Perhaps the least thought given to any room when considering a remodeling job is the basement; unlike a bedroom or kitchen they can be forgotten quite easily once the door has been shut. But, you should keep in mind that this extra level gives you great potential for additional space, storage and even in the case of creating a home office, perhaps some extra income. If your basement happens to be nothing more than a mismatched assortment of cast-off furniture, an area that stores nothing of much use your random crap then it might just be the perfect time to remodel it.

One way to make use of that space is to turn your basement into a game room; a place to go to relax after a hard day a work, an area to play with the kids, a place to go when spouse/girlfriend issues become a little to stressful or just a place to hang out with the guys. And, we are not just talking about hanging up a dart board or adding a foosball table, we are talking about making it a place you can’t wait to enjoy and show off.

Why not start with some kind of a classic game table, make yourself known as a poker aficionado with an elegant table made for great card games. Many of these are available with an optional top that can be placed over the table and used for things like food in order to keep your poker table in great shape; make sure the chairs are comfortable for those long games where you have the majority of the winning hands as you don’t want anyone using any excuses to leave.

What game room is complete without a bar? You have several choices here including a full bar with a sink and all the extra’s built in or a basic bar to add to your existing area. If you are going for that really elegant look consider one of the heavy mahogany styles, perhaps with a dark granite top and some matching stools. Of course there are other choices if you are going for a more casual look like the light wood or rattan made bars with matching stools.

At this point go ahead and feel free to add that foosball table and dart board; just be sure to match the rest of the décor so it has a pulled together look. Then step back, call the family or your friends and have a blast.

Related articles

• Is a Basement Worth It? (homeloans.org)
• Audi Fans Rejoice: Audi Foosball Table To Enter Production (ridelust.com)
• Radon: Lung Cancer Risk Factor Hiding in the Basement (everydayhealth.com)
• How to de-creepify a basement? (ask.metafilter.com)
• Dated basement transformed into family clubhouse (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

If you would like to increase your living space a basement renovation may be the best way to do it and a basement remodel project can usually be done with a minimum amount of expenditures. This is an exceptional way to add space since it utilizes an area that is there already; it can be used for rec rooms, additional bedrooms, a family room or any other number of uses.

All basement construction and remodeling should start with the floor; newer homes that have basements are normally constructed from a concrete block or poured foundation that is on footings and then a concrete floor. These homes usually have a good drainage system that helps keep water away from the structure itself which minimizes the chance of moisture problems. Since an older home may have been built on a dirt floor basement foundation a basement renovation in an older house may have to include constructing a new concrete floor. This can be a major job and unless you have the experience it is a good idea to hire a reliable contractor to do this for you.

As an alternative to constructing a cement slab for your basement remodel job is to install a subfloor made of wood over the existing concrete after uneven areas have been leveled. However, it is not a good idea to use this method if you think that moisture could be a possibility as the pockets that are between the concrete and the wood floor may become inaccessible areas for mildew and mold to form, causing possible odor and health problems once the basement construction is completed. If water were to seep into your basement the whole wood floor would then need to be taken out in order for the area to dry effectively.

You do have other options when it comes to flooring for your basement renovation; if the concrete is just uneven or cracked you can use a floor leveling compound and then cover it with carpet or some kind of laminate. If you already know that the area is prone to moisture then consider gluing carpet directly to floor during the basement remodel; this way if there is water damage it can be cleaned and the carpet can be left where it is to dry which minimizes the cost of water damage restoration if necessary.