Posts Tagged Ideas
Basement Refinishing Ideas For More Comfortable Workspace
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on June 4th, 2010
The basement is often thought of as unusable space in the home, however if you refinish it properly, it can make it appealing and comfortable workspace for those decorating projects for the rest of the home.
If you want to create storage space in your basement, then you should consider wall-mounted shelves. These will be a lot less bulky than large cabinets and will be easier to carry down into the basement for setting up. You want to be sure that you attach the shelves to the wall securely using the right types of bolts as you don’t want everything falling down later on. If your basement walls are concrete, then you’ll have to be sure to drill in carefully and use the appropriate glues.
Along with your storage shelves, you might want to add a nice workbench. Here you’ll be able to use your power tools and other implements without bothering anyone else in the house. Depending on the entryway that you have into the basement, you might want to consider expanding and if you will be doing big projects down and and taking them upstairs are outside.
If you are going to use those power tools in the basement, one of your first basement refinishing ideas might be to consider acoustic lining which will help keep the noise you’re making in the basement from bothering your wife upstairs. This will allow you to be able to go down there and do your work whenever you want without upsetting your other family members.
The basement can be a great place to cool off in the summer but might not be so pleasant in the winter so if you really want to control the temps down there, you might consider thermal insulation. Installing thermal insulation in the proper manner can help keep your temperatures more consistent and allow you to be able to work in their more comfortably.
You will be able to get much work done though in a dimly lit basement so you might want to consider adding some soft light lamps or other bright lighting that isn’t as harsh as fluorescent lights on the eyes. You want to make sure that it’s well lit, especially if you’re going to be doing construction projects at your workbench but you want the light to be pleasant and smooth.
One of the most popular basement refinishing ideas that can actually add more monetary value to your home is to put a bathroom in the basement. Since most of your pipes are down there anyway, a bathroom can fit right in. You may have to install a toilet that pumps up though, if you’re underground but these can be easily done by any plumber. Having an extra bathroom, even if it is in the basement can add a lot of convenience to your family life and might even help you get to work on time in the morning!
Learn more about home improvement by visiting http://www.perfecthomedecor.com – a website that offers tips on decorating your home including styles for kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and basement refinishing.
A Collection Of Great Basement Ideas
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on April 17th, 2010
Most homes have a basement that either sits empty or is used for storage. What a waste that is for a room that ads an entire extra floor to your home! There are many different things you can do with your basement and uses you can have for it. All it takes is a little imagination! Here then, in no particular order, are some basement ideas you may want to consider:
1) The basement is a great place for a hobby room. For instance, some people like miniature trains and what better place is there than the basement to set up your realistic village and train track? The basement can be used for most any hobby and lets you get away, relax, and concentrate on your hobby.
2) Now that so many people have large flat screen TV’s, they need a room that can be devoted to watching TV. The basement is a great place to set everything up just like you want to have the in home theater experience.
3) Basement lighting can be critical because it will set the mood for the room. Basements typically have little to no sunlight and thus the artificial lights you choose are critical. Try things like string lights, globe lights, Onyx lights, and novelty lights to get just what you want the room to look like.
4) The basement will naturally be the coldest room during the hot summer months and it might be made into a bedroom or guest room. If your house does not have air conditioning, sleeping downstairs in the basement during the summer might be a “cool” idea and get you a better night’s sleep.
5) Your basement can also be turned into a themed area. Does your son like baseball or a certain sport? Turn your basement into a room devoted to his favorite team or sport. If you have a daughter it can be a room about whatever she is intensely interested in.
6) Many people do more work from home now and are looking for that extra room to turn into an office. The basement might work great as it is a secluded place where you can concentrate on your job and not be distracted by all the goings on in the rest of the house.
7) Do you like wine? If you have been looking for the right place to store it then the basement is surely it. Wine needs to be kept at a constant cool temperature and the basement can be turned into a wine cellar. You can choose to make your basement wine cellar as sophisticated as you wish without worrying about others in the house getting in the way and disturbing the wine.
Are you looking for more great basement ideas? Please visit my website Basement Design Ideas for more exciting things to do with your basement.
Basement Finishing Ideas For DIY Enthusiasts
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on March 8th, 2010
Basements can be a major selling point when it comes to real estate. Many people like having a finished basement for many different reasons. For some it is a recreation room where they can set up a pool table or a ping-pong table.
For some it is a storage area, a great place to put things that won’t fit in the attic. For many, however, it is a wasted area that is partly storage, partly a game room, and mostly unused. But, for those of you with a little DIY heating and plumbing knowledge and the ability to get a home remodeling loan, the basement can easily be turned into the best spot in the house.
Why Remodel The Basement?
Most basements in America were not built for much of anything except extra storage space. They are usually left unfinished by the builder with nothing more than a 60-watt light in the middle of a large, open room. The biggest reason to remodel your basement is because of all the useable square footage that it will provide. There is a lot of wasted space in a basement because it was never finished enough to be able to do anything with it. All the other reasons for remodeling come in the form of what you will be able to use the space for.
I think that the best use for a basement is to convert it into an entertaining area. It is very nice to have a place to bring a lot of guests to without worrying about the whole house getting trashed. There is also a lot of benefit as far as noise goes. If the party is always in the basement, the noise will never reach the complaining neighbors! It is also a very unique entertaining experience to have a separate, slightly isolated area for entertaining. And so, the question now is, how can you make a dull, lifeless basement transform into an exciting, vibrant entertainment area? Here are a few basement-finishing ideas to help you out.
Make it warm and inviting
Basements are usually cold and inconvenient, that is why nobody ever goes down into them. Start with a heating and air conditioning upgrade. Run a few heating and air vents throughout the basement so that every section of it stays nice. A wise thing to do would be to allow the basement heat and air to be turned off when no one is using the basement in order to save money. Basement lighting is also quite inadequate most of the time. Run a few wires around and add more light. Be careful when working with electricity, as this is one of the most common causes of residential construction accidents.
