Written by Will Valento

Designing a basement that can effortlessly accommodate your activities, hobbies and passions isn’t easy. It’s a complex process that forces you to ask a series of difficult questions. How much space do I need to set up a drum kit in this room? Will my new home bar fit in this corner? Can I tear down that wall without collapsing the building? At We Build the Fun Stuff, we’ve been perfecting home interiors across the Twin Cities for decades, providing families with all of the knowledge and resources needed to upgrade their basements into endless sources of excitement and joy. Today, we’ll be discussing some of the most important steps to follow when designing a fun and efficient basement for your home.

Step 1: Separate Your Needs From Your Wants

Right now, you’re probably juggling a number of basement renovations around in your head. You could transform this area into the ultimate home theater, tricking it out with comfy sofas, a powerful sound system and a few shelves for storing popcorn, soda and those weird gummy fish that hail from Sweden. Alternatively, you could bring in pool tables, refrigerators, arcade cabinets, video game consoles and desktop computers to turn your basement into your own personal man cave. But before we get carried away by this tide of possibilities, let’s take some time to prioritize.

Regrettably, there is a limit on the number of awesome renovations you can add to your basement. After all, you only have so much space to work with and so much money to spend. That’s why it’s so important to figure out which features your basement absolutely must have. Otherwise, you’ll get so caught up in all of these different options and cool additions that you might overlook a necessity. Put simply, you should always design your basement around your needs, not your desires.

Here’s an example. If you’re set on turning your basement into a home gym or a massive exercise room, then your first and most important priority will be designing a space that can facilitate all of the fitness gear and equipment that you’ll need. Take care of those key details first, then you can worry about where to place that sauna or the extra bathroom. If you have room to spare for all of those additional features, you’re golden. And if you don’t, you’ll be able to readjust and cut back on a few of those nonessential upgrades.

Step 2: Don’t Cram in Too Many Amenities

You might feel inclined to fill your basement up with as many toys and features as you can, but all this will do is make the space feel cluttered and disorganized. You might be capable of squeezing an extra chair into your new cigar room, but that doesn’t mean that you should. This mistake can be particularly problematic in rooms that center around physical activities. Nothing will kill your enthusiasm for working out faster than an exercise space that’s too packed with equipment to move around comfortably.

If you haven’t yet, draw up a simple floor plan for your basement and include all of the new items and furniture you plan on adding. This will help you to determine how much free space each room will have once all of the renovations are finished. You can even make use of free 3D floor plan software (or boot up your favorite version of The Sims) to experiment with different furniture arrangements and get a detailed look at how the final product will look.

Step 3: Have Fun!

Remember, designing and improving your basement shouldn’t be a slog or a chore. In fact, this project has the potential to be one of the most fun and rewarding experiences you’ll embark on as a homeowner (not to mention the value that it’ll add to your property if you ever decide to sell). If you feel yourself getting stressed out or worn down, just take a moment to imagine all of the great moments and memories you and your family will create in this new space. You’re putting hard work in now so that you can enjoy yourself later.

Stay positive, prioritize and think your decisions through. The rest will take care of itself.

Renovate Your Basement Today With We Build the Fun Stuff

Now that you have a solid understanding of how to design your basement, it’s time to take action and reach out to a high-quality remodeling company. Regardless of the scope or complexity of your home improvement project, We Build the Fun Stuff can help. We’re one of the most affordable and fun contractors in the industry, and we’ll stop at nothing to match and exceed your expectations. Not convinced yet? Then just take a look at some of the phenomenal interior projects we’ve completed over the years.
If you’re interested in working with We Build the Fun Stuff, then be sure to call or message us today to make an appointment or receive your free design consultation.