By Lizzie Weakley
Many homeowners don't fully utilize their basements; some even ignore their basement altogether. Rather than being wasted space, a basement can be great for storage, working areas and recreation. Here are four ideas for making the most of your basement by changing up the floor plan:
Make a Secluded Office Space
Thanks to their natural sound insulation, basements are often some of the best places for home offices. Even if you have other people home upstairs, you can retreat to your basement office and work without interruption. To create an office space, you'll need to wall off part of your basement and install a door, because you'll need privacy while you're working. Make sure you leave enough space for your desk, a chair and any other furniture you want in your new office.
Create a Home Movie Theater
In addition to extra office space, your basement can be the perfect place to put a home theater. With a basic projector and a large wall to mount the screen, you can enjoy the feel of a theater in the comfort of your home. Add a few chairs, a good sound system and a fridge for snacks to create the perfect space to watch your favorite movies with friends and family.
Make a Game Room
If you're thinking of going for a more open floor plan, you might consider adding a game room to your basement. A pool table, dart board or foosball table will give you and your family everything you need to have fun evenings at home. If you plan on creating a game room, you'll probably need to do some wall repositioning to give yourself space. This is especially true if a pool table is on your list, since you'll need room for it, as well as plenty of space around it to play comfortably.
Create Your Dream Workshop
If you enjoy woodworking, crafting, metalwork or another hobby that requires room for specialized equipment, you can turn your basement into the perfect workshop. Opening up the floor plan a bit can give you lots of space for your tools and a large workbench area. Don't forget to include storage space for materials so that you always have the things you need on hand for the items you love making.
These are only a few of the hundreds of possible creative uses for your basement. If you've been ignoring your basement, you've been missing out. Consider changing the floor plan and renovating the space so that you can make full use of one of the largest spaces in your home!
Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her three-year-old Husky, Snowball. For more information on wall repositioning, click here.
