{"id":5231,"date":"2015-02-03T10:15:59","date_gmt":"2015-02-03T15:15:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=5231"},"modified":"2022-10-06T11:01:49","modified_gmt":"2022-10-06T15:01:49","slug":"ask-a-pro-qa-turn-a-basement-into-an-entertainment-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bhgre.com\/bhgrelife\/ask-a-pro-qa-turn-a-basement-into-an-entertainment-room\/","title":{"rendered":"Ask a Pro Q&A: Turning a Basement into an Entertainment Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to another installment of Ask a Pro! Today Dream Team member and interior design pro Jennifer Adams discusses how to turn a basement room into an entertaining\u00a0space that can be enjoyed by the whole family!<\/p>\n

\"Ask<\/p>\n

Q: I\u00a0have a family room in the basement that measures 13ft x 22ft. I would like ideas on making it into an upgraded sports \/family room.<\/p>\n

-Richard B.<\/p>\n

A: It\u2019s great that you\u2019re thinking of new ways to use the existing rooms in your house. This could potentially save you a lot of money in extensive renovations or even moving! Your goals for the room\u2019s purpose should help you decide how much space to dedicate to each use and help you set a budget.<\/p>\n

Is this room where your family usually watches TV together, or is it a room you\u2019re calling a family room, but really, no one spends much time in? By \u201csports\u201d do you mean a workout room with gym equipment or a game room with a poker table, pool table, and a ping-pong table?<\/p>\n

Any of these activities would be a great use of an out-of-the-way basement room, but keep in mind the \u201csports\u201d use could be noisy and might interrupt someone else\u2019s TV viewing. But if this room is a secondary TV room, it won\u2019t matter as much. A TV would be nice while you\u2019re working out or playing cards, and for movie watching and family nights could be in another room in your house.<\/p>\n

A low ceiling height, which is typical of a lot of basements, might affect your sports equipment choices. A tall weight machine, vertical space for a jump rope, or even upright yoga and stretching poses might not be possible! If you have budget, some basements could be renovated by lowering the floor. This could be an opportunity to add or improve plumbing fixtures such as a sink or even another bathroom. Talk with some licensed contractors and designers or architects to find out if this is possible at your house, and how much it might cost.<\/p>\n

Insulation in the walls and ceiling and rubber gym flooring will help absorb the sound of machines and people jumping around. Better lighting and a sound system for music will make the atmosphere more inviting. Sturdy shelves and storage for equipment will help keep the room clutter free. You may need to have electrical outlets installed if you\u2019re planning machines such as a treadmill, rowing machine or elliptical trainer.<\/p>\n

A very important step no matter what you want to use your basement for is a radon test and mitigation, if necessary. Radon is a naturally occurring cancer-causing gas that you can\u2019t see or smell, and it\u2019s present in a lot of houses throughout the country. Most hardware stores sell initial tests you can do yourself. Ventilation systems that reduce radon levels aren\u2019t generally hugely expensive, but are very worthwhile if you have high levels of the gas. Check out the EPA\u2019s website<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

Good luck with this project, and let us know how it goes!<\/p>\n

-Jennifer A.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"