BASEMENT BATHROOM IDEAS

If you have a basement that you want to use for a specific purpose, you might want to consider adding a bathroom. Whether you want to use the space for a basement office, basement game room, basement home theater, basement gym, basement bar, or basement guest room you will find that a bathroom downstairs is very convenient.

If you choose to install a basement bathroom, it will add significant value to your home because it will suddenly make that are below your house usable for many things. The more versatile a house is, the more people will be interested in buying it.

If you are doing a basement remodel, that is the time to seriously consider adding a bathroom or redoing the old one that is there. It is much less costly if you do all the work at the same time.

Adding a bathroom to your basement is something that is beyond the skill level of most people. As it will involve tearing down or adding walls, extensive plumbing work, and electrical wiring, it is best to get a professional involved. A qualified professional will save you time and money in the long run and you can sleep at night knowing that you will be avoiding most of the problems you would encounter if you were doing it yourself.

Depending on what type of a basement you have and what you plan on using it for will determine whether the basement bathroom needs to be complete with a shower. If you are going to only use the space for entertaining or working, you don't need to invest in the added cost of installing a basement shower. Having only a sink and toilet (a powder room) will be plenty. However, if you anticipate using your new basement as a guest room or extra bedroom, having a shower downstairs will very convenient and might be worth the extra cost.

Many people are deciding to upgrade and expand portions of their homes now rather than move to bigger houses. With the terrible economy, they are deciding it is less of a risk to put more money into the house they already own rather than uproot the family and move to a bigger house. This means that more and more people are looking into finishing their basements and making them into rooms they can actually use for something.

Adding a bathroom is one of those basement ideas that makes sense on many levels when you start to figure out ways to get more out of your house. People are understandably hesitant right now to spend the extra money on a basement remodel but when the economy eventually turns around they will most likely be glad they did. A basement bathroom is something that most homeowners are glad they thought of once the hassle of installing it is over.

HOW TO FIX BASEMENT WALL CRACKS

The materials used most often to make basement walls and the foundations may allow water to get through. These porous materials also crack and that is something you need to keep on top of and fix.

First of all it is important to find all the cracks. You might have pictures, posters, or something else covering your basement walls and you need to take everything down to see if there are cracks. You should do this periodically as a part of your basement ideas routine maintenance.

Basement cracks can either be horixontal in nature or vertical. If you find a crack you want it to be vertical because that can be caused by the house settling and by differences in temperature. Vertical cracks are easier to repair and if they are very thin, there is probably no need to worry or do anything.

Horizontal basement wall cracks, on the other hand, can be much more serious and you should fix them right away. You may need to call in a professional for these as it is best to take care of them correctly. These horizontal basement cracks can mean some sort of structural damage.

You can find a product to fix these basement wall cracks at your local home improvement store and they they will mix and dry fast. They are good for filling in the cracks and you can ask your store what they have. They should also have all the tools you need to do it yourself if you like or if you are unsure, you should always call a professional contractor. To find the best most reliable contractor in your city, please take a look at Angie's List.

BASEMENT DEN IDEAS

This first question that might be asked is: what exactly is a den. The word "den" is not used as much as it used to be but turning the basement into a den is one of the better basement ideas you can come up with.

There is no one definition of the word den but it is usually thought of as a room where people go for a variety of purposes. When offices where less common in houses (now many people have a "basement office"), the den was often used as an office. That was the best place to put a desk and some bookshelves along with maybe a fax machine. Now so many people have offices in their homes that they are rarely referred to as dens.

A den is also a room that is used as a gathering place. The den can be a television room and a place where a family goes to just hang out. Not all homes have a family room for this and so the den is the place they go.

A den can also be used as a quite place to go for reading and to get away from the noisier parts of the house. If you want a smoking room or a cigar room, a den would be a great place for that purpose.

Those are some basement den ideas if you have a basement and don't know what to do with it. Basically a den can be whatever you want it to be...sort of a multipurpose if you so choose. Turning your basement into a den is great idea if you need extra space for your family members to spend time and hang out.

BUILD A SOUNDPROOF BASEMENT MUSIC ROOM

A basement music room is one the best basement ideas you can have if you are a musician. The basement is a perfect place for your band to practice or for you to be alone with your instruments and music.

