14 Smart Design Ideas for Underused Basements
Bring your basement to life.
Basements are probably one of the trickiest spots to design. They’re often sprawling, oddly shaped and limited in scope, so it’s easy to feel stuck when you’re trying to think through the design of your space. But once you set aside the limitations, you can easily turn your basement into a functional spot the whole family can enjoy.
I’ve rounded up 14 of my favorite basement design ideas to get your wheels turning as you think about your own space.
1: Chic Screening Room
Eric Perry, 2014, Scripps Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved
If your living room isn’t quite big enough to fit the whole family on movie nights, turn your basement into a screening room. Choose a large, comfy sectional sofa and a large TV or movie screen. Consider adding a small refrigerator to hold drinks and snacks or even a small popcorn maker.
2: Swanky Supper Club
Contemporary Blue Basement Dining Area
Banquette seating wraps around a round wood table in this colorful contemporary basement dining room. Bright blocks of color in silver frames pop a against a pale blue wall accented by a blue ceiling lamp.
Photo by: Molly Kann-Carey
Molly Kann-Carey
For a more luxe space, design your basement to look like a swanky supper club. A large booth or banquette can fit all of your friends and family at special meals. It would also work great for cocktail parties or wine-tasting parties. You can pair it with a special bar area or a small wine refrigerator.
3: Creative Space
Whatever your creative pursuits might be, your basement could work as a space for you to make art, start a new hobby or set up your crafting space. Creative spaces can look a bit rawer, so cement floors, wall murals or exposed beams would all look great in a space like that.
4: Modern Music Studio
Tony Soluri Photography
If music is your passion, an at-home basement studio could be a perfect match. You’ll want to make sure that both your walls and floors are properly covered for the best sound, and that the wiring and electrical panel can handle this setup.
5: Multipurpose Family Space
Chris Amaral
You don’t necessarily need to choose one theme for your basement area. Instead, create an open, multipurpose space for the whole family. Include a playhouse for the kids, a bar area for the adults and a couch for everyone to gather.
6: Game Room
Pinball Arcade Stars in Basement Project
This party-ready room features a well-lit line of vintage pinball machines, not your average basement. Slick industrial tile floors in purple add to the room's fun, retro aesthetic.
Photo by: ©Finished Basement Company
©Finished Basement Company
If you love old arcade games, set up your basement as an at-home game room. And if you don’t want to splurge on vintage arcade games, you could alternatively set up a large screen for a video game system.
7: Luxe Home Gym
Fully Equipped Home Gym in Modern Basement
The home gym, which is separated from the rest of the basement by a glass wall with a glass barn door, is equipped with anything a workout guru might need. From a place to store yoga mats to a weight rack to a rock climbing wall, this state of the art space is perfect for exercise.
Photo by: Jon Eady Photography
Jon Eady Photography
While many of us keep exercise equipment in the basement, you could take things to the next level by creating a luxe home gym. If you love yoga, set up a mini yoga studio. If you love spinning, attach a large mirror to the wall in front of your spinning bike. Or if you have the space and budget, you could build out a full gym in your basement, so you never have to leave for a workout.
8: Kitchen + Wine Cellar
If food and wine are your passions, create a space that honors your two loves. It’s often difficult and costly to rearrange an existing kitchen; however, the blank slate of a basement might allow you to create your dream kitchen and wine cellar. You’ll need to confirm that plumbing, electricity and gas are available in your basement before tackling a project like this.
9: '50s Diner
Sometimes it’s fun to go all in on a theme, and this '50s diner-themed basement is a fun project to try. An old vinyl booth, vintage jukebox and colorful art help bring this basement to life.
10: Colorful Playroom
Basement Playroom Features Toy Storage & Play Table
Designer Claire Paquin created a space in the basement of her client's home that could function for young children, as well as space for adults. For the play area, carpet tiles create visual interest, color and warmth for kids to play on the floor. A bookcase cubby is a wonderful choice for toys and games.
Photo by: Claire Paquin
Claire Paquin
If the kids are out of space upstairs, the basement might make the perfect spot to set up a playroom. Playrooms are fairly inexpensive to put together and can often feature just a few important pieces: a bookshelf to store books and toys, a table and chairs and a comfy spot on the floor to play.
11: Industrial Pool Room
Industrial Basement Hangout With Pool Table
Exposed concrete walls give this basement hangout an industrial vibe. The space is made more inviting with a pool table, large black and white portraits and a white couch with bold lettered throw pillows.
If you don’t have the budget to do any renovating but you’d like to create a fun space in your basement, opt for something like this industrial pool room. Use a pool table or ping-pong table as a centerpiece, and pair it with a simple sofa. Leave the rest of the space raw to help create a more industrial feel to your basement.
12: Hidden Office
If you need some office space, a hidden desk solution might work well for you. This office was created using IKEA Pax wardrobes. When you’re working, you can open the doors, and when you’re not, it simply looks like a closet.
13: Kids' Art Space
Stylish Kids Art Studio
Designer Justine Sterling transformed a low-ceiling basement space in a 1920s Colonial to create a studio. It’s a walkout basement with two windows providing decent light, but it was very ugly with exposed pipes, a horrible acoustic tile ceiling and old sticky vinyl flooring. At roughly 450 square feet, there was a good amount of space to create a project room for the children. The room is now a lively children's workspace.
Photo by: Jessica Delaney Photography
Jessica Delaney Photography
If you want a dedicated art space for your kids, build them a basement art studio. Mounted curtain rods work great to display your kids' art, and a big table works as a space for them to create.
14: Plush Guest Bedroom
Contemporary Country Bedroom
A beautiful, velvet teal headboard with tufting brings a touch of glamour to this country cottage bedroom. Mismatched bedding gives the room an eclectic feel. A simple wooden stool serves as a nightstand.
Photo by: Jane Beiles
Jane Beiles
If you need some extra space for guests, set up a beautiful guest room suite in your basement. Include some special touches like high-thread-count bedding, fluffy towels and a bedside light to really make your guests feel at home.
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