Homeowners are familiar with the concept of awkward space, and they’ve learned to deal with it in the best possible way. Whether you’ve turned the space under your stairs into a smart cupboard for your shoes, or whether you’ve ordered a set of custom-made shelves for a nook in the living room, you know how to use areas that are not made to fit your furniture or your home life. After all, it’s common knowledge that you pay for the square footage of your property; consequently using the most of the space available is only a matter of getting the best value out of your home.
However, it’s surprising to know that while most homeowners go to great lengths of efforts to make their room designs fit the most awkward of spaces, they have a wasteful approach to rooms that are not part of their everyday needs. The loft, for instance, tends to be left untouched until the family grows and you need an extra bedroom. The basement is often transformed into a vast cemetery of old cardboard boxes and items you don’t use anymore. Why waste space when you can transform it into a cosy and welcoming room? While it can be tricky to consider the addition of a bedroom or a living room in the basement, you could make it your official hobby room for the family to relax.
What will your basement become?
A warm and cosy space
Once you’ve cleared up the basement, you can make a list of what needs doing to make it a welcoming and comfortable room. Indeed, due to their location with below-grade walls and floors, most basements tend to be cold. The main reason for the somewhat chilly temperatures is ground-level cold, as walls that extend beyond the ground encourage cold to cascade down into the basement. But you can address this issues through insulation and ventilation. The majority of old basement walls have not been insulated. Foam spray is the preferred solution, but it is expensive. You can attach rigid foam to the concrete wall and seal it to create a barrier against cold and even moisture. Make sure to frame the wall and foam before the electricity cables, and plumbing systems can be added. Finally, you can complete with the insulation and vapour barrier. At the end of the process, your overall basement surface will have shrunk. But hopefully, this will let you control the temperature and moisture underground.
Pick the items that fit the room
If you’ve measured the room before proceeding to the insulation work, you will probably need to measure it again. While most items of furniture are likely to fit the renovated basement, it’s fair to say that XXL sofas and larger than life snooker tables might be off the list now – but you can find here a handy room size guide for pool and snooker tables so that you can still get the best pool experience in your space. As a rule of the thumb, you might want to build a 2D or even 3D model of your basement to experiment with furniture placement and sizes. Remember that most basements lack a window – or some have a small just above the ground opening that doesn’t let much natural light in. Large and dark-coloured items are likely to make the room appear gloomy.
Create a cosy and personal ambiance
While your basement decoration doesn’t have to match the rest of your home – you are creating a hobby area, and consequently, you can be a little more creative about it – it doesn’t mean you should leave it plain. There’s a natural feeling of coldness and gloom when you go to your basement, even if the room has been fully renovated. The mind assumes the place is uncomfortable. Therefore you need to trick your mind out of its depressed perspectives by bringing a creative and inviting personal touch to your setting. It’s a common choice to add a sofa or a comfortable armchair to the basement. Don’t let your couch remain naked. Bring colourful and playful cushions to open up the room. A plaid thrown onto the sofa will also encourage visitors to embrace the warmth of the place.
Think of refreshments!
Who says basement room thinks of entertainment. From video games to an adult bar area, there are a lot of options to make the most of the space. However, whichever decor you pick, you will need to make sure that the basement can offer a direct source of refreshments. A mini fridge can be introduced to the interior style – you can even add a decorative cover to pass it into your setting. Similarly, you can also bring a tap and a kettle to make warm drinks – which is a good idea if you’re planning to turn her basement into a painting or sewing workshop, for instance. Ultimately, nobody wants to climb the stairs to the kitchen and back to get a drink when they’re relaxing in the hobby room.
Delightful colour combi
What is the best colour to paint your basement walls? The choices are varied, if not infinite. But there is some guidance available. A room that is dedicated to video games and other playful activities can benefit from a dark mood setting, such as a combination of red and grey or beige. You can also use a multicolor background to create an eclectic and vibrant hobby space – assuming you tone down your furniture choice. Green and urban style are also a perfect match for a modern atmosphere.
What’s your hobby?
Last, but not least, it’s fair to say that your hobby room needs to combine exquisite style but also practical setting. It is, after all, the place where you’ll be dedicating time to your hobby. As a result, you need to take some requirements into account. For example, if you’re an enthusiastic sewist, you’ll need to install a sewing table to keep track of your projects. If you are a gamer, you should consider the best TV for video games. The bottom line is that you need to make a note of specialist equipment that has to be part of your basement improvement.
Your basement doesn’t have to be the forgotten room in your home. You can make it one of the most exciting places to be with some DIY love. Give your below ground level room a chance to shine!
