A basement is a great place to turn into an entertainment room, but you need to make sure you have all of the right elements in order. Here are some must-haves when it comes to your basement remodel.
Open floorplan
An open floorplan is a must have for entertaining, family gatherings and everyday living. Flow is very important and having your basement wide open encourages mingling and sharing space. Basements are typically relatively small rooms in comparison to the rest of your home, which makes the need for an open concept floorplan even more important. When hosting a gathering for any social occasion, nobody wants to walk through multiple rooms to find the bathroom, get refreshments, or entertain themselves during the commercial break. It’s a good idea to have the main television and couch in view of the entire basement, with private spaces being the only rooms shut off from the flow. Using certain colors, flooring, and windows also helps makes a space look larger if open concept still isn’t giving the look you want. InDesign offers free consultations and has a team of designers that can help you choose all the right materials for your renovation.
Kitchenette + bar
A kitchenette is a smaller version of a full kitchen, but it can still be used for cooking and entertaining. A standard kitchenette usually includes a sink, microwave, fridge and cabinetry. This is great for keeping snacks around for whomever accompanies the basement the most and keep unnecessary trips up and down the stairs every time you need something. A kitchenette is closely related to a standard wet bar, so it’s no secret as to why most basements have a combination of the two. Floating shelves in lieu of upper cabinets can save you money while offering a display for your drinks of choice, and a bar/kitchenette duo offers a gathering space when hosting parties.
Bedroom
A spare bedroom is a commodity you’ll wonder how you lived without. Whether it be relatives dropping in unannounced, having friends over and need a place for them to retreat to, or kids wanting to show their independence under your roof and having a floor to themselves, a basement bedroom ends up being utilized much more than you may think. You can even rent out this space as an income generator–and in Alpharetta’s market today, it’s almost a no brainer; there’s tenants lining up to choose from that can have this proximity to Atlanta and be in this job market. Airbnb offers all the same benefits with even shorter stays, and you won’t have to pay cleaning services after every visit– you’ll be right upstairs!
Full bathroom
A full bathroom is another must for every basement, it completes and offers convenience to everyone in the space. Guests can be at ease knowing they don’t have to go upstairs every time nature calls and you can spend more time enjoying your basement with this feature. If you’re planning on using your basement to make money in your home, having a full bathroom will make it easier for residents to keep their hygiene products like toothpaste and toilet paper. It can also be helpful when entertaining guests who may have children with them who need baths at night or in the morning before heading out.
Storage area
A storage area is an essential element in any home. The size of your storage area depends on how much you need to store, but no matter its size, it doesn’t need much to be an important part of your home. Many unfinished basements leave about a quarter or less of the space walled off to use as storage. You don’t even need to finish the walls of the storage area, as it’s almost always behind a door with no eyes and rare foot traffic. This saves you a considerable amount of time and money when considering a remodel.
Entertainment units
If you’re a golfer, or know someone who is, then a golf simulator is the perfect addition to any basement remodel. They can be fun for all ages! Golf simulators are a form of a video game that let you swing a ball at a screen and have graphics take the ball from the point of contact into the virtual reality, letting you play on an 18-hole course in the comfort of your home! Companies like Skytrak have brand new technology for lovers of the sport and provide an exciting way to spend time with friends and family while improving your game at the same time.
Movie theater
A movie theater is a great way to use space for entertaining and watching movies, especially if you have kids. If you don’t want to go all out with a full-sized projector and screen, consider getting a projector that can be mounted on the wall or ceiling instead. Theaters are also a great place to watch sports and show off your home theater equipment. If you are not a fan of the traditional theater experience, consider getting a home cinema system. These systems have surround sound and can even connect to your computer so you can play movies from there as well.
Home gym space
A home gym brings the luxury and comfort of what would otherwise be a constant gym membership into your home. Thanks to new technology, you don’t need to fill your entire basement with racks and mirrors to get a full workout in. Tonal home gym is a great way to stay fit and healthy and is also a safer option than traditional weightlifting equipment. Tonal equipment uses electromagnetic resistance as opposed to free weights to give you intense workouts with up to 200 pounds of resistance! These machines offer a variety of exercises and can fit comfortably in the size of a bedroom. This minimizes space needed for weight training and saves your basement more space for entertaining and leisure.
Not all must-haves are created equal, and how you design your basement will depend on how much space is available as well as what you want the intended use to be. You can work with a designer to create the perfect basement for you and your family. When choosing a basement design, it’s important to take into account how much space you have and what kind of activities you want your family to enjoy down there.
The best way to choose one is by looking at examples of what other people have done in this area. InDesign has experience with basements in the Alpharetta area and can help you combine all the wants you have for your basement to bring it to reality.
We want our customers to know that we are here to help them create their dream basement! Come see us at any of our InDesign showroom locations to get quality service for all your remodeling needs.
Contact us or stop by today to see how close your look is to becoming reality. We service Alpharetta and all surrounding areas: Johns Creek, Atlanta, Buckhead, Cumming, Duluth, Dunwoody, Kennesaw, Marietta, Milton, Norcross, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Smyrna, Suwanee, Vinings and more!