Hello World! Welcome Friends! Making the most of your home is so important, especially when you have a busy family, Is there a space that you aren’t using, that is a waste, and something that could potentially be making your life as a family a whole lot easier. Why is it then that so many people have basements that are largely unused and wholly unloved?
So many families make little use of their basement space whether because they get intimidated by talks of submersible pumps and mold prevention or because they simply don’t have the vision to transform that basement room into something better. Well, I’m going to help you with the latter by suggesting some better ways to use your basement…
A Storage Room
Okay so a lot of people are already storing stuff in their basement, but most of them have just slung their junk in there with very little rhyme or reason and it doesn’t exactly look like a ‘real room; nor is it particularly easy to find what you are looking for when you need it most. That;’s where a dedicated storage room comes in.
By simply skimming the walls and putting up lots of shelving units and racks, filing cabinets, and so on, you can turn your basement into an actual storage room where there’s a place for everything and it’s easy to find what you need. You can declutter the rest of your home and store your extra stuff down there and it will feel like you have so much more space available to you day-to-day that it could really transform your life.
An Office Space
Now that more of us are working from home, it makes sense to think about the basement as a potential office space, especially if you’re finding it impossible to work around the usual hustle and bustle of family life.
This is something that’s best done if you have some natural light filtering into your basement, or if you can install some kind of window, as natural light makes the working day easier, but even if that isn’t possible, a high-powered lamp, a desk and a decent ergonomic chair could make for the perfect office space.
If you go down this route, you may also want to consider painting the walls in a light shade to promote wellness and productivity. You may also want to think about adding some soundproofing to minimize family noises from above.
A Workshop
If you or someone in your family is pretty handy with a hammer or has the kind of practical hobby that uses a lot of tools and have the potential to make a lot of mess, transforming the basement into a dedicated workshop with tool bench, sink, and plenty of space to make something amazing is a really neat idea. It’ll help to boost creativity and the use of practical skills around the house, which means it could actually save you money in the long-term.
An Extra Bedroom
If your family is starting to outgrow your house, instead of moving, have you considered that it may be cheaper to transform the basement into an additional bedroom. This may take more work to make it cozy, in terms of installing flooring, skimming and decorating the walls and potentially adding a source of natural light – you could use light tubes as an alternative if this isn’t possible- but it will probably still be cheaper than buying a new home with more bedrooms, Not only that but if you have older teens who want their own space away from the family, it can be an ideal solution.
A Home Gym
Right now, many people are finding the local gyms closed which means they either have to exercise in the cold and rain, try to do their gym work in the midst of family life at home, or go without exercise at all, which isn’t exactly healthy. If this sounds familiar, why not transform your basement into your very own home gymnasium? Clean it up as best you can, fill it with the basics like a weight bench, rowing machine, and elliptical and head down there for your daily workout. If you don’t have much headroom, equipment like rowing and cycling machines that don’t require a high head height are ideal and will ensure you can use the space to the fullest.
A Pet Haven
Have a dog? The basement is often the perfect place to put him when you need him to be safely and securely out of the way, such as when contractors are working in the home or you have people over who are scared of dogs.
Make it cozy by putting down a wipeable laminate floor and plenty of warm rugs, install his bed/crate and a feed station as well as a pet video monitor and plenty of toys (make sure they’re safe for him to play with unsupervised) and your pooch will be the envy of all the other dogs on the block because he’ll be the only one to have his very own pad. Just remember that you shouldn’t leave him down there alone all day – just during those times when he needs space or you need him to be out of the way.
A Prayer Room
If you have a big family, it can be hard to find the peace and quiet you need to reflect, pray and maybe meditate for a while. By converting the basement into a dedicated prayer room, you can change that. Paint everything a soothing shade of white, install a carpet and lots of comfy floor cushions, chairs, and beanbags and, if you can afford it, get some soundproofing, light a candle, and pretty soon it will be your favorite place in the home, no contest.
A Laundry Room
You’ll probably have to get a plumber in, but it will be worth it when you have your own spacious laundry room that’s out of the way of daily life to do the necessary and keep your clothes clean. If you can install a source of ventilation and a sink, it’ll be a really great space. Oh, and cold water washers will need far less professional input than hot ones, so bear that in mind too.
What will you do with your basement?
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Toodles,
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