Help with basement layout

4 years ago

We have lived in this house for 20 years and have primarily used the basement for:

1) laundry pre-build, moved it from mudroom to basement as we like to hang much of our clothes to dry

2) Exercise - my husband has a weight set/bench and his bicycle on a trainer ( I exercise upstairs as there is ample space because I don’t like the fact it is unfinished)

Storage - everything from sporting equipment to tools to seasonal tires)

The motivation for completing it is more for resale value as it is a big selling feature in our area. We want to do it in phases as we save up.

So we have put together a rough layout and are hoping you can give us feedback on whether the layout makes sense or suggestions on how to improve it.

Note: we do have the rough-ins for bathroom already in place.

Appreciate you taking the time to consider our project.

Featured Answer

clementine119
Original Author

4 years ago

@fnmroberts thank you for sharing your basement floor plan. I love the fact the stairs are off to the side and nothing obstructing the view as you enter. It must be beautiful! Our basement is currently heated and it’s a nice dry basement. There is a sump pump as well and basic electrical including lights but we would definitely get an electrician to add. Thank you to the others for your comments. I know most of you are opposed to laundry area in basement but it works for us. I like to wash all my delicates at home and hang them as opposed to dry cleaners. I basically only use dryer for sheets and towels. The laundry is in place as are bathroom rough-ins so would like to keep the location as is. Th seating/entertainment area has the bulk of the windows so we thought that would be ideal for daytime use.

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Comments (8)

decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
I imagine most Houzzers will wonder why you haven't installed the laundry upstairs near the bedrooms where most of the dirties are generated. Is a basement location most traditional in your region? How about egress and the laws on that? I assume the windows are wells and not really available as escape openings in an emergency. Where does the "door" upper right lead? Personally, I would rather have the social areas at the left and right as one enters the space from the stairs. The gym and utility area could fit in the back of the space where guests don't really need access. However, the egress issue might come into play in that kind of plan.
clementine119 thanked decoenthusiaste
everdebz
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Pro's and con's - hanging laundry for me means air that circulates, and do you like it in the back? maybe laundry room could begin at shared wall with bath plumbing. Possibly could be a rectangular, smaller room 'connected' to bath plumbing.

Storage work elsewhere nearby.
clementine119 thanked everdebz
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everdebz
4 years ago
Pool playing doesn't require windows or does it? I can see a pub cozy atmosphere, not necessarily by windows.

Why is gym where it is?
clementine119 thanked everdebz
everdebz
4 years ago
At the spot you wrote 'storage' I can picture the tv, away from glare at windows. By bay window 2 chairs to look out.
clementine119 thanked everdebz
fnmroberts
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I’ve studied your design. Appears your basement is around 1600 sq ft which is quite generous. No walk out. It is too bad that the laundry is in the basement - ours is on the sleeping level and it’s most convenient. Generous bathroom dimension, could be half or full.

I note the ”bump out” and it’s a feature to celebrate rather than confine into the gym. Give that some thought. We feature ours as part of an AV area.

Here is the original plan for ours. It is pretty faithfully executed however we never installed the bathroom because breaking concrete will be necessary. What we did do is mark placement of EVERY cannister and the fixed features and walls/doors with masking tape on the floor in order to ”live” the space before building. Minor placement adjustments were made then.

Please consider back up for sump pumps, sufficient heat and return air vents plus placement of water, gas and adequate electricital recepticals and switches. Don’t know your location but supplemental heat might be necessary.

Below is a video link of the completed space with explanatory narration about the features. Maybe some ideas. Good luck.

https://youtu.be/omZvd2Vd3PA
everdebz
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I re-read that the bathroom plumbing has rough-in, ready to go... not needed is it with laundry machines...
fnmroberts
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
@clementine119 - yes, having the stairs at one side does enhance functionality however the mechanicals must still be designed around. We insulated our foundation with 2” XPS behind the studs. Our HVAC is not zoned, basement is very comfortable winter and summer - auxiluary heat necessary spring/fall when the HVAC system isn’t running.