When it comes to home square footage, basements are prime real estate; yet so many leave their basement unattended, collecting clutter. 

For this month’s design trends, we’ve put together a few anything-but-boring basement ideas in hopes of inspiring you to breathe some life into that fantastic living space beneath the floorboards. 

Plan first, then renovate. 

A little planning goes a long way. Decide what you want your basement to be and then take action from the ground up, including flooring, paint, ceiling, and the final touches of furniture and decor. 

Do you need to add a wall to define different spaces? How about a separate storage area for all the stuff you’re clearing out of your newly defined basement living space?

Select a theme.

Once you decide which kind of room you want your basement to be – child’s playroom, adult game room and bar, game-day gathering space, home office – let your imagination run with it. 

Do you have a favorite sports team or alma mater you’d like to honor? Maybe a nautical theme or a favorite color scheme to play with? The sky’s the limit – or perhaps it’s the ceiling tiles. 

Simple elegance.

It’s hard to believe this is a basement with so much casual elegance, light, and calming colors. The fireplace keeps it cozy for family gatherings or a quiet escape after a long day. 

Rustic brew pub vibe.

When we said pick a theme and run with it, that’s exactly what gives this “brew room” basement the ambiance of your favorite local brewery. It’s rustic enough to feel as if you’re inside an old renovated factory, complete with a chalkboard for daily specials and featured beers on tap.

Movie night mitigation.

This basement home theatre room is perfect for gathering with friends and family to watch all your favorite flicks, complete with a large flatscreen and plenty of comfy seating. The brick wall, flooring, and sectional colors give this custom theatre an easy, earthy feel that’s conducive to relaxing.

Grand gameroom.

Who needs an arcade when you’ve got an awesome gameroom like this in your basement? We love the striped ceiling, carpeting that stands up to wear-and-tear, and built-in shelves for storing toys and board games. But, our favorite part of this basement is the silver slide! The fun starts on your way down into this unique space for every kid or kid at heart.