These days, remodeling a basement is about much more than just adding a plain old extra guest bedroom. Basements everywhere are being transformed into game rooms, home movie theaters, full luxurious bathrooms, if you can imagine it, you can probably build it.

How Much Will it Cost?
The average home basement remodeling project will cost somewhere around $40,000-$50,000, but there are ways to trim costs along the way that could lower that figure somewhat without taking anything away from the splendor of the finished product. With some concrete ideas, a little careful planning and the help and advice of a good professional, you can turn that dark empty space into one of the most desirable areas of your home.

Project Pointers

Lighting
This is of utmost importance whatever you are intending to do with the space, so it is not one of the areas where you should economize too much. Basements are of course, naturally very dark places, so imparting the right amount of light will have a huge impact upon the look and feel of the eventual finished project. A particularly dark space can be lit up wonderfully by the use of well-placed track lighting, and you could always install a dimmer switch system if you need to adjust the ambience occasionally.

Moisture Problems
Many basements have a problem with damp and moisture, as well as air quality. All of these issues must be addressed before any of the renovation work proceeds. The best course of action here is to consult a professional who can advise you exactly what steps you need to take to ensure your basement is dry and warm, both before the renovations proceed and long after they are completed.

Design
When contemplating your overall design, put your family's needs first. Although you may be constructing a child's playroom right now, bear in mind that in a few years those toddlers will be teens and the design should be flexible enough that the room can be changed easily to reflect their new needs. You should also consider your future plans. Perhaps you want a home gym, but you cannot quite afford it right now. Leaving an open area where one can be installed later will save all kinds of redesign headaches later on.

Decor
How many houses have you been in that are wonderfully decorated and take your breath away, until you step into the basement? Just because this new room used to be a boring old basement does not mean it should still be treated as one. Resist the temptation to furnish it with odds and ends from the upper floors and invest in wall coverings, flooring and furnishings that complement the look of the rest of the house. Using vibrant color schemes in a basement room can be very effective, as long as you have the lighting right.

Storage
Chances are that before you began thinking about remodeling your basement space it was being used to store all manner of things. Even amid your plans for a great home office, or a comfy home theater, that stuff still needs to go somewhere. Set aside an area of the basement for storage purposes. Building a few shelves and investing in a few plastic containers can be all it takes.

By Melanie Rivera