Many homeowners fail to appreciate how valuable their basements are. If you are treating your basement as a storage space or simply not using it very much, you should think about putting some work into turning your basement into something extraordinary that will add value to your home. Alair Homes Toronto recommends the following ten tips to improve basements.

1. Shine Some Light on the Situation

One of the biggest problems with many Toronto basements is that they do not have enough light in them. If your basement is a dark pit, nobody is going to want to spend time hanging out in it. You can instantly improve the room by adding some window wells or light shafts to bring natural light into the underground space.

2. Arcade

To turn the room into an instant hit, turn part of it into a mini arcade. Put in a few pinball machines and a few of your favorite 80s or 90s arcade classics to create a nostalgic feeling that will wow your guests.

3. Aim for Cozy

The best feeling you can cultivate inside basements is a sense of comfort. You want people to feel cozy when they come into the space. It should have a warm, inviting feel that draws visitors in. Pretend you are creating a second living room. Add comfortable furniture, bright colors, beautiful wallpaper and gorgeous artwork. Lush carpet is a great choice to warm your feet as well during the cold Toronto winters.

4. Fun Table Games

Nothing says fun in the kids’ underground lair like a ping pong table. If you remember growing up battling your siblings in endless table tennis rallies, provide your children with the same pleasure by putting in a nice aluminum ping pong table. Alternately, you might want to put in an air hockey table, dart board, pool table or foosball table.

5. Think About Renting

Instead of letting basements sit empty, people should think about renting them out. Instead of letting that empty space just sit there, you could be making a nice monthly income stream that could help you pay your mortgage or that you could save up for an amazing vacation.

6. Add a Bar

Many times, parents think that basements are just for the kids. There is no rule that says you can’t make the renovation for adults-only fun. Adding a bar with a built-in tap can add a lot of fun to the space.

7. Fireplace

On a cold Toronto night, there is nothing better than cuddling up with your loved ones in front of a fire in your fireplace. Basements are a great area of the home to add a fireplace or wood-burning stove.

8. Make It an Experimental Design Space

Maybe you have been dreaming of painting a wall in the living room a shade of 80s neon hot pink. Maybe you want to see how shag carpet looks. Any kind of experimental design urges that you get can always be introduced with a renovation below ground first before trying them upstairs.

9. Make It Multipurpose

One of the best ways to use basements is to turn them into a multipurpose rooms. That way, everyone in the family can have an area of the space where they can indulge their hobbies and interests.

10. Turn It into a Display Space

This is the perfect area of your home to turn into a display space for all your favorite things. For example, you could make it a trophy room for the family. You could display souvenirs from all your travels or turn it into your own mini art gallery.