If you want to do it right, you should soundproof your basement so that you won't bother other people in the house or the neighbors. Soundproofing your basement music room is something that will be hard to do yourself and you will probably need to find a professional to do it. It can also be expensive but if done right, it is worth it.

With the video game Guitar Hero being so popular, if you have a game room in your basement you might already feel like you have a basement music room. And if you don't have a basement you might wish you had one for your kids to go so they don't make so much noise.

The most popular place for a band to play is usually in the garage but a basement is the next best place. You can play your music loud and not bother too many other people. In fact, the basement is a great place for your music no matter what kind or style it is. If you just want to deck the room out with big speakers and rock out the basment is the place to do it!

REPLACEMENT BASEMENT WINDOWS IDEAS

Usually, basement windows are made of ugly metal frames that don't withstand the wet and dirty environments near the ground. Over time, these windows rust, leak, let wind in, and become really ugly.

Believe it or not, windows are a very important part of a basement because that is where all the natural light comes from and most basements don't have much of it. Also, basement windows provide some ventilation.

If the windows in your basement look old and dirty and are on their last legs, you should be looking for replacement basement windows. Vinyl windows can be put in to replace your old ones and not only will they look great, but they will perform better as well. Vinyl basement windows usually have two panes of glass, are air tight, and don't need any paint. They are built for that damp, dirty area clost to the ground where basement windows usually are.

Modern basement replacement windows are also energy efficient as well as rot and mildew resistant. They can be made from materials other than vinyl but those are less popular. Putting replacement basement windows on your home will help protect it from damage and decay at the lowest part of the house which is the basement. Any basement that is to be used for anything like a playroom, theatre, game room, bar, or any other cool basement ideas, need new replacement windows to complete the job.

BASEMENT FLOORING IDEAS

All basement flooring ideas must take into account the tendancy for basements to be cool, dark, and damp. Basement moisture is always a threat as it seeps in from below basment floors and does all sorts of damage.

Your main choices for a basement floor are a hardwood floor, concrete, carpet, a laminate floor, an engineeered hardwood floor, and a porcelain tile cement. Carpet and hardwood basement floors may not be the best options because of the dampness issues.

Installing an engineered basement floor might be a good alternative to a hardwood floor if you like that kind of floor. They usually have a higher resiliency to any humidity changes that allow it stay dryer than many of your other basement flooring ideas.

A laminate basement floor can be constructed from moisture resistant materials and they can be "floating" floors which are not directly attached to the floor beneath it. Most laminate is OK but some is not so you need to check with the manufacturer to make sure the laminate you choose will work for basement flooring.

The most popular and perhaps easiest basement flooring ideas is to just paint your cement floor. You can be careful to choose the right basement colors for your floor so that it creates the atmosphere you desire. Painting your basement cement floor is the safest option because you are not investing a lot of money on the floor only to find out later that it has been damaged due to basement moisture problems.

BASEMENT WINDOWS IDEAS

Are your basement windows cloudy and worn with frames that you hope no one notices or compares to the rest of your attractive, stylish home? Basement windows are the same as any other window, there's just less wall space to accomodate standard sizes like you generally see throughout your home.

Basements are considered to be dark and gloomy and basement windows are perhaps the most neglected area in a finished basement. Basement windows are not often thought about when someone thinks about home improvement. Your home will look more complete as your attention to detail stands out with the installation of nice looking windows in your basement.

First off, it is important that basement windows keep water out so they must remain in good repair and seal tightly when closed. If you currently have leaks or drafts in your windows, it is time to consider purchasing vinyl basement windows. Old drafty windows can account for as much as 25 percent of your monthly heating bill, so it's very important to select windows with high-energy efficiency. Especially for poorly done basement windows, water can easily seep right through in and cause a disaster.

Generally you will get a lower price if you replace all of your basement windows at once. Vinyl basement windows are a great investment in your home that will pay off in many ways over time. Vinyl basement windows are an ideal choice for your lower level windows, as they are more frequently exposed to moisture than upper level windows. Installing vinyl basement windows improves the look of your home and its energy efficiency.

