20 Clever Ways to Increase the Value of Your Basement

Your basement is the perfect space to turn into a bar where the grown-ups can hang out. All you need is a bar counter, some bar stools, a large TV for watching the game and a selection of your favourite kinds of tipple. Even a small basement can become a cozy, intimate social space.

Is there a problem with your basement? HGTV star Brian McCourt reveals the answers to your 10 biggest basement dilemmas.

Add a foosball or pool table, a dartboard, some arcade games and maybe a PlayStation and your basement will become the room where you’ll want to spend the most time. A mini fridge will ensure that you always have some drinks on hand too.

Need more inspiration? Take a look at the dreamiest basement apartment you’ll ever see.

Your kids will be thrilled with a playroom of their very own. Paint the basement walls in bright colours; then add some kid-sized furniture and your children’s toys. This will also help to reduce clutter in their bedrooms.

Not sure what bright colours to use? These are the best colour palettes to brighten a dark basement.

The bookworms in the family will appreciate a quiet, comfortable space where they can get into the latest page-turner. You’ll need floor-to-ceiling shelf space, deep and comfortable chairs to curl up in, a few pillows and throws, reading lights and, of course, books.

To turn your basement into a space where the family can watch movies, you’ll obviously need a large TV screen and the cable or streaming device of your choice. Large couches, comfortable chairs, plenty of pillows, a few blankets or throws and maybe even a microwave oven for making popcorn will complete the picture.

If your basement isn’t too big, you can turn the whole space into a luxurious bathroom. This kind of renovation will cost more but will also pay off in terms of the value a great bathroom can add to your home.

Just in time for those family gatherings during the holidays, your basement can become a stunning guest bedroom. Paint it in light colours, add plenty of lighting and, if you can, enlarge the windows to drive away the darkness.

You don’t have to move into a bigger house just because your family is growing. Make sure there is enough light and add lots of bright colours to create your child’s dream bedroom.

Teenagers love having their own space and usually don’t mind too much if it’s a little dark, so the basement can make an ideal teenager’s bedroom. Just leave more than enough wall space for posters.

Add some soundproofing and the basement will be the perfect space for the budding musician in the family to practise. You can also turn this part of the house into a music studio for composing, recording and remixing.

If you can enlarge the windows to let in lots of natural light, your basement can become a retreat for the artist in the family. Be sure that there are adequate shelves for supplies, a large work table and maybe a washbasin for cleaning paintbrushes or tools.

If you have a catering business or make preserves or other food products to sell, you’ll love how much easier your life becomes when you have a dedicated kitchen just for this. Ensure that there is good ventilation, though. You may also want to add a separate entrance to make loading and unloading easier.

Ideally, your home office should be separate from the rest of the house and what could be more ideal than having it in the basement? Decorate it according to your work needs, add lots of lighting and, to keep work and home life truly separate, add another entrance.

To turn your basement into the kind of home gym that you’d actually want to use, don’t just install your exercise equipment in there. Add a small fridge and a blender for those energy drinks and protein smoothies and some good sound equipment for high-energy tunes.

In the old days, many homes had cellars for keeping root vegetables, cheese, smoked meats and other foods. There is no reason why your basement can serve the same purpose. Just keep it damp proof so your food won’t spoil and regularly check for signs of pests.

If you love wine, you may want to turn your basement into a wine cellar. Add lots of shelving space and, if you’re really serious about the quality of different vintages, you may also want to add a smart thermostat for temperature control.

If you live in tornado-prone Southern Ontario or the Prairies, a reinforced storm shelter that you can reach quickly and easily is a good idea. Having it installed in the basement means you won’t have to leave the house to get to it. Just remember to keep it well stocked with emergency supplies.

A large basement can become an apartment. This will be a big project, since you’ll need to add at least a bathroom, kitchen space and separate entrance, but it will pay for itself in no time with the rental income it can earn you.

There’s no reason why your basement laundry room should be gloomy and bare. Built-in cupboards for storage space, a fold-out ironing board, a coffee maker and a comfortable chair with magazine rack will make it a joy to wait for the washing machine to run through all its cycles.

Of course, you keep your basement as a storage room. However, get it organized and clutter-free with built-in cupboards or locker units, baskets or plastic containers and plenty of shelves. Use the space wisely too: you can even create a neat storage space under the stairs.