Section it off
It isn’t that difficult to add a few walls here and there. Throw up a few walls for a bathroom, add some dividers to separate a kitchen area, and even put a small bedroom to accommodate guests. The addition of a few walls will make the basement much more appealing.
Put in a bathroom
When entertaining, you do not want to have to ask your guests to walk upstairs in order to use the bathroom, especially if you are serving alcoholic beverages, which increase traffic to the restroom exponentially. You also do not want to house guests in your basement and make them travel upstairs in order to brush their teeth or wash their face. A small bathroom, with or without a shower, will be a huge asset. Check out a lot of different bathroom designs in order to find the one that suits your situation. If you will not be sleeping guests in the basement, all you need is a toilet and sink. If you will have people staying in the basement, it would be nice to have a nice shower, sink, toilet, and closet space. Someone with a little DIY plumbing knowledge and an eye for bathroom design can put in a nice bathroom very easily.
Use it often
There is no point in doing anything to a basement if you are not going to do anything in the basement. Once you have put all the time and effort into remodeling, don’t let it gather any dust. But be careful, with a nice finished basement, you may never have a quiet night to yourself ever again!
Isabel Baldry is a freelance writer who writes passionately about a number of subjects. She has contributed more about home remodeling and basement finishing here.
Home Building 101: Basement Finishing Ideas
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on March 7th, 2010
Home Building 101: Basement Finishing Ideas
Hot Basement Ideas for Room Layouts
Your basement can be the most diverse area in your home. What should you include? Many people include a bathroom, bedroom, game room, storage room, and a home theater if your budgeting allows. If you need a place for your book collection or a spare room for your guests, your basement may be among your best bets. What are other ideas for getting the most use of your basement? Lets answer this question while ensuring we fit your personality and your individual lifestyle.
Library or Shelving
Basements are quiet areas. What a good spot for a reading room! Snuggled in your newly finished basement you now have the chance to enjoy your favorite books in peace and quiet. You still are inside your home just in case you are wanted upstairs.
Make sure your books are away from the window light to avoid sun exposure. Ceiling lighting is almost always needed inside the basement, so be sure to plan out your light fixtures to illuminate your basement lighting correctly. Mix strong task lighting with direct ambient lighting. Look over the light bulb packages and lighting fixture boxes at your supply store if you do not have the time to look up the definition of lighting and the lighting terms I stated seem like another language!
Movie Room
The movie room also called the home theater or entertainment room is among the most popular in finished off home basements. Proper Planning is essential before the basement finishing off process starts. Speaker wiring, cable wiring, and electrical wiring all need to be included prior to having any work done.
Wine cellar
Basements are often including the option of a Wine Cellar. Do you have a large collection of wine? Consider having something larger than a shelf for storing your bottles. Having an entire room designated for this very purpose is a very intriguing and fascinating idea indeed! It actually is quite simple to achieve adding this delicacy to your home. Basements are usually cool and dry. This is the environment needed to keep wines. Ideal temperatures range within 48 to 56 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in an area with a hot climate, you will probably need to Move Away. 
I mean – buy an air conditioner or air exchanger.
Home Work Out Area
This area has cluttered many a basement that was just too small for including it. Often a membership to your local YMCA (No Affiliation so I Hope I’m O.k. with stating this in my article) “Y” “M” “C” “A”, the “y” “M” “C” “A” … O.K. enough singing.
When basements are large enough, you may transform basements into fitness centers. Basements including treadmills, or lots of fitness equipment, can easily fit into your space with the right planning. Home sauna’s are now popular in basements for when the work out is complete. They can be bought pre-made, equipped with your favorite C.D. or players, and use regular electrical outlets for power.
Recreation and Family Rooms
Living rooms in basements are wonderful areas to hang out. Keep in mind people also use this basement area for entertainment purposes. A separate family room will allow your family to engage in different activities and relax without having to worry about keeping it in Tip Top shape if someone should happen to stop in. If you have small children, a carpeted floor or rugs are ideal for a play areas.
Hope this helps – Sincerely wishing you remodeling success!
Build Writewell enjoys spending time with his lovely wife and young son. He loves the outdoor activities such as fishing, softball, playing catch, and shooting hoops as well as boating. He is the proud author of http://www.brandsconstruction.com/Blogb2/index.php http://www.HomePlansforFree.com
http://www.BrandsConstruction.com
7 Great Basement Design Ideas
Posted by admin in Long Island Basements on March 6th, 2010
Do you have a big, cold, wasted basement under your house? If you do, this is a great opportunity to turn that room into something exciting and in some cases even free up more room upstairs. Basement design ideas are as good as you want to make them and the more you use your imagination, the better ideas you will come up with. Here are 7 time tested basement ideas that can add to your home and make it an exciting place to live:
1) Basement Home Theater – Or maybe just a big TV room if you choose. With the proliferation of reasonably priced LCD flat screens 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 / Entertainment Room – 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!
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 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.
These are just some of the basement ideas you can use to make your basement into a room that is used instead of one that just sits there empty.
For more great ideas on what to do with your basement and pictures please go to Basement Ideas.
“Long Island Contractor Will Build Your Basement With No Worries”
Creating extra living space affordably has never been easier. This Contractor shows dozens of different uses for basement spaces, then shows their clients exactly how they will accomplish each task. Spaces include adding an extra bathroom, a family room, bedroom, home office, kitchen or game room to their homes.
A basement can be as fine a living space as any other area of the house. Basements present their own challenges, such as moisture, lack of heat and light, among other issues, but many ideas are available to remedy these.
Click here to get a reliable Long Island basement contractor.