The purpose of basement windows is to make your basement a brighter, more friendly environment and the amount of natural light you get from them can influence the basement color ideas you might have. One of the best things about double-paned vinyl basement windows is how energy-efficient they are. Old and drafty basement windows waste a lot of energy through gaps and open sections. Today, basement windows come in a wide variety of types and styles so you can choose the right one for your interior design. Like other windows in the home, basement windows can be found in a variety of materials including aluminum, wood and vinyl.

The right time to replace your basement windows is before you finish the basement. Look for windows that have heavy duty frames, preferably vinyl for durability in all types of climates and ease of cleaning. While you would always lock the windows from the inside, you might also consider glass block windows or cross bracing that would prevent egress from the outside. If your house was built to code, it will be easy to find standardized replacement windows for your basement. To prevent higher heating bills, it is important that the windows seals have additional forms of insulation to hold in heat. If money is not a factor consider some nice stained glass windows, beveled glass windows, leaded glass windows or windows with brass designs.

BASEMENT WATERPROOFING IDEAS

If you have any musty air in your basement it might find its way up to the living areas up above. It is for this reason that you need to keep you basement dry and for that you need to pay attention to basement waterproofing. A wet basement is wasted space that you just can't use or enjoy.Did you know that basement waterproofing pays you the highest dividends out of all home improvement projects? The investment you make in having your basement waterproofed will be repaid by: increased property value, a new living space, and healthier living conditions. When you decide to sell your home, it will be to your advantage to have a dry, usable basement.

Over the years, basement waterproofing contractors and engineers have developed many different methods of keeping basements dry. One option for do it yourself basement waterproofing is to use concrete water proofer. Another very popular option is crystalline basement waterproofing and a third is PermaFlex. Methods of basement waterproofing include a liquid membrane which is applied to the interior of the space or a sheeting membrane attached to the exterior of the space.

The basement waterproofing industry is extremely competitive because the market is literally flooded with basement waterproofing products and basement waterproofing systems that DO NOT WORK. If you live in a part of the US that gets heavy sudden rains, then you will surely need someone to help you with your waterproofing needs as basement flooding cleanup can be quite costly. Quality installations and service assures the homeowner their basement waterproofing project will be done with professionalism.

You can learn what is causing your basement water problems and the the methods to repair a leaking basement by having a certified dealer give you a free wet basement inspection and estimate on the solution to your leaking cellar. It makes no sense to live in a home with an unuseable wet basement or a basement that floods once in a while. If you have been dealing with a leaky basement, no doubt you are ready to get something done about the problem and start looking for basement waterproofing professionals.

A dry basement will protect the investment you made in your home as well as enable you to use the space for storage or for a basement finishing project to gain additional living space. Sodium Bentonite clay is another common method of waterproofing a basement.

BASEMENT DEHUMIDIFIERS IDEAS

If you have an issue with basement mold and basement dampness, one of your options is to look into basement dehumidifiers. Keeping your basement dry is very important for many reasons and one way to accomplish this is to buy a dehumidifier that will keep your basement free of moisture.


There are many makes and models of basement dehumidifiers including Haier, Kenmore, GE, and Sahara. The bigger the space, the bigger the dehumidifier you will need to have it be able to effectively get rid of basement moisture. You can also try to waterproof your basement but even if you do, it still will be a good idea to cover all bases and use a dehumidifier.

Basement mold will ruin your basement and present real health problems as well. Buying a cheap basement dehumidifier is a great investment and one of those basement ideas that you should do if you have any problem at all with wetness. A great place to get one for a cheap price delivered to your door is here - basement dehumidifier.

BASEMENT MOLD IDEAS

One of the biggest problems with basements is that they tend to be cold and moist which leads to mold. Basement mold is not only ugly but it is also dangerous to both children and adults by contributing to allergies and asthma. Any basement remodelling ideas you have should address the mold factor and work to make sure it does not become a problem.

Many basements are made of concrete and are of course on the bottom floor sometimes even buried in the earth. This presents a problem of keeping that basement space warm and dry as concrete does let in moisture. If you can figure out a way to eliminate the moisture and keep the basement warm, mold will have a much harder time of forming. Mold typically is not a problem in warmer climates and does not grow in dry places.

Probably the best way to make the basement floors warm is to have radiant heat installed. This is easier if your house is new and still under construction. There are two kinds of radiant heat, hydronic and electric. Hydronic radiant heat involved warm water through tubes under the floor and electric radiant heat involves electrical wires much like your toaster. If your house is already built, electric radiant heat is by far the easier of the two to install.

