basement

shelving in basement

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open concept

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TV cabinet lenghth

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Beautiful built-ins in Georgia. Built-ins around the basement fireplace made this image worth saving to ideabooks. This wall could've been left completely bare, but Houzz readers loved how the built-in shelves add life.

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Soft colors in San Francisco. Subtle gray walls and furniture allow the bright bursts of color in this basement to really stand out. Houzzers loved the separate seating areas, which make entertaining large groups easy. LIGHT WALLS AND SOFA WITH FUNKY COLOURD CARPET AND CUSHIONS

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Separate spaces in Massachusetts. A simple carpet divides up this open space by function. Houzz readers loved the wall trim and molding along the far wall — they help make this room feel like part of the rest of the house. NOTE THE TWO CUBES AS COFFEE TABLES

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3. Georgia media room in soft blues. Even a small basement can be put to good use. Fill it up with cozy furniture and soft colors, as in this room, and you have a dedicated movie-watching space. The wood wall adds a subtle architectural element.

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Invest in luxurious bedding to create a welcome bedroom retreat,” says Wiener. “Thick down-filled comforters and pillows coupled with a fitted bed skirt and pillow shams will elevate the room from lower level to upper end.”

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Choose the right light. A dark and gloomy bedroom on any floor of your home isn't ideal. “In addition to bedside lighting, add sconces, ceiling fixtures or recessed lighting evenly spaced throughout the room, so that at any time of day the bedroom is properly lit for reading or relaxing,”

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Choose a warm wall color. Lower levels are often short on natural light, so substitute the sun's effect with a warm, golden wall color. “Gold, melon, orange and pumpkin are great wall colors for basement bedrooms,” says Weiner. “They exude warmth under any lighting conditions and literally glow when the lights turn on.” Wiener suggests Benjamin Moore's Butterscotch, Semolina, Golden Mist, Amber Waves or Concord Ivory as great shades to consider.

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Give the stairs a creative touch. If the stairs are visible from the main basement space, it pays to give them a little upgrade. A runner (either a rug or a painted treatment) and a wallpapered or colorfully painted accent wall are good options.

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Create zones for different purposes. A large basement can easily handle several activities, as long as you make smart use of the space. Brainstorm the things you hope to use your finished basement for, and then map out your ideas in a floor plan

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