Hudson Remodeling

What can you do with that basement space?

Posted 28 June 2019 by Team Hudson

There are two ways to look at an unfinished basement:

1. It’s a dank, scary place full of spiders and probably other gross things.
2. It’s a gold mine just waiting to be tapped!

Since you’re reading this, we know you’re the type of person to look at a basement as a huge remodeling opportunity. Kudos to you! We like you already.

Here are a few ideas for using a basement remodel to turn that dark underground space into a useful, functional and fun room you’ll love to visit.

Art studio or craft area: Let your ideas run wild in a space crafted just to your tastes. Maybe you want a large, open painting studio, or perhaps you’d like to build a photography darkroom into one corner. Maybe you’d like a comfortable nook for your sewing machine with a wall cabinet dedicated to your favorite yards of cloth? Or how about a huge drafting table, large-format printer or sculpting table? Whatever your artistic passion, odds are your basement can become the art studio of your dreams.

Fitness room: That basement space might be perfect for a few pieces of exercise equipment. A stationary bike here, a Nordic Track there, a set of free weights in the corner next to the rowing machine… your basement could make the perfect home gym!

Media center: This one’s becoming a classic basement idea — nice leather couches, large flat-screen television, nearby bathroom, maybe even a fireplace or wet bar. Hudson Remodeling’s carpenters recently added a bar to one home here in Whatcom County, and it’s a real treat!

Library or study: Some man caves are all about sports and video games, while others are decked with book-lined walls framing a large fireplace opposite a desk for studying and a wing-backed chair for reading. If a basement book library sounds like your idea of fun, we’d love to chat with you about ideas!

Laundry room: Perhaps you’re already using your basement as a laundry room. But couldn’t it be so much nicer? Maybe you could use space for a large washbasin or a wall-mounted drying rack? You spend a lot of time doing laundry, and you should be able do it in a renovated laundry room.

Guest apartment: There are so many possibilities here. You could craft a cute space for your mother-in-law to live in close proximity to the family. You could build an apartment that can be rented out on Airbnb or Vrbo. You could create a suite for that day when one of your kids inevitably needs to crash at your house for a month. All of these are wonderful ideas; just be sure to check your local building regulations regarding the addition of any cooking facilities or additional dwelling units (often referred to as ADUs) to your basement.

Home office: Technology is making remote work an increasing possibility these days. Consider carving out some space in your basement for a secluded home office that offers the tranquility of an office with the comforts of proximity to the finer points of home life — like your spouse, kids and the coffee maker. Capitalize on the natural light coming from large window wells to improve the quality of the workspace.

Playroom: One of the high points of remodeling your basement to serve as the kids’ play area is that you – and your guests – will rarely have to see whatever mess your children have going on down there. Plus, a basement playroom would give the kids space to be a little louder than they might get to be elsewhere in the house. A win for both kids and parents! Whatever your idea for your unfinished basement, please give us a call if you’d like to talk about plans. Hudson Remodeling has years of experience with many types of home remodels throughout Whatcom County.

Tags: ADU, art studio, basement, fitness room, guest apartment, home office, media room, playroom
Posted in Basement Remodeling, General Contractor | Comments Off on What can you do with that basement space?