25 Finished Basement Ideas to Inspire Your Next Remodel
Striking home bars, bonus kitchens and creative playrooms, to name a few.
After you've put your time and energy into decorating your main floors, the basement can be a forgotten or underused space. It can quickly become a receptacle for clutter — or worse: a dark room where no one ventures to hang out. But, your basement space offers a ton of possibilities; transform dead space into a WFH office, game room, home fitness center or any type of livable room that adds value to your home. For a dose of well-needed inspiration, we've rounded up basement ideas that highlight a few of the many ways to maximize your lower-level space.
From small living room ideas to expansive home theaters, the basement is the perfect spot to craft a cozy lounge area (binging TV is the one time no windows can come in handy). If function is top of mind, create a laundry room or a mud room filled with built-in storage. For those who love to host, consider a small kitchen design, gorgeous home bar or even a guest bedroom and bathroom to afford overnight guests their privacy. Let's not forget about cheerful playrooms in the basement (think: indoor playgrounds and kid-friendly living rooms).
No matter which direction you go, your previously underused space can become your favorite room in the house. As you browse, you'll also pick up tips for designing bright, cozy spaces — even with a lack of natural light.
Paint Everything White
Windows aren’t the only way to create a bright space. Here, designer Max Humphrey, paints the vertical shiplap walls white in a satin finish. "There’s a slight sheen to the whole space for light to bounce off of," Humphrey says.
Perfect a Playroom
Decorated with hand-painted polka dots, this indoor playroom is perfect for three kids under six. “The monkey bars let the kiddos reach the slide and the balcony," says Anne Gillyard of grOH! Playrooms. "They can also access the balcony from the climbing wall."
Craft a Cozy Living Space
Use a mix of textures, like a shiplap staircase, chunky rug and an assortment of throw pillows, to build a comfortable lounge area. "Books and faux plants bring life, beauty and a sculptural quality into spaces," says Curated Nest’s Lina Galvão.
Elevate the Basement Bar
Reimagine your home bar with a touch of glam, like a three-dimensional terracotta backsplash, geometric pendants or antique mirror accents. "The metallic backdrop adds an element of surprise," says designer Linda Sullivan. The finishing touch? A Ping-Pong table.
Carve Out a Fitness Zone
The basement is the perfect place to work up a sweat. For this minimalist layout, Max Humphrey pairs workout equipment with a wall-mounted TV and inexpensive birch plywood shelves filled with greenery.
Go Bold With Wallpaper
For this compact laundry room, designer Gray Walker chose all-white cabinetry paired with a graphic Pierre Frey wallpaper. "It feels like you are inside a painting," she says of the vibrant space.
Infuse a Playroom With Color
If you're decorating a space for children, keep in mind that color helps spark creativity. Here, designer Caroline Kopp adds an orange bean bag chair and green ottoman, along with a number of bright throw pillows and decorative accents.
Display Your Collection
Leaning into a library-like feel, designer Alexandra Kaehler turned what used to be a dark basement into a chic clubhouse. The walls are adorned with the clients' art and memorabilia collection — "pieces they’ve collected over the years reflect the places they have lived as well as their interests," according to Kaehler.
Install a Basement Bathroom
Not only can an extra bathroom increase your home's value, it's convenient for guests and children — so, they won't have to venture upstairs. Just be sure to keep the walls and ceiling light, since you'll likely be short on natural light.
Build a TV Room
Lindsey Treasure of Alder + Tweed crafts a perfect spot for movie night or binge-watching. Complete with a custom sectional, portable ottomans and stools that can be tucked under the bar-height table, this basement living space prioritizes comfortable seating.
Design a Space for Entertaining
Designed by Sarah Cole Interiors, this small kitchen meets home bar is the ideal spot for hosting. Let your guests sit back and relax on the industrial-style bar stools as you whip up snacks and drinks.
Bring a Bedroom Into the Basement
A simple bedroom in the basement— like this neutral interior designed by Caroline Kopp — is a great way to give houseguests their own private space. And if you're lucky, maybe you'll be able to add in a small basement window.
Create a Functional Workspace
For a result that looks as satisfyingly organized as a hardware store display, try adding some peg board to your basement. Use the boards to display everything from craft supplies to power tools.
Design a Colorful Laundry Room
This basement laundry room feels like a downright pleasant place to handle the chore with colorful wallpaper, matching storage baskets and hanging rods.
Embrace a Multipurpose Space
When space is limited, a basement can serve multiple purposes — even in a single corner. Here, a bar houses hidden shoe storage within, and has room for carry-on luggage up top.
Build a Mudroom
Turn an area of your basement into a mudroom to house coats and shoes. This one is fully functional with a simple storage bench, covered baskets and hooks. It makes for the perfect reading nook, as well as a place to store out-of-season accessories.
Layer in Natural Textures
Work with your home’s existing textures to play up its character. Here, exposed brick serves as a charming backdrop for an open-backed bar.
Install Beautiful Built-Ins
Crisp, white built-in shelves give this kid-friendly basement the fully finished feel of a cozy family room. A bright sofa and rug finish the look.
Set Up a Kitchenette
A second kitchen in the basement is ideal for entertaining purposes or for guests to make themselves at home when they visit. This simple kitchenette also has extra storage for pots and pans.
Go for a Bold Bar Wall
If you’re serious about entertaining, use your basement as a place to set up a serious bar, lining an entire wall with shelving for liquor bottles. Take your cues from nightclubs, which are often chic and elegant despite their lack of windows.
Alesandra is a digital travel and lifestyle journalist based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Prevention, Insider, Glamour, Shondaland, AFAR, Parents, TODAY and countless other online and print outlets. Alesandra has a masters degree in journalism with an emphasis on cultural reporting and criticism from NYU, and a bachelor’s degree from UC Berkeley. An avid traveler, she trots the globe with her husband and their twins.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
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