Having a basement can be a blessing, or it can be a burden, depending upon what you make of it. Basements are often thought of as damp and cold, sometimes even haunted places. It can be exposed to invasion from rodents, termite, or other pests. These are precisely the reasons why an unkempt basement is a dream-come-true for the truly adventuresome do-it-yourselfer.
If you are not passionate about storing your junk down there, your basement is a blank canvas that offers you unlimited creative opportunities. Maybe you want to transform it into an expanded pantry, a laundry room, an exercise studio, or even a man cave. Here are two ideas that you could run with and make that basement into a real exciting room.
The Big Picture
Most basements start out as bare, unfinished floors, plain walls, and maybe a couple of electrical outlets for plugging in a washer and dryer. Not all of these things need to necessarily be revamped. If the room is going to require additional electrification, plumbing or masonry, that is something you may consider outsourcing to a professional electrician, plumber, or mason. that will still leave you with plenty of work to handle yourself. Hence, by combining DIY with professional help, you can reduce the time and cost of your basement renovation project.
DIY Basement Laundry Room
Oftentimes, the washer and dryer are already set up in the basement when you buy a new home, but there is a difference between a room with a washer and dryer and a proper laundry room. For setting up a laundry room, the good news is that you probably don't have to worry about the floor. The same is true for the ceiling or walls. You will want to thoroughly clean the space though. You may also need a few bins for storing laundry, an ironing board, and a cabinet for hanging clothes, depending upon how extensive you want your laundry room to be.
Tips for Setting Up a Basement Laundry Room
- Decide on an arrangement and lay out your washer and dryer first
- Once those are in place, decide where you will need shelves and cabinets
- This room could be used to store all of the household cleaners and also tools like your ironing board
- Make sure there is enough light in the area, so you may see if the stains and/wrinkles are really gone
- Install a fan to keep the area cool in the summer, unless you live in a cold area
- A space heater will help in the winter, and a dehumidifier can come in handy all year round
DIY Basement Exercise Room
Setting up a space dedicated to exercise can help your family stay fit and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Transforming any space into an exercise studio takes some time and money, but it's a small price to pay for the lifelong benefit of your family. Besides, you'll probably save many time over in the form of medical bills that you won't need to pay, thanks to the cardio routine in your own basement exercise room.
Tips for Setting Up an Exercise Room
• Don't be deterred by the cost of equipment—you can start out with as little as a crunches board or mat, a jump rope, and a couple of dumb bells
• Rather than completely redoing the flooring, go to your local sporting goods store and buy some puzzle mats. These can be set up in as large or small a space as necessary
You will want to make sure there are two other things — lighting and air conditioning. A DVD, an LCD TV, and a sound system will make your exercise room your favorite space in the house. If electricity is not already set up, this will be the one part of the project that you cannot do yourself
Get Started
No matter what you decide to do with your basement renovation, remember that it does not need to be expensive. If you choose to make it a room that people are going to use for extended lengths of time, make sure to keep the temperature reasonable and the room dry. Otherwise, just make sure it functions for your purpose, and be proud that you turned that old basement into something of use.
Pro Tip: You'll want to check with your municipality as most major projects like basement renovations require you to obtain a building permit. Electrical and plumbing permits may also have to be obtained separately.
Posted by: Ahmed MuztabaSuggested Reading For You
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