Installing electric radiant heat is a great basement ideas because it kills two birds with one stone. Not only does it make it very difficult for mold to grow but it also does a great job of warming the basement. Keeping your basement warm at least a couple of hours a day will most likely prevent basement mold from forming.

Sealing your basement from the elements is another way you should be protecting yourself from mold and other harmful effects that can seep in. Make sure all openings are caulked and that there is proper ventilation around the foundation. You need to make sure that water does not form around the house and that there are gutters that move the water away from the basement foundation. Again, the idea is to make everything as dry as possible year round.

Make sure that there is proper ventilation in your basement and that the air is not stagnant. Stagnant air will contribute to moisture forming and keeping your basement warm and dry is the objective. Depending on the condition of your basement and what type of basement remodelling ideas you have will determine the amount of money and effort needed to make it what you have in mind. For more information on basement mold, please see black mold removal.

BASEMENT STORAGE IDEAS

Of all the basement ideas, using the basement for storage is probably the most popular. In most houses the basement is the last place to be finished and most people never even get that far and just use it to store things.

Items such as Christmas decorations, old toys, unused clothes, sporting equipment, and all other such items usually find their way to the basement. It is important to make sure your basement is water proof and damp proof otherwise many of those items may end up ruined.

Installing basement shelves will greatly increase the amount of storage space you can use and make it easier to get to all your items. If you pack everything in boxes and then stack the boxes, it is near impossible to remember what you have and where things are when you need them. A good system of basement shelving will solve that problem.

There are several kinds of plastic and metal pre-made shelves you can buy at places such as Home Depot. These are great to put up quickly and they will work well in any basement corner or against a basement concrete wall. They are relatively inexpensive and should last a lifetime. Something like this is the choise of most people.

If you are more adventurous and want something you can build yourself, you might build a stacked vertical shelving system. With this you will get a generous amount of horizontal space to store your things while using up very little floor space. This might be one of the best basement storage ideas if you don't have a lot of building experience but wish to do something yourself.

Basement Ideas That Work

If you own a home with a basement you have the opportunity to turn unused space into a great living space--all without adding on extra square footage to your home. In fact, finishing a basement is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to increase living space in a home.

This list of basement ideas books is a great way to find some innovative ideas and learn how to make them into reality. Any one of these books is great for anyone trying to plan the perfect basement living space for their family.

Basement Carpet Color Ideas

The carpet in any room covers so much living space that it becomes the foundation of the room's decor. You can choose to have your basement carpet colors neutral so that it blends in with fabrics and other surfaces, or you can have it be the vibrant focal point of the room. A carpet's colour will often reflect your style. One thing to make note of is that your basement lighting may have an effect on the color of your carpets depending on whether you have bright lighting or darker lights.

Your choice of carpet color is a very personal but some colors may work better in a basement. choice. Carpet comes in almost every color, pattern, and texture you can imagine so there is no shortage of choices. You may want to use a color that creates a special atmosphere in your basement or you might want something more basic.



The popular beige /brown carpet color works to make a basement room look spacious. Colors like blue, deep greens, and quartz have become popular but they may not be right for a basement. Remember, your basement may have no natural lighting and so you must pick a color that works well with artificial light. Warm colors work well in rooms that lack light and cool greens and blues have a calming effect.

Light colors will make the basement seem larger while dark colors do the opposite and portray coziness. With today's new carpet technology, lighter color carpets are easier to clean which is a good thing as you may want to try a lighter color carpet to brighten up your normally dark basement. It also may be a good idea to try to match your basement carpet color to your draperies or furniture.

Basement Ideas - Use A 3D Interior Design Tool

The best way to plan all your great basement ideas is to use an online 3D design tool. You many have a few ideas in your head but you need a good way to plan them and see what they would actually look like.

You don't need any special training to use this online tool and with it your basement finishing ideas can come to life right before your eyes! With this tool you can drag and drop hundreds of images right on to your plan. This gives you complete control of creating the basment ideas that only you invision.

With this online 3D design tool you have the ability to design any basment ideas you desire and you can see what it will look like before you begin. This tool is a great time saver and it insures that you will not get end up with any unpleasant suprises when you are finally finished.

