How to Maximize Space When Finishing a Basement
Finished basements make excellent home additions for so many reasons, not the least of which is expanding the available living space. However, designing rooms below ground forces considerations unlike those in other parts of the home. Assess your basement, identify the challenges you may have to work around, and design a layout that makes the most of the space you have.
Low ceilings
Many new-construction homes offer the option of pouring basement foundations with higher ceiling heights. If you’re not fortunate enough to have this advantage, or live in an older home with lower basement ceilings, you may wish to consider leaving the ceiling open and unfinished, and spraying it all black for an industrial look. Another, though admittedly expensive option, involves breaking up the existing concrete floor in the basement and excavating an additional few inches from the floor, then re-pouring the concrete.
Layout
One tricky aspect of basement design stems from the I-beams and support poles common in most excavated spaces–most of which are integral to the structure of the home, and cannot be moved. Here’s where working with a professional architect pays off; someone with the right skills and experience will know how to incorporate the less attractive but required elements of your basement into its design–whether hidden in walls and soffits, or disguised in columns or archways.
Window wells
Once again, if your home is newer it may already have full egress windows (meaning windows with room for escape) with window wells in place. Many older homes, however, have only the small, high windows at ground level in the basement. If your basement has this type of window and you plan to add a bedroom in your finish, you will need to add at least one egress window with a window well in order to meet current building codes. Many companies offer this service exclusively, or–with some muscle and the right equipment–it’s a feasible DiY project.
Narrow staircase
Perhaps the easiest fix of all to alleviate the cramped feeling in a basement is to open one or both sides of the staircase and replace them with either a half-wall or a stair-rail and balusters. No longer will the entrance to the basement feel like a narrow tunnel! Opening even one side of the staircase makes a remarkable difference in the amount of light and perceived space.Install handrail and balusters to match those on the main floor of the home to make the transition to the basement seamless–as if it has always been a part of your finished space.
Space-saving accessories
Once the basement is finished, take time to thoughtfully consider how best to organize, place, and store your belongings and furnishings. One popular space-saving solution is the installation of a Murphy Bed–one that folds up onto the wall when not in use. Look for furnishings that double as storage, or appliances that conserve space by stacking.
Paint and light
Don’t overlook the strategic use of paint colors and the placement of lighting to expand space visually. Choosing light colors for the walls and ceilings will lend an open feeling to a basement, and even if natural light is limited, the installation of ample canned (recessed) lighting and the artful placement of lamps further adds to the bright, cheerful appeal.