Consider These Basement Finishing Tips

1. Consider These Basement Finishing Tips {

2. Synopsis

3. Making Your Basement Into an Entertaining Space  If you’ll be using the entertainment area to watch movies or sports games, it’s a good idea to install a mini bar or kitchenette in the basement. There are some elements of this that you can do yourself, such as finding the right materials for cabinets and finishing the surfaces of drawers, but it’s probably best to hire a contractor to handle this task for you. Depending on how large your basement is, you may want to include a refrigerator or sink that isn’t as large as the ones in your main kitchen, but you may still want these appliances to coordinate with the ones in your larger kitchen. Work with a construction professional to build shelves to hold food or quality beverages, or to have a microwave or small oven installed in the basement in a way that is safe and in keeping with the rest of the wiring in your house.

4. Room Conversion Ideas for Your Basement  When it comes to remodeling the basement, post installation and stair railing are important parts of the project. These redesign elements are fairly simple, and you may be able to do it yourself if you have a finish nailer and some quality wood glue. If you’re installing new railing for the remodel project, some careful planning to help you complete the project efficiently. If you’ve got large furniture pieces that you want to include in the basement, don’t build the railings right away. Bring the large pieces into the basement space first so that you won’t have a more difficult time getting furniture into the basement space.  It’s also a great idea to add carpeting if the basement is significantly colder than the rest of the home. Quality carpet is best, so if you have to adjust your remodel completion timeline to make sure that you get the right carpet, know that the adjustment will be well worth it in the long run. Quality carpet helps to insulate the room and make it comfortable to walk in the space. This is essential if the basement will be converted into a bedroom, since a room that is too cold can be very uncomfortable to sleep in and could lead to health issues.

5. Ideal Colors to Use for Your Basement Renovations  Neutral hues like tan and brown are ideal if you’re going to use the basement for more than one purpose. If the basement will be an additional den, a tan wall makes it easier for you to change the furniture in the basement as often as you want, since the sofas and chairs that you select will always coordinate with the walls. This is also true if the basement will be a guest bedroom. Tan or medium brown walls give you lots of options when you want to change the bedding or furniture in the bedroom space. You can make the space more attractive by painting the molding or siding in a gold or bronze color.  If you’re turning the basement into a children’s play area, it’s perfectly fine to play with brighter colors. A bold shade of blue or green is ideal for the walls, and can make your children feel safe and inspired to learn when they step into the room. If you want to use yellow, this color can promote excitement, so a medium or light variation of this color is best. Reds and oranges are also great colors to use for an indoor playground.  If you’re a fan of purple and have lots of furniture and decorative pieces that will coordinate with this hue, purple walls are a beautiful choice for the basement. Purple is a symbol of royalty, but can also symbolize balance since purple is a mixture of blue (a cool color) and red (a warm color). A light shade of purple can work well if you’re decorating a bedroom in the basement, since you use both silver and gold furniture accents in the room. A deep shade of purple like eggplant is a great choice if you’re using other jewel tones like hunter green and ruby in your furniture, drapes or throw pillows.

6. Things to Consider When Finishing Your Basement  Make sure there are no water issues in the basement before you start building. Drips coming through the walls or small pools of water in various areas of the basement are a sign that there is leakage somewhere. Look outside to ensure that the ground and foundation are not wet or contain openings that could lead to water damage. Ask a plumber and contractor to help you get rid of these issues before you add anything else to the basement space.  You should also be aware of building codes before you begin the basement renovation process. Check with your city and county to see if you need permits to do any construction projects in your basement. This is essential if you’re doing electrical or plumbing work in this area of your home, so you’ll need to have an inspector come out and make sure everything is up to code.  Once you’ve decided to finish your basement, you’ll need to think about the fasteners in the floors and walls of the space. In most cases, these parts of the basement are created from block, masonry, cement or brick, which means that you’ll need more than a hammer and nails when you’re attaching the framing for the walls and/or windows. It may be best to rent a fastener that is power-actuated, or to hire a contractor who is experienced in this area of work to complete this part of the project for you.

