Basement Design

The first step in basement design is to determine how you will use the space. Typical usage might include a sauna, theater room, pool table area, bar area, large storage closet, and space for a workout gym. You can also intend to do your laundry in the basement, and of course, your primary utilities and mechanical systems are there.

So once you figure out what your basement design will include, you have to decide where each of your choices will fit. You can't move the cement walls, or the columns, so you have to work around these existing conditions.

Make a floor plan. If you aren't able to do it yourself, hire somebody to do it. You're not doing anything structural, and you're not compromising any mechanical systems, so you don't necessarily need an architect or engineer. If you can find a young person in the process of becoming an architect, that person will be able to produce a blueprint of your basement design, without costing you too much.

The plan has to be to scale, so you can accurately determine how everything will fit. If you have any alcoves or other small areas, try to work with the smaller items in those spots. For example: behind the stairs is a good spot for either a sauna or a storage closet, or a laundry area, or a 1/2 bath. None of these require a lot of space.

On the other hand, the bar/entertainment area should be open, with the "gaming" (pool table, ping pong, darts, etc.) area connected. A home theater should be in a room by itself, closed off from everything else, and about 200 sq. ft. would be the smallest room I'd recommend - larger if you have a big family. 15 x 15 is a nice size. This will give you room for about 10 comfortable seats and a popcorn machine.

The three biggest potential problems are water, vapor, and humidity. You can find more information about this at remodeling basements. Even if your basement is dry, a vapor barrier is a good idea. Not all basements stay dry (evidenced by the fact that many basements are not). So do what you can to prevent a future problem.

There are basement waterproofing systems available. There are also removable panel systems for access to the concrete walls in the event that conditions change in the future. One or more of these should be incorporated into your basement design criteria.

Another challenge is the columns. Most homeowners try to hide them by building the walls around them. This seems very restricting to how you use the space. You want your basement design to flow, and that might not happen if you locate your walls to hide your columns.

You can wrap the columns so that they become part of the decor. If you are putting any wallpaper, or wood, in your basement, you can put that around the columns. If you're using ceramic tiles somewhere, you can box out the columns and apply tiles to the enclosures. People expect to see columns in a basement. It's not terrible if you have a few that are exposed.

The same goes for any exposed pipes or beams that run along the ceiling. These should be boxed out if you have the height to do this without creating a potential headache. And all of your lighting should be recessed so that you don't have them hanging down to where people might bump into them.

Lastly, try not to have a basement design with a hard turn at the bottom of the stairs. The bottom of the stairs should be open to the entertainment area. So don't design a corridor (or any walls) to greet people when they reach the last step.

Within the theater area, you want to have dark colors and a black ceiling - a key element for a vivid picture. Ideally, you don't want any windows - unlike a gym area where a window or two is desirable. High-hat lighting, with dimmers will give you control of the lighting. For more insights into building a home theater, see the link below.

A gym could be as little as a treadmill, or as much as - free weights, a NordicTrack, and elliptical machine, a universal gym, and a stationary bike, with a TV on the wall. Depending on your commitment to physical training, and the amount of space available, you could need anything from 20 sq. ft. to 100 sq. ft. Rubber flooring, or carpet, would work better in this area than ceramic.

Which brings me to how to "break up" the various spaces. Flooring is a good way to do it. Placing beams in the ceiling will work. Or you could simply change the paint color on the walls. But the whole basement will look better if you do something to distinguish between the various uses.

For information about tankless-water-heaters, click here.

If you want to know about home theaters, click here.

And here's a page about basement bar ideas.

Your basement can be a great living area which brings your family lots of enjoyment. Any questions or comments about this page, contact me about basement design here.

If you're planning a large renovation, or building a new home, think about getting your hands on HOW TO CONTROL YOUR REMODELING PROJECT. It will save you time, money, and aggravation. You can learn more about it by clicking here.

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