When you start any basement remodeling project, now you can involve the whole family. Everyone will have their own great basement ideas and now you can all see them together and choose the best plan!

10 OF THE BEST BASEMENT DESIGN IDEAS

There are so many different basement design ideas that it is hard to know where to start. Here are then, in no particular order, are a collection of some of the best basement ideas:

1) Basement Home Theater - With the proliferation of reasonably priced LCD flat screen TV's now, this basement design idea is one of the most popular. If you turn your basement into a movie/TV room you can set up great speakers and have a great movie experience whenever you want. It may even save you money on movie tickets!

2) Basement Workout Room - More and more people are buying tread mills, weight sets, and elliptical machines and what better place to put them than in the basement. Do up the room nicely and you have yourself your own private gym!

3) Basement Workshop - If you have enough lighting and door space to get things in and out, a basement workshop might be right for you. Working in your basement in the cold winter months would be a lot nicer than in that cold garage.

4) Basement Bar - If you don't have enough space to entertain upstairs, you might consider moving the party downstairs. This is a great idea for some smaller houses. If you can put in a mini kitchen in the basement and some fun furniture you are ready to party with your new basement bar!

5) Basement Office - Many people need to work at home in today's modern world and moving the office downstairs to the basement is a great idea to separate work from play. Making a basement office also frees up a bedroom or the den where the office was.

6) Basement Game Room - Put in a pool table, poker table, or a ping pong table along with a big TV and you have yourself a game room for everyone to enjoy. Adding a pinball machine will really add to the ambience of the game room!

7) Guest Bedroom - Turn your basement into the guest bedroom and free up a room upstairs for yourself. This will work best if the basement has a bathroom and a shower of course.

8) Basement Storage - If you positively can't think of anything else to do with your basment, you can always use it for storage. If you do though, make sure you are able to keep it dry. A cold, wet basement is not a good storage place as the things you store might get ruined.

9) Basement Wine Cellar - A cool basement is the perfect place to store wine. Wine is becoming very popular now that it has been acknowledged that it is healthy and so now is the perfect time to turn that unused basement into your own wine cellar.

10) Basement Sauna - A sauna needs a special place and a basement is perfect. If you like saunas you know that extreme heat can make you feel great. Putting a sauna in the basement is several steps up from just getting a hot tub!

TURN YOUR BASEMENT INTO A POKER ROOM

If you are trying to come up with some good basement ideas, how about turning your basment into a poker room? Poker is at an all time high in popularity and people all over the country are including poker as one of their recreational activities.

The basement is a perfect place to set up your poker room or cool basement game room because it is removed from the rest of the house and people can stay down there late at night and not disturb those trying to sleep. The basemtn is also a place where you can decorate it just the way you like and not worry about it clashing with the design of the rest of the house.

If you are going to play poker in your basement, you can set up the room to include a professional poker table, large flat screen TV, a bar or refrigerator for all the refreshments, and maybe even a pinball machine. Put a good pinball machine in your basement poker room to take out your aggressions on after a bad beat!

If you are going to set up a room in your house to play poker in, the basement is for sure the best place to do it in. The basement is the best place to get away and have your own personal poker part. Cool finished Basement ideas like this will make your house the fun house on the block!

Best Basement Color Ideas

Are you thinking of redesigning your basement and you need to pick out the right colors to paint the walls? Your basement is probably one of the darkest rooms in the house and picking the right colors to paint, along with basement lighting, it is very important. The color(s) you choose can determine whether your basement becomes the warm exciting room you envision or the gloomy underbelly of the house.
When you sit down to choose your basement color ideas, you may want to think about these ways we respond to different colours:

Black
Black usually stands for darkness and despair and it is often associated with death. The color black absorbs light and unless you want your basement to be a depressing place, black should be used sparingly.

White
Much the opposite of black, white reflects almost 85% of light. White tends to make rooms seem brighter and larger than rooms painted with other colors. Unfortunately, white walls are easily the most vulnerable to scraping and marking.

Red
The darker shades of red create a sense of warmth. Red also acts to stimulate and energize so it can be a very exciting and vibrant color for a basement. The brighter reds may counterbalance the neutral colors and add life and excitement to the room.