7. Things to Consider When Finishing Your Basement  Making sure the air is clear and clean in your basement should also be a priority. After you take care of any water issues, there’s still the possibility that your basement could be significantly more damp than the rest of your home. Add a vapor barrier between the floors and walls before you start framing and finishes these areas to make sure that moisture doesn’t get trapped and cause mold, mildew and damage.  Finally, ensure that you have an offset space even after you create the vapor barrier. This is because moisture could still be a problem, especially if you live in areas that rain a lot. Make an offset from the outside wall of your basement by adding metal or wood slats that can make the wall more level. It’s also best to keep out the cold air and welcome the warmth in so that the basement space will be comfortable for you and your loved ones to spend time in. Insulation is required for this, so check your local codes to ensure that you’re in keeping with the regulations in your area.

8. Selecting the Furniture for Your Basement  Sofas and sectionals are a great choice if you will be entertaining friends and loved ones in the basement space. This type of furniture provides lots of comfortable places for everyone to sit, especially if you purchase a sectional with seats that recline. You can also decorate the sofas with throw pillows and blankets that coordinate with the main living room. Of course, if you’re going with a completely different color scheme for the basement, your sofa accents can coordinate with your new decorations.  Rocking chairs and antique sitting chairs make great additions to your basement if you’re turning the area into a library or guest bedroom. If you’ve added certain elements like the windows or flooring to the basement yourself, you may want to take on the task of finishing or repurposing the chairs. Sanding a rocking chair that is made from wood or repainting the chair to match the colors that you’re using to decorate the basement adds a customized element to the space. You can also finish the rocking chair or borders of a chaise or reading chair to match the color of the engineered wood or hardwood floors in the basement. Adding the same finishing products or sealant to the furniture that you used for the floors can also make the space more coordinated.

9. Selecting the Furniture for Your Basement  If the basement will serve as a home office, an antique desk that coordinates with the furniture or wood flooring you’ve chosen can give the basement a professional look that will motivate you to complete important tasks. A coordinating bookshelf is a good furniture choice for this type of space as well, or you can work with a contractor to have shelves installed on the walls to be more space- efficient. Shelf installation is also a project you may want to take on yourself. If you build shelves that go from the floor to the ceiling, you can make the walls appear higher.  If you’re using the basement as a playroom or entertainment area for children, oversized pillows and bean bags are a practical and comfortable addition to the basement as well. These provide seating that is closer to the floor, which could reduce the chances that your kids will injure themselves jumping off of furniture that is positioned off the ground. The bean bags or pillows can also provide a bit of insulation and a soft surface for sitting if you’ve used concrete or vinyl for the floors.

10. Giving Your Basement a Few Finishing Touches  If you have lots of pipes and plumbing lines on the ceiling of your basement, it’s best to get a drop ceiling. This hides all the pipes and gives the room a neater look, and there are lots of design options available depending on the type of look you want. Drop ceilings cut down on overhead space, however, so consider this when you’re getting estimates for this part of the basement.  Recessed lighting is another great finishing touch to keep in mind. This type of lighting doesn’t take up as much space as a traditional light fixture, and if you have a drop ceiling, recessed lighting is easy to install. This makes it an affordable option, since you can take this on as a DIY project instead of having to hire a contractor. Lightbulbs in the color of your choice are another way to customize the space. For instance, blue lights can improve concentration, while lights with a tinge of red evoke excitement.

11. Giving Your Basement a Few Finishing Touches  Remember that hot air rises, so install some heating vents in the baseboards. Just make sure the installation is in keeping with your home’s HVAC system. Once the basement is finished, you don’t want the majority of the warm air in the room to come from space heaters, since this could be expensive and a safety hazard.  It’s also important to keep in mind that the utility room section of the basement doesn’t need to be furnished. This is the space where the water heaters and HVAC units are, so the space should be clean and open so that you can access it easily. Furniture in these areas or too close to these spaces could be a safety hazard, and the utility room has code requirements when it comes to framing and spacing. The area should also be open when you have to undergo inspections or need to get repairs. A small curtain or partition to make sure that the HVAC unit and water heater are not tampered with may also be a smart option.

12. DIY Tips for Remodeling Your Basement  You may know that you want to paint the walls or add carpeting to the basement, but you should also think about your primary use for the basement. If the basement will become a spare bedroom, you may want to insulate the windows and paint the walls a neutral color. If the basement will be converted into a playroom, a bright color for the walls is ideal.  It’s also important to avoid certain construction mistakes when you’re remodeling the basement. For instance, avoid a drop ceiling in the basement. This makes the basement area feel cheaper than the other parts of your home, so it’s best to decorate the basement in a way that is consistent with the rest of your house. A drop ceiling also makes the basement feel smaller, and this can defeat the purpose of remodeling, since you’re renovating the space to make your home feel more spacious. Keep this in mind if you will be particularly active in the basement, i.e. building a mini bar or kitchen in the basement so you won’t always have to go the main kitchen when you want a snack or beverage.

