Thinking about remodeling your basement? As home improvement experts in remodeling Indianapolis area homes, Home Artisans of Indiana members offer their advice on the various aspects of remodeling basements:

LIMITLESS POSSIBILITIES FOR DESIGN: “It has become a trend to outfit your basement with a hip bar area. You can go in almost any direction from a classy wine type setup to a full-on sports bar, and you are pretty free to implement just about any style you want. You typically have a lot of open space over a big expanse so you can add areas for gaming, theatre, wine storage, cigar rooms, or even built-in, salt-water fish tanks. We have also seen many luxurious basement baths. If it’s a true man cave it’s a great place to add a urinal, believe it or not. While remodeling, make sure to resolve any moisture issues you have.” David Decker, The Affordable Companies

Basement Bar, photo courtesy of The Affordable Companies

LIGHT IT UP: “Basements obviously tend to be darker than the rest of the house, but this doesn’t have to be the case! You can give your basement a complete lighting makeover. Include in your design plans adequate lighting for all the activities you want to do in your basement.” Tracey Leeper King, Indiana Lighting Center

HOME THEATER PIZZAZZ: “Basements are often the perfect place to create a home theater. Our Hunter Douglas motorized drapes can be installed in front of your T.V for a raising-the-curtain effect, and hides the screen from view while not in use.” Caryn O’Sullivan, Drapery Street

ELECTRICAL PLAN: “Whenever you remodel, it is always a good idea to check your electrical plan. If you are adding any appliances, like a downstairs refrigerator for your new bar area, or putting in a home theater system, the electrical load of your system may need adjustments to accommodate these changes. Remodeling also gives you the chance to reconfigure your electrical plan to better place outlets, lights, and so forth. Always have your plans looked over by electrical professionals to ensure your system will work the way you want it to.” David Burtner, Burtner Electric

STORAGE NEEDS: “Basements can act as the catch-all for unused items like seasonal decorations, winter clothes, and things to donate or sell. Remodeling however gives you a chance to craft your storage space into what you need. Dedicate some area for storage needs so your stuff doesn’t spill out into the places you want for other activities.” Erin Moore, California Closets

SAFE AND USABLE: “Making basements accessible is easier than it looks. Stair lifts can be installed for basement staircases, and don’t forget the basic handrails. If you are putting in a basement bathroom, consider installing a barrier-free shower and grab bars.” Kent McCool, Home Safe Homes

Need more advice on basement remodeling? Visit Our Members page to contact more Home Artisans experts.