Let’s face it: the basement is often one of the most overlooked areas of a home. It’s often a dark and sometimes scary area where we send the kids so they don’t mess up the rest of the home.
We are fortunate to have a walk-out basement in our home, which provides a lot of natural light to all of the rooms in the basement. We always planned to make this area a well-used part of our home. When we built the home, we designed the basement with 9-foot ceilings to help the area feel even more open and comfortable. Our teenagers and their friends often hang out in the basement, but it is also the central area for TV watching in our home and a place where our whole family likes to spend time together.
Since our basement is only seen by family and teenagers, it has been decorated in stages, resulting in an eclectic mix of design styles, ranging from rustic to contemporary.
Our basement design lacks cohesion, and the space feels disjointed. Different areas of the basement seem disconnected from one another. The fireplace and doors to the basement bedroom have a rustic vibe, while the kitchenette and color scheme lean towards a contemporary feel. The television area is well-used, but there is a large open space in the room that is not utilized. This area was great when our kids were small, as they used it to play and build forts. However, as teenagers, this space just sits empty. This lack of unity made the basement feel less like a functional living space and more like a collection of separate, unrelated rooms. Lastly, the absence of personal touches and decor made the basement feel impersonal and uninviting. Without these elements, the space lacked character and warmth, making it feel like an afterthought instead of a part of the home.
And so, our journey to revamp and refresh our basement begins. We’ve come up with a vision board to guide our new design. We plan to remove the rustic elements of the room and update them to be more cohesive with the contemporary elements. Our goal is to transform it into a space that we not only love but also find functional. We are excited to share our experience with you, hoping to inspire your own redesign journey.
Why even bother with the basement?:
- Approximately 60% of U.S. homes have a basement.
- Basements make up approximately 1,000 square feet of space in an average American home.
- Basement remodeling can offer a return on investment of up to 70%.
- Creating a cohesive design in a basement can increase the overall value of a home.
- Basements can be transformed into various functional spaces such as home offices, gyms, or entertainment rooms.
