Do you have a basement that provides a lot of space that seems to go to waste? Then how about turning it into a room that adds value to the house? If you’re thinking about doing that, we will show you how to turn a basement into a bedroom.
Is It a Good to Have a Bedroom in a Basement?
The correct answer is… it depends.
Are you looking to add value to the house? In today’s market, buyers prioritize usable space, and they are willing to pay a premium for it. Refinishing a mid-range basement has a 70 percent ROI on average.
To attract the widest range of potential buyers, you should consider styling this finished space as a bedroom. In the end, if you’re not selling but are looking for extra ways to make money, this extra bedroom could make the basis for a rental or an Airbnb.
Benefits of Having a Bedroom in the Basement
Aside from the fact that an extra bedroom increases your home’s value, there are a couple more benefits to having a bedroom in the basement.
— More Room for Teenagers
It’s a good idea to build a basement bedroom for your teen if you want him or her to live with you while also having a little bit of privacy. There is plenty of room in this new location for a king-sized bed to be installed if they need it.
They’re also getting bigger, which necessitates more space for their personal belongings and clothing. A larger dresser or closet is needed for this, as well as a place to keep their sports gear or guitars if they’ve started playing them.
— More Room for Guests
Having an extra bedroom for guests can never be a bad idea, especially if you ever have out-of-town guests or people that often spend the night over. It could also be useful in a scenario where you have an out-of-town guest staying over at your place for a longer period.
— A Private Space
A basement bedroom will provide privacy from the ground level and upper floors. This could be an advantage in several different situations. It usually shields you from curious views from people passing down the street.
Tips for Building a Bedroom in a Basement
If you’re ready to turn your basement into a bedroom, here are some expert tips that are bound to help:
- Insulate the basement for both heat and sound.
- Add insulation to the floors, as well as the walls, for better heat retention.
- Install an egress window so that you have a secondary emergency exist.
- Place the bed next to the interior walls because exterior walls tend to feel colder during the winter.
How to Turn a Basement Into a Bedroom
The very first thing that you have to do if you want to turn an unfinished basement into a bedroom is to make a plan for the room. You want to have at least some idea of how you plan to use the space because you will likely need to buy furniture that fits.
What you’ll need:
- Drywall
- Wall paint or wallpaper
- Window
- Door
- Lighting fixture
- Electric heater
- Insulation
- Bed frame
- Mattress
- Bedroom furniture
- TV
Step #1: Build the Walls
Since you’re starting with an unfinished basement, making it feel like a dungeon and more like a bedroom is the first step to consider. You want the walls and floors to be welcoming, so this is a step you can’t skip. If you already have solid walls but they just look bad, you can go with quick and easy fixes, like putting up wallpaper or a fresh coat of paint.
An open floor layout is better than putting up more walls. You can save some money by not building any more walls in the basement as long as it is secured with a lock. Instead of movable furniture, use bookcases, blinds, and other sturdy items to create a room divider.
Step #2: Put in a Window
Since a basement needs to have an egress window (which serves as an escape in case of a fire or other emergencies that require immediate evacuation), make this window installation a priority.
It’s for your safety, but adding another window will also add more natural light into the basement and it also helps add ventilation. Consult your local building department to see what egress window regulations are in your area.
Note: You will likely have to all in a professional to cut through a masonry wall.
Step #3: Install a Heating Source
You’ve got options when it comes to adding a heating source in the basement. If your home has a heating system already, you can expand on that. If the ductwork is visible and can be accessed from the basement, you’re in luck. Talk to an HVAC professional to see what it takes to extend the ductwork.
Another option is to opt for hardwires baseboard heaters. Electric baseboard heaters that are hooked into your home’s electrical system are a popular choice for basement heating.
It’s no secret that electric baseboard heaters are lengthy, obtrusive metal rods that run along the bottom of your walls. There is no requirement for baseboard heaters to cover the full length of a wall; they can be installed in specific locations.
Baseboard heating, like HVAC expansion, necessitates an assessment of the space’s heat demand. Baseboard heaters don’t easily transfer heat between rooms, so you’ll need at least one heater in each room.
If you don’t have an HVAC system, electric space heaters are the next best thing. They are cheap, can be plugged into your average household power outlet, and start producing heat without other requirements.
Finally, if you want a more rustic approach to basement bedroom heating, you can try and integrate a wood pellet stove into the decor. It’s a greener option but there’s a catch: they need ventilation because they produce carbon monoxide.
Step #4: Insulate the Room
Even if you have a somewhat decent basement, the insulation in there probably isn’t as good as what’s in the occupied rooms above.
To truly turn the basement into a bedroom, you need to consider both insulation and moisture protection. This will make the basement warmer and turn it into a more protected space.
Step #5: Install the Floors
Flooring is another important part of making a basement warmer and welcoming enough to be a bedroom. One cost-effective solution is to go with foam floor mats. They are very easy to install because they fit together without too much effort on your behalf.
Step #6: Soundproof the Ceiling
Soundproofing a basement ceiling is probably one of the most complicated steps in turning a basement into a bedroom, so I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of your want to skip it. However, consider the fact that an unfinished ceiling means hearing every footstep on the floor above you.
If you go through with this soundproofing step, you’ll need a lot of gypsum drywall, mineral wool or fiberglass insulation, sound insulation clips, and green glue.
Step #7: Install Doors
You may discover that it’s time to change the access door to the basement. Or it could be that you want to install another door in the basement. For the first situation, just remove the old door and install a fitting new one. For the latter situation, you’re going to need a rough opening.
Creating a frame for your new door follows pretty much the same steps as installing every new door in a place that has never had a door before.
Step #8: Add the Finishing Touches
High-quality indoor lighting can be used if window wells are not a possibility. The ideal lighting for illuminating dreary basements is soft, warm lighting that casts a wide shadow.
When lighting and power outlets have been added, it’s time to consider furniture. Your new basement bedroom will require a bed. That means purchasing a new bed frame and a suitable mattress. If this will be a guest bedroom, you can afford to save some money when buying the mattress, assuming this is a bed people use temporarily.
Add a couple of nightstands or side tables. If you’re going to install a TV, you might want to consider adding a dresser that can hold the TV on it at a height that allows you comfortably watch TV when lying down.
You might want to check also: 21 Basement Bedroom Ideas
Bottom Line
Now you know how to turn a basement into a bedroom, so it’s time to set up a budget. Sticking to the budget is very important because making a new room from scratch is something that could easily leave you empty-handed. Want more great tips like this? Check out our guide on how to make a bean bag chair!
Photo credit: Dwayne Foong/Shutterstock; elRoce/Shutterstock;
Artazum/Shutterstock; Edvard Nalbantjan/Shutterstock;
bogdanhoda/Shutterstock; Andrew Angelov/Shutterstock;
Mike Fouque/Shutterstock; Bilanol/Shutterstock;
New Africa/Shutterstock; BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock;
ungvar/Shutterstock; fukume/Shutterstock;
Dmitry Galaganov/Shutterstock