What to Think About Including When Finishing Your Basement

Finishing your basement is an exciting process, and it’s something most homeowners typically only update once in a home. Make sure you do it right and include everything you need as you make your plans. Here are four absolute necessities to include in your features when finishing your basement.

Guest Room and Guest Bathroom

The obvious use for a basement is always a guest room and bathroom, but don’t take these things for granted. You never know when you’ll need the extra space and having an additional bedroom and bathroom always increases your home’s value. Consider adding a guest bedroom and bathroom to your basement plan, and try to construct it to code so it can be considered a ‘legal’ bedroom and bathroom for resale purposes.

Kitchen or Kitchenette

Depending on the size of your basement, you may want to think about including a kitchen or kitchenette. Having a separate kitchen makes get-togethers and parties more convenient and kitchens are also great for any guests who might be staying with you in the long-term. Having access to a kitchen makes guests feel more at home and independent. Consider including a dishwasher if you anticipate using your basement kitchen regularly.

Media Room

Basements make great media rooms since natural light can be hard to come by down here. Take advantage of your dark basement and put it to good use by creating a media room. Be sure to make the room bigger than you think you’ll need. There’s nothing worse than pouring thousands of dollars into a room, only to find out it’s too small for your movie parties. Make it large enough to accommodate those Super Bowl parties, family get-togethers, as well as your kids’ sleepovers. Remember to include a space to hold all of your movie and projector equipment. Hire a professional electrical company to help you plan, if necessary. They can Compare Electricity Rates for you and will be able to include enough outlets and other extras to make this space worth the effort.

Extra Storage

Basements seem to be the catch-all area for every family’s junk. Everything from camping equipment, to hockey gear, to old treadmills, somehow ends up being stored in the basement. But you’re not spending thousands of dollars finishing your basement so you can stare at your ugly stand-alone freezer as soon as you come down the stairs. Plan a storage space large enough to accommodate all of your family’s junk, as well as things that you consider eyesores and want hidden from view.

Your finished basement is going to add a lot of additional living space for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. Think your plan through, and with a little time and effort, your space will be everything you hoped it would be.