Finished Basement Ideas

There are many reasons why you may be considering finishing the basement in your home. Whether you want to create more recreational space for the family, you are planning to build a home office for yourself, or you are seeking to sell the home soon and want to increase your return on investment, an unfinished basement is a great place to start. This in-depth guide will provide you with a solid jumping-off point as you begin thinking of finished basement ideas.

Finishing Existing Structures in Your Basement

Before you start thinking about the big-ticket additions and structural changes that you want to make in your basement, you must determine how you will go about finishing existing structures in the basement that may currently be exposed such as concrete floors and wood ceilings with visible nails and wires. Let’s examine a few ideas for finishing these structures to your liking.

Choosing the Right Flooring for a Finished Basement

When choosing the flooring for your finished basement, you have so many options to choose from in this day and age. Here are just a few of those options:

• Engineered Wood Flooring: Unfortunately, you can’t (or shouldn’t, at least) lay hardwood flooring in a basement — being underground, there is simply too much exposure to moisture in a basement, which could lead to both warping and mold/mildew growth. Engineered wood flooring is an excellent alternative, however. It looks and feels like real hardwood flooring, which means you can get that same high-end feel in your finished basement. 

• Carpeting: If your home is located in a relatively dry area with infrequent flooding, carpeting could potentially be a viable idea to consider for the flooring in your finished basement. When made with the right materials, basement carpeting dries much faster than wood in the event of flooding, and you don’t have to worry about warping. And of course, carpeting is a great option for finishing your basement flooring if you have children who are going to be playing down there. 

• Vinyl Plank Flooring: If you’re expecting a decent amount of foot traffic in your basement, vinyl plank flooring could be your best option. And not just because it is durable and easy to clean — it looks great, too! Plus, vinyl plank flooring is highly resistant to moisture, which means no damage during floods or heavy rainfall. 

• Tile Flooring: If you go with ceramic tile flooring for your finished basement project, you will get essentially the same benefits that you’d get from vinyl plank flooring. However, tile is a bit more durable and arguably prettier in some cases, and it’s also more expensive than vinyl plank. But if it suits your budget and preferences, tile flooring is a great idea to consider as you plan your finished basement project!

Finishing the Basement Stairs

If your basement stairs are safe and in decent condition, you will simply need to finish them with carpeting, paint, or varnish that matches the style of your flooring and other aspects of the finished basement. However, if you need to make major structural changes to your stairs, you will need to consult with a contractor to ensure that the work is done properly and to your liking. Let us know if you need help making custom renovations to your stairs.

Finishing Your Basement’s Exposed Ceiling

One of the main priorities when finishing your basement is to cover up all the exposed nails, wiring, ductwork, etc. that is visible when you look up at the ceiling. Two of the most popular options are drywall and drop or suspended ceiling. A drywall ceiling offers a slightly more polished look for a finished basement, but drop ceilings still look great and allow for much simpler maintenance when something they’re covering up needs to be fixed. A coffered ceiling is another option to consider if you have a basement with a low ceiling, as coffered ceilings create the illusion of more space — plus they look gorgeous!

Adding New Structures to Your Finished Basement

Adding new structures to your basement could be even more exciting than the process of making the basic structures look beautiful. Let’s examine some potential ideas to consider:

Finished Basement Bar

Who hasn’t dreamed of having a personal bar in their home at one point? A finished basement is the perfect location for adding a bar — you can even plan the entire theme of the finished basement around your bar! 

Finished Basement Bedroom

Whether you need more space for a growing family or you simply want to add a comfortable guest bedroom, a finished basement is a great place to add a bedroom. All you need to do is determine where the space will be added, then have a contractor assemble new walls that connect to the existing walls in your basement.

Start Planning Your Finished Basement Project Today

Are you ready to start planning the finished basement of your dreams? If you’re eager to get started but aren’t sure where to begin — or if even if you have a good idea about what you want — TJ’s Painting & Renovations Co. is the team to turn to! Our contractors and professional painters have the skills and experience needed to construct a finished basement that meets or exceeds your expectations. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help with your finished basement project, and we’ll run some ideas by you so we can get the ball rolling.