Thinking About Finishing Your Basement? 

Are you debating on whether or not to finish your basement? If you’re stumbling across this blog post, you’re either thinking about remodeling your existing basement or you’re wondering if you should finish your basement while building a new home. There are definitely pros and cons to having an unfinished and finished basement. Unfinished basements are great for having tons of storage space, plus they make great playrooms for kids! You can rest easy knowing that there’s no harm in toys being spewed out throughout your unfinished basement. Finished basements, on the other hand, are great for adding more living space to your home. Finished basements are ideal for those who love to entertain friends and family! After all, who wouldn’t want a cool space to spend time with those they love most?

In this blog post, we’re sharing a few great features you should consider incorporating into your finished basement! We hope that you enjoy reading! For those of you who are new to our blog, welcome to Hearthside Homes! We are a home builder based in Liberty, Missouri. We build homes in the Kansas City, Parkville, Liberty and Kearney areas. We hope you enjoy learning about our favorite features for finished basements! 

A Kitchen Is a No Brainer

If you love to entertain, having a kitchen area in your basement is probably high on your must-have list! A kitchen will allow you to have appliances in the basement. From coffee machines to crockpots, microwaves and more, having a kitchen in your basement is convenient for serving guests. You can also incorporate a sink, refrigerator, and dishwasher into your basement kitchen design. You’ll love being able to cook in the basement while being around your friends and family!

Built-In Bar Area

A built-in bar area, or wine station, is a great addition to any basement! Either have an island in the basement and add bar stools, or turn an awkward nook into a built-in area for your cocktail supplies! Your friends will love socializing over some cold ones while watching the Chiefs earn another victory!

Add A Bathroom

You will likely never regret adding an extra bathroom to your home. Not only is this a practical addition to any home, but it’s also great for resale. Plus, this can keep guests from having to wander to the main floor in search of a toilet.

Do You Have A Guest Bedroom?

Adding an additional bedroom to your basement is a great option for those who entertain friends and family for long periods of time. Does your mother-in-law need a space to unpack her suitcase? A guest bedroom in the basement is especially great for those who have small children. After all, your kids will likely be running around on the main floor at the wee hours of the morning. A guest bedroom in a finished basement will allow your visitor to sleep soundly. If you are not in need of a guest bedroom, an office might be a better option! Make sure your builder adds a closet and window to this space so that you can market it as a bedroom when it comes time to sell!

Don’t Forget Lighting

Lighting does wonders for any room,  especially a basement! Generally, you’re going to have a lot less windows in a basement than you would throughout the rest of the house. Lack of lighting can make your basement appear uninviting. Consider incorporating recessed lighting with dimmable lights. If you have a kitchen in the basement, be sure to install undercap lights. Additionally, make sure you have tons of outlets installed throughout the basement for lamps, and other fixtures.

Have Room For The Furniture You Want

When planning your basement design, be sure that there’s room for the furniture that you want. Sometimes people build their basements without thinking about how they will place furniture in them. Do you want to have movie night? If so, you might want enough room in the basement for a large sectional. Have you always wanted a pool table? Be sure it will be able to fit once the drywall goes up! 

Consider A Built-In For Your Flat Screen

A built-in area for your flat screen is definitely a cool feature! It can also add a lot of functional storage to your basement. If you have a blank wall to work with, consider adding a built-in with cabinets! You’ll love having cabinets to store miscellaneous decorations, blankets and board games! 

Incorporate The Outdoors

Do you have a walk-out lot? If your basement leads to the outdoors, you have a great opportunity to incorporate an outdoor living space into your basement design! Imagine walking outside to a fire pit or fireplace area. Your friends would love sipping wine under a pergola with string lights! Outdoor living areas are great for more than just summertime. Be sure to add lighting, and a fan if possible, so that you can enjoy the space year round at all hours of the day!

Choose Friendly Material Selections

No one likes high maintenance. Be sure to pick clean-up friendly material selections for your basement! For one, choose a paint with a semi-gloss sheen. This will allow you to easily wipe away stains with a magic eraser. Pick carpet or flooring that can easily camouflage dirt. If you have a walkout basement, add a tiled area near the door to keep the rest of the floors as clean as possible.

Give Yourself Some Practical Storage Solutions

Let’s face it, one of the major perks of having a basement is the storage space! Be sure to leave some room for miscellaneous keepsakes and seasonal decorations.

Build Your Dream Home With Hearthside Homes

Are you thinking about remodeling your home or purchasing a new one? Have you considered building your dream home from the ground up? Believe it or not, building a home can be simple! Hearthside Homes takes the stress out of the home building experience. Whether you want an unfinished or finished basement, Hearthside Homes can turn your vision into a reality! Often, our homeowners will build the main living areas of their home, and then contact us in a few years for a basement remodel! If this is something you’re interested in, you can let our team know your dream basement layout in advance so that we can have the proper plumbing and electrical work installed for this future project!

About Hearthside Homes

Since 1987, Hearthside Homes has been building beautiful and long-lasting homes for homeowners in the Kansas City and surrounding areas. Working with our team is fun, easy and fast! Start by choosing from one of our awesome floor plans and communities. You’ll have a blast making your material selections at our Design Center! From cabinetry to hardware, paint, flooring and much more, you’ll love getting to create your home unique to your style! From the time we break ground on your project, you can expect your home to be move-in ready in about six months! It really is that easy!

For pricing information, or to learn more about working with us, fill out the contact form on our website or give us a call at (816) 781-0234. Our Design Center is located at 1915 Industrial Dr #300, Liberty, MO 64068. Be sure to follow all the behind the scenes fun on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest!