5 Ways a Finished Basement Could Improve Your Life in Your Tacoma Home

We’ve all heard the adage: the only constant in life is change. And it’s so true. Sometimes, when we experience changes in our lives, our homes begin to feel like they no longer meet our needs. We start a family or a new business. Kids grow up and move away, or an older relative moves in. Maybe it’s more space we’re looking for, or privacy, or a room that supports our new hobby, or a quiet place to work. Whatever it is, life changes often result in the need for a home change as well. 

For many of us, there’s a source of untapped potential right beneath our feet: an unfinished basement in your Tacoma or Eastside home may be the solution you’re looking for. An unfinished basement is a blank slate ready to be customized into exactly what you need.

Why Consider a Basement Remodel

Finishing or remodeling a basement is often a great move. It is usually less expensive than building an addition onto your house, yet it still increases your usable square footage. It leverages the space you already have and maximizes its use.

A basement remodel can add value to your house (especially if you decide to add a bedroom and bathroom). According to Remodeling, a homeowner can expect to see a return on investment (ROI) of as much as 78.8% on a well-designed, finished basement.

A finished basement makes your house more energy-efficient. Good ventilation and insulation in a finished basement help regulate temperature and moisture in the rest of the home, making it more comfortable and reducing heating and cooling costs.

Remodeling your basement can give you options you never had before. With the increased square footage, you can use the space for anything you can dream up. It’s a great opportunity to make your house fit your lifestyle better. Read on for some ways your basement might just improve your life.

#1. Bedroom Space

One of the most common (and useful) reasons to remodel your Tacoma basement is to add one or more bedrooms. If your family is growing, it could be helpful to have space to spread out a little, giving teens some privacy and independence. Maybe you have out-of-town relatives who like to come visit, and a dedicated guest room would make it a lot easier to welcome them. 

Multigenerational living (three or more generations living in the same house) is continuing to rise. Turning a basement into an apartment or in-law suite (with a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette) can be a great way to enjoy the benefits these situations offer while making sure everyone still has their own space. In fact, equipping your basement with a kitchenette and bathroom adds the most value to your home of any type of basement remodel.

Another great use of a basement bedroom, if your area allows it, is to earn some extra income by turning it into a rental space. Whatever you need the extra room for, a basement remodel might help your home fit your needs better.

#2. Health and Happiness Focus

A newly remodeled basement might provide you and your loved ones with more than just extra space. If you design it to hold a home gym and/or a hobby room, you might find that it enriches your life in more ways than one.

A home gym is a very popular use of a finished basement, and for good reason:

• A home gym is more convenient than a gym membership, which means you’re more likely to work out. Instead of packing up your gear and driving to another location, you can just walk downstairs. This easy access means you’re more likely to stick to a routine and accomplish your health goals.

• You can exercise whenever you want and whenever it makes the most sense for your schedule.

• You won’t have to pay membership fees.

• You’ll have privacy.

• You can design your home gym with exactly the equipment and layout you want—no wasted space on machines you don’t ever use.

A hobby or craft room will give you dedicated space to create—and keep the messiness of creativity contained and out of sight. You can install built-in shelves, good lighting, cozy flooring, and space to spread out. A music room is another option, providing space to play your instrument, complete with acoustic paneling to enhance the sound quality.

Both exercising and making art reduce stress and boost happiness. Your basement can support both of these activities, making it an asset for your home and also for your mental and physical health.

#3. A Home Office

In our post-pandemic world, more people than ever are working from home. Many people love it: no commute, comfy clothes, and more flexibility. But if you don’t have a dedicated workspace, it can also mean more interruptions, a noisy environment, and a lack of focus.

Turning your basement into a home office can solve these problems. You can create a space that is perfect for you and your preferences. By installing cheerful lighting, using paint colors you love, and designing a layout that meets your needs, you can create a home office you are happy to see each morning. And a basement office can also support your work-life balance: at the end of the day, you close the door and head back upstairs, leaving work at work.

#4. Togetherness as a Priority

We all want more connection with those we love. Why not design your Tacoma basement remodel around the idea of togetherness? You could create a home theater, perfect for movie nights with your kids. Or a more adult hangout space: a wet bar and pool table, for example. Maybe a playroom for your kids (where messes are contained and kept out of sight from the rest of the house) might encourage imaginative play for your kids and you. Comfy couches, a kitchenette, and a big screen would make a great place to watch the game with friends. The options for togetherness are endless. 

#5. A More Functional Home

Do you ever feel like your home just doesn’t function well to support you and your family? Maybe you need more space, more storage, or some staging areas for activities. Remodeling your basement can help with this issue. Here are some ideas to get you thinking:

• A large laundry room with drying racks, cabinets, and even storage for off-season clothes.

• A mudroom with a dog-washing station, a utility sink, and storage for kids’ sports gear.

• Finished storage: a room that is drywalled, painted, and climate-controlled, and has organizational systems customized for exactly what you need to store. It’s so much easier to find what you need in a well-lit, clean, organized storage space than in a dark and damp unfinished basement.

Everyone is busy, and most households have a lot of moving parts to keep track of. Finishing your basement can help you be more organized, freeing up your time to do things you love with the people you love.

Is a Basement Remodel Right For You?

If your Tacoma home needs some extra space and you have an unfinished basement, then the next right move for you might be a basement remodel. Finishing your basement will increase your home’s value and give you space for whatever you need. Your home should support your family—and a finished basement will help it do just that. If you’re ready to get started, contact us today. We’d love to talk about your wants and needs, your options, and what type of basement remodel will be best for your Tacoma or Eastside home.