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9 Expert Tips for Creating a Basement Bedroom
Put overnight guests up in comfort or enjoy the bonus bedroom yourself with this professional advice for converting your basement
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design... More »
If you're running out of space in your home, it may be time to take a peek into the basement. Odds are, this typically underused room isn't living up to its potential. It could be transformed into an additional bedroom.
Interior designer Letitia Holloway of Myers Designs and Debbie Wiener, owner of Designing Solutions, are well versed in this transformation and the complications that come with it. If you're thinking of turning your basement into an extra bedroom, their tips and tricks can help.
Interior designer Letitia Holloway of Myers Designs and Debbie Wiener, owner of Designing Solutions, are well versed in this transformation and the complications that come with it. If you're thinking of turning your basement into an extra bedroom, their tips and tricks can help.
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| Insulate. The last thing you want is a noisy — and chilly — bedroom. "Spend a little extra and add good insulation to the walls,” says Wiener. “One good night's sleep and you'll know you spent your money wisely.” |
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| Create emergency escape routes. Before beginning construction, check your local building codes to learn what your basement's escape requirements are. The necessary routes can also enhance the room. “Installing large upper windows not only enhances the view but provides a great escape route,” says Holloway. |
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| Look for the charm. Save money by leaving beams exposed or the ceiling unfinished — it will give your new cozy bedroom a feeling of distinction. |
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| Add visual height. Unfinished ceilings can also help add height to a space, especially when painted a dark color. “Paint the ceiling dark and finish the rest of the room off as you would normally,” says Holloway. “This type of ceiling works with a variety of aesthetics, and the unfinished effect makes it feel higher than a drop or drywall style would.” Benjamin Moore’s Baby Seal Black is one of Holloway's go-to paint colors. |
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| Configure your layout wisely. Place the bed against an interior wall in the room. “Exterior walls change temperature, meaning your bed will be cold in the winter and possibly through summer if your basement is below grade,” says Wiener. “Do whatever you can to leave enough room on one insulated interior wall for the bed.” |
| Choose a warm wall color. Lower levels are often short on natural light, so substitute the sun's effect with a warm, golden wall color. “Gold, melon, orange and pumpkin are great wall colors for basement bedrooms,” says Weiner. “They exude warmth under any lighting conditions and literally glow when the lights turn on.” Wiener suggests Benjamin Moore's Butterscotch, Semolina, Golden Mist, Amber Waves or Concord Ivory as great shades to consider. |
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| Make sure your floor products are appropriate for lower-level use. “Speak with your local flooring expert to see what materials are good to use in your area,” says Holloway. “Wool, for example, would not be a good carpet material to use in a lower-level basement, due to humidity.” She suggests either staining and seal coating a cement floor, or using area rugs where moisture or flooding could be an issue. |
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| Choose the right light. A dark and gloomy bedroom on any floor of your home isn't ideal. “In addition to bedside lighting, add sconces, ceiling fixtures or recessed lighting evenly spaced throughout the room, so that at any time of day the bedroom is properly lit for reading or relaxing,” says Wiener. |
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| Go for luxury. “Invest in luxurious bedding to create a welcome bedroom retreat,” says Wiener. “Thick down-filled comforters and pillows coupled with a fitted bed skirt and pillow shams will elevate the room from lower level to upper end.” More: Making Room for Family: Converting the Basement or Attic |
Ideabook published on Aug. 15, 2012.
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I think basements are very important also and often neglected. When I stage homes, I always tell home owners that we should showcase different functions for the basements for homeowners. Creating a guest bedroom in the basement is often one idea that we try to suggest to the potential home buyers.
For the floor of my own basement we used dark laminate wood and it looks lovely and we just added shag area rugs. There are lots of beautiful engineered products out there now.
For me, a beautifully design home is one that every square inch of it is being utilized well.
Despite living in Seattle, the basement never gets damp. The humidity is usually between 18-25% at the most. It's also nice and cool in the summer and cozy in the winter because of the 5-6 ft retaining walls. The earth does a great job of regulating temperatures year round. For flooring down there, I have heated tile floors in the bathroom, cork with a wool pad underlay along with area rugs in the halls and bedroom and wool carpet in the den (also with a wool underlay).
The key to a dry basement is proper drainage around your house (and your neighbor's house if they're close), sealing any cracks in the foundation and using a waterproofing membrane on the foundation if necessary.