Perhaps you have a growing family or maybe you have decided to invite your parents or in-laws to stay over. In any case, an extra bedroom is never a bad thing – especially if you already have your unused basement just waiting to be transformed! To ensure that this project works just the way you want it to, here are the top guidelines to follow:
Finish the Space
Most basements are unfinished spaces and very little has been done to make them habitable. This is why you need to tackle this before moving onto any other changes. As Guy Solomon, basement remodelling expert will tell you, you need to start off waterproofing this space. This ensures that the moisture doesn’t spread beyond the concrete walls.
The other step that you may want to take is to boost the insulation. As you are well aware, basements can get pretty cold. Thus, you should use insulated panels, batting, and other materials to keep the cold at bay. This can also be pretty great for reducing sound pollution as well.
Install New Windows
Most basements don’t have windows and the ones that do have such features have pretty small frames. If this space doesn’t have a window, I would suggest adding one. Having natural light come in can take away the dreariness of the room. To ensure the job is done correctly and meets building regulations, consider consulting with a Basement Finishing Contractor who can guide you through structural modifications and maximize natural light.
If there is already a window in place, see if you can make the space bigger. At the very least, consider replacing the frames so that there is a greater amount of glass surface area. This will allow more light through.
Update the Lighting
There may be a limit to what you can do with the window situation here. Thus, consider improving the lighting instead. Make sure that every part of the room is lit up – there should be no shadows at all. Look for warm, yellow lights that can mimic sunlight.
It is a good idea to have lots of reflective surfaces as well. This helps to bounce the light from one part of the room to another.
Treat the Room as an Extension of the House
To make this space really look and feel like a bedroom, treat it like an extension of the upper portion of the house. This means using the same colour scheme and overall theme. This can make it feel homier.
The only exception to this would be if you have chosen sombrecolours for the upstairs portion of the house. These may not play as well where there is little sunlight. In this case, opt for light and warm shades that can brighten up the space.
There is a great deal that you can do with texture as well. Fuzzy rugs, colourful throw pillows, and similar décor tactics can be a great way to make the space feel more inviting.
As you can see, there are a lot of guidelines to follow when transforming a basement to a bedroom. Now that you know the rulebook, though, this will be a lot easier to manage. Go ahead and get started with this project and be amazed by the results!