Not every home has a basement, but the ones that do give the homeowner a great opportunity for extra living space. Refurbishing a basement offers the homeowner a less expensive alternative to adding extra rooms to the house. A newly decorated basement is a good example of a green project. Because basements stay cooler in the summer and are a little bit warmer in the winter. This will help to save some money on utility bills. Adding a finished basement to the property will also increase the value of the home.

Change the basement into a bar; it is more a man’s idea, but a bar, complete with beer taps and cocktail shakers is a popular choice and a great place to have friends come over. A craft/tool area is a good choice if there are children in the house. It can often be difficult to have any kind of hobby in the house, because the children will want to join in. If the hobby includes woodcarving or other crafts, then a basement will be perfect. The door can be locked so the children can’t get in and the adult can enjoy an hour or two relaxing and working on a hobby. A refurbished basement is also perfect as a play area for children. Keeping all the toys down there and not on general show leads to a tidier looking home.

A home theatre room is another popular choice for the basement and remember with concrete walls, the basement is a great place to sit in relative peace and quiet as the rest of the world goes on above, so a library or home office also fits the bill. A games room is another man’s dream, with a pool table, poker table, plasma screen television for sport and movies and a pinball machine. Just remember the household insurance policy will need to be updated if expensive items are being bought.

Basements can be anything you want, from an extra bedroom to a home gym. Too many people focus on decorating the main floors and forget about the basement. With a little ingenuity, and maybe a professional contractor, the basement can be turned into a room to be proud of instead of a cobweb infested area of the home.