Basement - large 1950s walk-out light wood floor, brown floor, coffered ceiling and wood wall basement idea in Baltimore with a home theater and gray walls

Ruxton Basement

Bearded Builders, Baltimore

Example of a large mid-century modern walk-out light wood floor, brown floor, coffered ceiling and wood wall basement game room design in Baltimore with gray walls

Mid-Century Modern Basement Finish Prairie Village, KS

KCBR Design | Remodel

This client tore down a home in Prairie Village a few years ago and built new construction but left the basement unfinished. Our project was to finish the basement and create additional living space for the family of five, including a media area, bar, exercise room, kids’ playroom, and guest bedroom/bathroom. They wanted to finish the basement with a mid-century modern aesthetic with clean modern lines and black/white finishes with natural oak accents to resemble the way homes are finished in Finland, the client’s home country. We combined the media and bar areas to create a space perfect for watching movies and sports games. The natural oak slat wall is the highlight as you enter the basement living area. It is complemented by the black and white cabinets and graphic print backsplash tile in the bar area. The exercise room and kids’ playroom flank the sides of the media room and are hidden behind double rolling glass panel doors. Guests have a private bedroom with easy access to the full guest bathroom, which includes a rich blue herringbone shower.

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Mahogany Mid-Century Modern

G. Christianson Construction, Inc.

One of the unique features of this home was the basement which brought the feel of the outdoors inside the home using large glass window walls, dirt planters directly in the floor, and a raised brick planter. To preserve the original vision but modernize the finishes, we replaced the vinyl floor with terrazzo-look porcelain tile, replaced the dirt in the floor planters with rock, and painted the walls. An existing unfinished basement space adjacent this room was converted to a media room, and Sapele was brought downstairs through the media room doors.

Ville St. Laurent Bungalow Basement

Renovation Ernst Hellrung

Basement bathroom available for guests. Ernst Hellrung
Small mid-century modern ceramic tile and gray floor basement photo in Montreal

Mid-Century Modern Basement Ideas

Because of their expansive layouts, mid-century modern basements are often catch-all rooms. When browsing 1950s basement remodeling ideas, always think in terms of your family's needs and whether the space could best serve as your playroom, media room, home bar or storage space — or all of the above. Although finishing a basement is a large investment, it can add much-needed square footage to your home, which can also up the overall resale value. As you get ready to take the remodeling plunge, take time to map out your basement layout and determine all its separate functions. Think about what your family needs the space for, and pick a layout that best suits those needs. Once you finalize your plan, determine whether built-ins are worth pursuing. In a vast, undefined space, they're an easy way to differentiate one space from another — the extra storage space doesn't hurt either. Finally, decide what type of basement furniture you want to fill the space with, like comfy couches, armchairs or a big game table. Since there's so much room to cover, picking the right pieces is a little more challenging than usual, so look at other 1960s basement design ideas to get a feel for what to look for when shopping.

What are mid-century modern basements used for?

Every family is different, so when looking for finished basement ideas make sure you pinpoint how you spend your time and then cater to those hobbies and interests. If you host parties often or are beer and wine aficionados, focus your 1950s basement remodel on creating a home bar or wine cellar. If you're looking for a kid-friendly hangout, become the neighborhood hot spot with a massive family and media room combo. Give the guy in your family the ultimate escape with a man cave, game room and home gym, or be practical above all else by adding extra bedrooms and another bathroom.

Should I use built-ins in my 1960s basement design?

With such large spaces, basements can hard to define; clever built-ins can help clarify room divisions while simultaneously aiding organization. For the ultimate video game/movie hub, install a custom entertainment center, complete with bookshelves and cabinets for storing small electronic accessories, movies and books. For those family movie nights, add a wet bar that includes a microwave and mini fridge for popcorn and beverages. A craft room with a built-in counter and shelves, or a long booth or bench for extra seating are also popular basement ideas. The options are endless, so consult a designer or builder to see what works for your mid-century modern basement remodel.

How should I decorate my mid-century modern basement?

If you take a look at most retro basement decorating ideas, you’ll see that typically bigger is better. Unlike other rooms where space might be tight, basement designs usually have room to spare, so your furniture can be oversized and chunky to help fill them up. Sectionals are a great way to avoid an empty-looking room, and they provide plenty of seating for when guests come to visit. Be sure to add other common living room pieces — like armchairs, side tables and coffee tables — to fully complete the look. If your family loves games, add a pool table, foosball or poker table, or include an oversized table for regular board games. Other excellent mod basement ideas include giving your kids their own corner with an indoor playhouse or swing, or creating your ultimate getaway with a daybed and bookshelves for reading, napping and relaxing.