and uninviting. Consider painting a color!

What are the best flooring options for a basement?

Basements should be treated as hero spaces so we need our flooring to perform. With that being said, I stay away from LVP or LVT. I would choose a high quality carpet that can withstand the wear and tear and/or tile. Both are timeless.

How do I maximize space in a small basement?

Built-in storage if you can! Consider built in bench seating with storage benches, built-in bookcases and shelves.

How long does a basement remodel take?

Anywhere from 3 weeks to 6 months. It all depends on your contractor and the availability of materials.

How can I make sure my basement remodel adds value to my home?

By treating the basement as an extension of your home and designing it just as you would your main living areas. Adding layered lighting and choosing quality materials (i.e. flooring, ceiling and wall treatments, and plumbing) is where you will get the most value.