5 Features That Can Take Your Finished Basement to the Next Level

Depending on the rest of your basement design, even small basement kitchen ideas can make your basement space more useful and allow you to host small gatherings without having to use your primary cooking and living space.

Basement kitchen ideas can range from a simple refrigerator, microwave, and sink to a full second kitchen setup. Perhaps you run a small cooking business out of your home or love baking for friends – a basement kitchen with an oven and stove can help keep these hobbies or careers separate from your everyday life. On the other hand, many people seek out simple basement kitchen bar ideas, looking for ways to host gatherings in a trendy and stylish basement space.

However, if you’d love some extra space to entertain guests where you can serve snacks and drinks without running up and down the stairs, then a basement wet bar might be exactly what you need!

The convenience of having a sink easily accessible downstairs makes a basement wet bar well worth it, and by styling it just the way you want, you’re sure to impress any guest you host.

Including a basement home gym in your basement remodel or finishing plans is a simple way to improve your lifestyle and add easy functionality to your home.

Home gyms don’t have to be overly complex or fancy; one of the benefits is that you only need to include the elements you’ll actually use! 

Common aspects of a home gym include:

• Treadmill or stationary bike
• Squat rack
• Dumbbell set
• Cables or jump boxes 

Any combination of these elements, or even just one, can make it easier to live a healthy lifestyle by incorporating a bit of your favorite workout into your regular routine. Home gym basement ideas can be adapted to include sturdy flooring, plenty of ventilation, and even a TV and sound system to make your workouts fly by.

Incorporating basement living room ideas into your plans can help give you a true place to retreat and wind down at home, away from your to-do list or the stresses of work and home upkeep.

Basement living rooms also offer the benefit of being fully customizable, giving you the freedom to incorporate the exact elements you truly want.

Movie buffs might install a jumbo screen or a projector. Including a basement fireplace can bring the space to the next level with cozy warmth year-round.

Adding to the bedroom count in your home is also beneficial for resale value, but you’ll have to look into details like how to seal basement windows, and whether you’ll need to include closets and egress windows to ensure that these count as official bedrooms. Plus, add a basement shower and increase your overall bathroom count while you’re at it!

Any and all of these finished basement features can not only improve your lifestyle but will also increase the value of your home when you choose to sell. Many people wonder, “does a finished basement count as square footage?” Fortunately, it does! Although your “above-ground square footage” won’t change when you finish your basement, the total square footage of the home will.