Basement Rehab: Rec Rooms are Out, Living Spaces Are In

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, homeowners, but basements are out and extended living spaces are in. The area of the home that used to be used as the rec room downstairs, or that gym you always wanted but never used, is now falling to the way side, only to be reborn as real space, with real purpose.

We have all seen the old remodel shows where the basement is that section of the house left with the least amount of remodel money. Red carpets and concrete walls, leaky water stains and not so great views of the hot water heater, are common characteristics of unfinished basements. But, what if I were to tell you, basements are the new hot spot in home remodels? No longer is this unpopular room left to fend for itself with the scraps left over from the real remodel, it is time to give back to the basement.

When remodeling a basement, homeowners need to think of the space as just that, space. Not as a place to store extra furniture or hide unwanted pieces. The basement should be given purpose and meaning, just as the other rooms in the home have purpose. Recent trends have moved toward the basement space being used as everything from master bedrooms to guest suites, main living rooms and even kitchens. Here in lies the first rule in rehabbing a basement, give the space meaning.

For a homeowner who has chosen to use the basement as a main living area, the decor should be an extension of the rest of the home's decor. Moving from the main level of the home to the lower level, should feel as though the entire space has one feel and one meaning. Mimicking colors, furniture styles and lighting will bring continuity to the new added living space.

Floor coverings are also very important when rehabbing a home's basement. Commonly covered in throw rugs or extra carpeting, homeowners wishing to use the basement as an extension of the home's living space, should spend the extra money needed on great floors. Depending on the ceiling height and the wall make-up, hardwood floors or carpeted floors can be used in a basement rehab. Carpeting would be best suited in basements with low ceilings or concrete walls where hardwoods would echo loudly. Hardwoods, on the other hand, would be great for basements finished with dry wall.

The entry way to the basement, is yet another detail in transforming the space into a meaningful living area. While most basements have a common straight paneled door leading to the out of doors, a traditional French door would add much needed natural light as well as a finishing touch to the space. No matter how great the basement rehab, if the door is left as a traditional basement door, it will all be for naught.

Homeowners will need to take into consideration the major appliances housed in the basement, when planning to rehab the living space. Hot water heaters, as well as, washers and dryers, are commonly stored in the basement areas of a home. Homeowners need not fret these appliances. A simple wall framing, and a small room can be built quite inexpensively to remove these appliances from site.

If a homeowner is rehabbing a basement from scratch (unfinished basement), repairs may need to be finalized before decorating can begin. Cracked floors, water leaks, damp walls, drafts, electrical outlets and dry wall are the most common repairs and builds needed to finish a basement properly.

Homeowners who view the basement space as an extension of a home, not only enjoy the space more, but increase the homes value as well. It is much less expensive to finish a basement as a living space, than it is to build on to a current home's square footage. The times of ugly eyesores for basements is out, homeowners. The new trend is finished living space that melds in with the home's style, decor and feel. Extend your life, finish your basement.