Basement Finishing Ideas and Plans

A basement can be a blank canvas for a creative homeowner who is interested in finishing the room. There are several basement finishing ideas that are easy to complete and can make a room feel more livable and useful. A bright and beautiful basement can make a home feel bigger. Added living space allows for a higher resell value on a home. There are many plans that a homeowner can follow depending on the size and use of the space. A homeowner can decide to take on the project alone or can hire a basement contractor who has experience with a project. A contractor may also only be hired to help the homeowner with certain aspects of the project. The contract can, however, give hints and advice on the easiest way to finish the plans. Basement finishing ideas can be found in local home improvement stores, online or can be suggested by a basement contractor.The most important elements of a finished basement are the floor, lighting and walls of the room. When finishing the floor, a homeowner has many different options since it is usually a stark cement floor. Wood flooring, laminate or tiles are easily laid on the concrete floor if it is even and there are not a lot of support beams in the space. Carpet is another easy alternative and may be a good idea in order to insulate the floor in cold weather. A contractor or expert can give hints on the best flooring for a space, depending on what the homeowner plans to use the basement for once it is finished. Lighting in a basement is extremely important because it is one of the only rooms in the house that has no access to natural light. In order to make the room feel light and bright, a homeowner may need to purchase many lights to accessorize the space. A homeowner who wants permanent lighting in the room may need to turn to an electrician to install wiring for a chandelier, track lighting or a ceiling fan with additional lighting. While this may seem like more hassle and money to invest in the remodeling, it can add a lot of value to the room.The walls of the basement should be waterproof in order to keep a basement dry and clean. All basement finishing ideas should include the treatment and waterproofing of the walls. If a homeowner’s plans include the addition of walls or partitions in the basement, he or she may want to get the advice and hints of a contractor before attempting to install these walls.Finishing a basement can be a simple or complicated project, depending on the plans a homeowner has chosen to follow. There are many basement finishing ideas that homeowners can review when trying to design the plans for a basement. A homeowner should first know what the basement will be used for, what budget he or she will be following and how complicated the process will be. A homeowner who has many complicated aspects of the remodeling process may want to look into hiring a contractor to help with the process.