When it comes to getting the best out of interior space, the basement is the place that most homeowners concentrate on. Basements are typically spacious rooms with an open-floor plan making them ideal for a range of fun uses. Before converting a lackluster or neglected basement into an attractive functional space, you first need to have a clear idea of how you will use your newly finished basement. Here are five ideas for making your basement come to life.

1)      Children’s playroom

A basement can be made into a safe, comfortable space for children to play. By having the playroom in the basement, parents can keep noisy kids out of their hair but close enough to keep an eye on.  Like all children’s rooms, basement playrooms need to have kid-friendly flooring, furniture, materials and fixtures. Utility features like electrical wires, gas pipes, and water heaters need to be secured and enclosed for safety purposes. 

2)      Family room

With the right use of space and décor, basements can be converted into excellent family rooms. Large windows can be installed to let in light and make an underground family room more inviting. Smartly-chosen furniture, ambient lighting, and decorative touches all work together to make a basement family room feel warm and livable.

3)      Adult game room

Many people relish the idea of having their very own game room. Some features that can be included in a basement game room include: pool table; poker table; dart board; skee ball table; foosball table; and more. The possibilities are endless. Keeping the floor plan spacious and open encourages a sense of fun and movement, and sports-related décor can add a certain atmosphere to a game room.

4)      Home office

Basements can prove to be the ideal space for taking care of finances and work-related projects in the comfort of your home. Their out-of-the-way location provides the peace and quiet needed for high-concentration tasks or brainstorming.  Making sure the basement is properly insulated is important since many people can spend long hours working in their home office. Superb waterproofing is also crucial since home offices tend to have computers and other equipment that can easily be damaged in the event of flooding.

5)      Exercise room

It is fairly easy to convert a basement into an exercise room by simply adding a few small pieces of exercise equipment; however, some people go all out and transform their basements into miniature versions of the gym. Basement gyms require special flooring such as rubber padding to minimize the possibility of falls and injury during exercise.