Basement is a word that prompts thoughts of dark spaces, damp walls and drafty, cold air. Usually, one does not envision vast open areas, well-lit hobby rooms, game areas, cozy dens, additional apartments or beautiful multifunctional space. Because most homes come with unfinished or partially finished basements, few take the time, effort or expense to transform their basements into a livable area.  

But the possibilities are endless. Basements are unfinished because they are like a blank canvas, waiting for your artistic inspirations to produce a reality that is beautiful, comfortable and creative. Here are a few ideas to get you started.  

Living Room 2.0 - Want some real living space? If your upstairs living room, sitting room or family room is getting overcrowded, has too many breakable items or just isn’t meeting your needs anymore, try a living room 2.0—and take all those things you wish you could use your living room for down to the basement. Craft a revolutionary living room for playing, lounging, watching TV or just chilling out.  

The Whatever Room - In case you aren’t sure what a whatever room is supposed to be for, don’t worry. It’s easy. A whatever room is for anything. It's simply a large area of your basement that is carpeted, painted and minim-ally (if at all) decorated. It can be a big playroom for the kids, an exercise room when you need it, an easy way to clean the house (just stuff everything in the whatever room), a staging room for the furniture, or just the start of a future entertainment room.  

The Entertainment Room - Paint the walls a subdued color, install ensconced lighting, an in-ceiling sound system and a huge TV. It’s your entertainment room. For the sole purpose of watching movies, playing the Wii, listening to music or hanging out, the entertainment room addition is the answer. Installing a wet bar or a secluded refrigerator is a great idea for a room like this. If you have the extra space, try a pool table or ping pong table for more action-oriented entertainment.  

The Man Cave or the Craft Room - Husband and wife may have to duke it out, but a basement is an ideal space for the guy to have his man cave. By definition, a “man cave” is the male’s primal retreat to a sanctuary of poker with the guys, hobbies or whatever else he likes to do. If this means darts and a fridge, large-screen football TV, punching bag, or workshop—that’s up to the man. Decorations are up to him, too. Others more inclined to sewing, needlepoint, painting, etc., can develop a room that meets those needs, too. Or, as space allows, just build both.    

Taking the basement from the exposed-studs stage to the suit-your-fancy stage is a fun adventure that will be sure to increase the value of your home and improve the quality of your life. Have fun transforming.