13. DIY Tips for Remodeling Your Basement  Built-in storage is also a great idea when you’re remodeling the basement. Built-in shelves and designated areas for storage will help to make the space neater without taking up too much space. If you build shelves into the wall, you won’t have to use a bookshelf or large dresser in the basement. Just remember not to add too much storage space, since this could make the renovation project more expensive and you may not get the return on investment that you want if you sell your home in the future.  Finally, consider an open stairwell as part of your basement renovation. This is a stylish and practical way to connect the basement with the upper section of your home, and the stairwell lets natural light into the basement, which can make the space more welcoming and inviting. The stairwell is also a great idea if you are turning the basement into another area to entertain family and friends, such as an additional den or a space to have game night.

14. How to Change Your Basement Into a Bedroom  You’ll need to start by framing the walls in the new bedroom space. In most cases, you should create the frame with 2x4 wooden boards. Nailing the lumber together the manual way with nails and a hammer or use can use a nail gun to get the job done. After you assemble the wall frame, it’s time to attach drywall, and you’ll likely need to hire contractors to help you with this part of the process.  Once the walls are done, it’s time for ceiling installation. If you have an unfinished basement, chances are there’s no real ceiling in the space, if so, you’ll see plumbing pipes and wiring on the ceiling and it needs to be covered for safety and aesthetic purposes. A drop ceiling is a practical way to accomplish this, and you’ll also need to track that will hold the tiles of the ceiling in place. You then drop the tiles in the right areas to make a ceiling that fits with your decorative goals. Of course, if you don’t have experience installing ceilings, you’ll need to work with professional buildings to accomplish this task. You can also add elaborate wall stickers that glow in the dark to the ceiling, which adds a relaxing element to the bedroom when it’s time to go to sleep.  Finally, put the flooring and lighting in place. Lighting and flooring are an important part of the bedroom space as well. Overhead lighting, recessed lighting or track lighting are options, so you’ll need to choose the lighting that works best for the space.

15. How to Finish the Floors In Your Basement  Sheet vinyl is a great option and is often used for basement floors. This type of vinyl is available in a variety of colors and patterns, so you’ve got lot of choices depending on your taste. If the floors in your basement are sloped or uneven, vinyl sheet is an ideal choice. Sheet vinyl is also a popular choice because it’s very easy to clean and it’s sturdy, especially if you add seam tapes to the joints of the floor. When you apply the seam tape with heat, your basement floors will be sealed and this will keep water from ruining the floor.  You can also use concrete for your basement floor, especially if the area will be used as a craft or carpentry workshop or a storage area. It’s pretty simple and affordable to install, and you can do it yourself – you just have to buy the concrete from a hardware store and get a few tips from an employee for making sure you’re applying it correctly. First, you’ll need to apply a seal to the floor using a paint roller. This stops water from getting through the floor. You can also create several creative designs with your concrete for a finish that makes the rest of the basement come together. Use a dyed concrete seal for customized results, or stencil a design into the floor.  Engineered wood works well in the basement as well, since it holds up well against drastic changes in temperature and keeps moisture from collecting on the floor very well in comparison to other basement flooring choices.

16. Finishing the Walls, Ceilings and Windows In Your Basement  Include the dimensions of the walls, as well as the sizes for the doors and windows. Your plan should also indicate what the new basement space will be used for. You should also make sure that you have accurate measurements for pipes and electrical wiring, since this will factor into the measurements for your ceilings, windows and walls.  Think about energy efficiency when finishing this aspect of the basement as well. If you don’t have good insulation in the basement or you’ve had moisture issues in the space, you’ll need to take special care that these issues don’t affect your basement finishing project in order to keep your family safe and to keep basement renovation from becoming too expensive. Seal all the openings in the framing for the walls, windows and ceiling and around the pipes. You can use spray foam or a caulking gun to accomplish this. Insulate the board that is positioned on top of the foundation to add more support to the floor joists. This also prevents air from leaking into or out of the basement to regulate temperature and prevent moisture accumulation. You may also want to glue extruded foam insulation to the walls of the basement foundation to keep heat from leaving the basement area and providing a barrier that keeps water out.

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