Ideas for a Refinished Basement

Bedroom

• Whether you need a place for people to stay when they visit, an extra bedroom for your children or a place for Grandma to live, turning a basement into bedroom or an apartment gives you extra sleeping space with privacy. With a bedroom in the basement, the occupant is separated from the rest of the house, providing seclusion. If you have separate rooms in the finished basement, turn it into a little apartment, equipped with a bedroom, kitchen and bathroom to allow for extended-stay guests.

Family Area

• A family-friendly option that allows for more family usage is a playroom or family room. Set up a television and couches in the basement. Alternatively, store all your children's toys in the basement and turn it into their playroom. A basement's large space allows ample room to run. However, the isolated location keeps the noise at a minimum and the mess out of sight. Since basements have few, if any, windows, keep the clutter at a minimum to prevent the room from feeling closed in.

Movie Theater

• If you do not have kids or want the area as an adult space, consider a home theater area. If the basement has windows, cover them to keep it the theater dark. Include comfortable seating options such as overstuffed couches and recliners or opt for stadium-style moving seating. A large plasma television mounted on the wall or a projection television acts as the movie screen. A small refrigerator or a bar area allows for snack and beverage storage so guests do not need to head upstairs for refreshments.

An Office

• If you work from home, turning your finished basement into an office allows for a quiet work environment, free of distractions to get your work done. Keeping your office separate also keeps the area looking professional for clients who come for meetings. If you have products to keep organized, a finished basement offers the space needed to do so.