Basement Finishing Projects

If the basement is intended for personal use, it may not have a bathroom at all. However, most homeowners opt for at least a powder room with a vanity and toilet. Often, they also install a 3-piece bathroom with a shower (read more in the article Basement Bathroom Ideas).

For a full-fledged legal basement apartment, a complete 3-piece bathroom is essential. This includes regular use of a toilet, vanity, and shower room. The choice of individual elements for this space should be based on these requirements.

If the basement is to be used as a legal apartment, a separate bedroom is not always, but very often, included. However, this room is also frequently implemented in spaces intended for personal use.

A separate bedroom is very useful if friends, relatives, or other guests often travel from afar to stay overnight. In this case, you will always have a spare room where they can be comfortably and conveniently accommodated.

It’s common to organize a separate basement home office, which can be adapted for any professional activity of the homeowners. Sometimes, basements are even transformed into workshops or dental clinics.

Creating a home office in the basement can be an excellent idea to shield yourself from unnecessary noise, which could come from children or other activities in the main part of the house. This applies to any activity that requires a calm environment.

A laundry room is often planned in the basement, housing washing and drying machines, as well as a special laundry cabinet for hand-washing delicate items and conveniently cleaning shoes. This room is very appropriate for the basement to eliminate noise in the main part of the house.

The basement laundry room is often combined with a storage space, where various items can be temporarily or permanently stored. This room doesn’t require expensive finishes, but can become very useful for continuous use by the homeowners throughout the life of the house.

Laminate is often used as the main flooring material throughout the basement, regardless of its layout. The exception is usually the bathroom, where special tiles are laid due to increased humidity. These tiles also vary in design and material.

To visually enlarge the space in the basement design, walls are usually painted white. However, some parts of the walls can also be dark, adding depth to the space. Ceiling joists are typically concealed using finishing materials and are very rarely left exposed.

An integral feature of many basements is a bar or its individual elements. For instance, a bar counter along with bar stools can serve as a top-tier seating area for TV viewing. However, the centerpiece of the basement can also be a classic bar equipped with everything necessary for drinks.

A great idea for the basement is to consider the material of the bar countertop. This could be a warmer MDF or practical quartz, which is especially effective for frequent contact with liquids.

Tile is specifically used for finishing basement bathrooms. This is primarily due to the constant high humidity in this space, which adversely affects other materials. Tile is also often used for basement walls and basement floor in other areas.

For walls, ceramic and porcelain are commonly used. Since ceramic is more prone to moisture absorption, porcelain and mosaic tiles are more practical choices for flooring. Regarding size, tiles can range from standard 12×12 inches to 48×24 inches.

Materials should also be considered when planning the basement staircase. For example, treads and risers might be partially made of laminate. However, the nose of each step, bearing the greatest load, will still be made of oak, known for its durability and damage resistance.

A great basement idea related to materials is to construct stair treads entirely from oak. Since basement stairs are heavily used, this approach significantly increases their longevity, maintaining their original appearance for many years, even decades.