Orange
Orange has some of the same characteristics of red. The brighter the orange the more lively the room becomes while a softer orange tends to make the room more warm and welcoming.

Green
Green can work to balance red and orange. For a basement, a darker shade of green will work much the same as black. It is probably best to stay away from the darker greens and and stay with the lighter shades.

Blue
Blue is said to calm the nervous system and can soften bright rooms. Much like green, if a very dark shade of blue is used it ends up with the same effect as black. The lighter shades of blue make people feel peaceful and comforted.

Yellow
Yellow is a fantastic color that is cheery and stimulating. Lighter yellows work to make rooms feel larger but if overused, it can be too stimulating. Yellow is best used in combination with another color.

Basement Design for Do It Yourselfers

Today in 2008, basements are no longer viewed as that extra area under the house. If a basement has the right interior design, it will add extra space for you and your family to use. It will also add significant value to your home. Some creative basement design ideas will help you find the right solution for your unused space in the basement.

The most important part of remodeling your basement occurs well before you ever touch a tool. In your planning it is best to view the unfinished basement as an empty canvas and be able to freely create anything new in addition to your basic living needs.

Are you a do-it-yourselfer interested in getting help planning or designing your basement? Several designers have made a career out of basement design and it is big business today, but you may want to design the room yourself.

One of the first things you have to consider in a basmetn idea or redecoration is the lighting. Not enough overhead lighting can spell doom for the design and the room. Since basements do not normally get a lot of natural lighting, you might want to make sure your basement design has plenty of overhead lights so the basement is not so dark when you are trying to enjoy that area.

You will probably want to carpet the basement floor and the stairs that are accessed from the inside of your home. This will make the basement feel more "livable". When finishing or remodeling your basement, make sure you paint the interior surface of the basement wall with a high quality waterproof and mildew resistant basement wall paint. Basement design ideas point out the suggestion of using bright colors for the walls, furniture and accessories.

The best basement design idea will make sure that the end result is a room that does not look like a basement. Remember, that great basements improvement design can increase the value and ambiance of your home and the quality of you life.

Basement Ideas - The Basement Wine Cellar

One of the more obvious basement ideas is to turn your basement into a wine cellar. The basement is the natural and ideal place to store your wine.

Wine needs to kept in a cool dark place where the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much. This is true of the basement as it is usually the coldest and darkest part of the house and the room were the temperature changes the least throughout the year. Additionally, the basement is usually either totally or partly built into the ground so it is the room where there is the least vibration. You can also keep your wine glasses (Wine Glasse Co) down in the basement but that is not necessary.

If you live in a very hot region of the country, you might want to invest in an air conditioner for those stretches of very hot days. Ideally wine should be kept somewhere between 48 - 56 degrees Fahrenheit and during the summer even your basement temperature may go over that.
Additionally, dry climates often cause the cork in wine bottles to shrink which lets in air. This is one thing you do not want to happen and a humidifier might be a wise purchase for those that live in the dryer regions.

A basment wine cellar is the perfect basement idea for anyone who enjoys sweet wine or collecting wine. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to announce to your guests that you will be right back with their selection of Port right after you jaunt down to your basement wine cellar!

Basement Ideas - Basement Gym / Workout Room

Workout machines like treadmills, stair climbers, and elliptical machines are quite the rage right now. This is one of those basement ideas that really makes sense when you think about it.

Basements are very often the coldest room in the house and so there is no better place to put your workout equipment. Very soon after beginning your workout, you will work up a sweat and the cold room will not bother you at all .

Additionally, you can do as little or as much with your basment gym as you like to make it presentable. As this will not be a room to really "hang out" in, you don't have to put down a carpet if you don't want to. Or, if you do want to make it a great looking basement gym, you can do that too.

A basement room ideas like this one is also good for controlling the noise when you work out. As it will be away from the rest of the house, you can play your boombox as loud as you want and the noise of the machines won't be a problem either. You can put in a flat screen TV to make your basment workouts more enjoyable.

One important thing you must do, though, is to make sure your basement gym has a good ventilation system. Being down in the basement their might be no windows to open so you must find a way to keep the air fresh.

This basement ideas is a good one because it frees up another room in the house. Now you won't have to use your den or a bedroom for your workout machines. You can have a seperate place you go to do your basement workout and keep the family rooms available to do other things.