How to turn your dark, unfinished basement into a bright, comfortable living space you can enjoy for years to come
This basement remodeling, done in 2007, shows many of the design principles I give in my book, Basement Ideas
This one, done in 2006 features a full working kitchen and seating area right next to the game room
My book will teach you how to create stunning basements like this one
Are you faced with a dark, unfinished space that you want to become something you can actually enjoy?
Don't know where to start? I'm going to help you out. I have designed over a thousand basements and I know
the problems you're facing.
I'm going to show you how to have more than just a useable space. I'll give you the secrets to designing
a basement that maximizes every square inch, feels open and spacious, and includes the features that you
want.
With lots of pictures, my $19 book shows you the secrets of designing a great basement
Basement Ideas shows you (with lots of basement pictures) exactly how to design the perfect basement
for your home.
All the pictures you see on this site are basements I personally designed. My company, Basement Spaces, has been doing
nothing but basement remodeling for fourteen years.
I have had professional photographers take literally thousands of basement remodeling photos over the years.
Every aspect of basement design will be shown to you so you can see how to do it.
The best of these photos are in Basement Ideas, and I'm going to walk you through everything you need to know, giving
lots of examples. You will be able to see exactly how to make it all fit together for your basement.
The first thing you need to know about basement remodeling
The first thing you need to know is this:
You need to know what you're doing before you start.
If you're hiring the job out, you can't just have any general contractor do the work. Unless they've had LOTS of experience in
designing and remodeling basements there are many pitfalls they just don't know about (yet).
If you're going to be doing most of the work yourself, this point is even more important.
Trust me, I've had to fix jobs that were done by well-intentioned homeowners or other contractors, and you definitely want to know
what you're doing before you start.
Don't worry - whatever your problem is I will help you solve it
I know the problems you're facing, and I'm going to help you overcome them. All of the basements on this site started out unfinished
and had many of the same problems before we started. Look at them now.
You will learn solutions to
- Low ceilings
- Low-hanging pipes
- Damp, moist, and even downright wet basements
- Posts in bad places
- Ceilings with ductwork in all the wrong places
- Plumbing in the worst possible locations
- You name it, I've seen it and solved it - and I'm going to give YOU the answers
And if I haven't given an answer to your exact problem, you can always ask me. I have a whole section of the site
dedicated to your questions.
What do you want your basement to have?
Your basement can have much more than just a water heater and a furnace. Let's turn your basement into a new center of
fun for the entire family.
Things you may want in your basement:
- Home theater
- Game room
- Bar
- Play area for the kids
- Home office
- Workout room
- Bedroom
- Bathroom
- Storage
- Pool table
Let me show you how to create all of these areas and more.
And, yes, most of these areas do require more planning than simply putting up four walls and some carpet.
A few examples are
- Home theaters
There is something you need to know about before you start, to avoid serious headaches
during the project.
- Workout room
There are things you need to consider otherwise you may find out you can't use your equipment properly.
- Bars
You get a whole chapter in the book on how to build a bar, which includes the best places to locate it so it flows with
the whole basement
You are getting expert advice
I mentioned I've been doing this for 14 years. I didn't mention that I have appeared on CNN and local CBS news, as the
expert talking about basement remodeling.
My advice has appeared in Money magazine, and I have appeared in newspapers repeatedly since I began writing on
how to do basement remodeling. I seem to have become the go-to guy on this subject.
The point of this isn't to give me an ego trip - I don't care about all that. But I want you
to know that you are getting your advice from an expert. I'm a general contractor, and have personally planned and designed
over 1,000 basements so far.
How to plan and design a useful, liveable space in your basement
Basement design is what my book specializes in. Detailed pictures show you the basics you need to know.
You're going to learn how to maximize the space you have. This is important because it's not like a room addition. You
have a finite amount of space to work with. Making the most of it is key. You can't make it any wider or longer than it already is.
But I'll show you all the ways to make the most of it.
Your basement will no longer be that dark, ugly area. It will seem just like more of the house, and may even outdo the upstairs.
Many of my clients tell me they now spend much of their time in the basement now that it has been finished.
Your basement can be that comfortable, and I'm going to show you how.
What my book is not
Basement Ideas is not a how-to guide on construction.
There are plenty of books that can tell you how to put up walls and doors. In fact, you can find several very good resources for this
information on this site. There's only one book on the how-to that's any good, and I sell it here. There also a few DVDs that we sell
that are pretty good.
I cover the design and planning. The layout. I take you through the project as a whole.
This has always been the missing piece for homeowners looking to get started.
I give you solutions to all the common problems in basement remodeling, as well as guide you through the design phase, where
you'll be making all the major decisions.
I have gone to lengths to show you, visually, how to make your basement perfect.
Free design tip: Wide open spaces!
This large area could have easily been divided into smaller rooms, however this would lose the visual impact of the single space
This is especially important in smaller basements, and when applied to medium and larger basements, the results can be
breathtaking.
I try to build as few walls as possible, and only do so when absolutely necessary. Walls close the space and make it feel smaller.
Too many interior walls will make a huge basement seem cluttered and claustrophobic.
The best way to separate space in your basement is to designate specific areas. This maintains the wide open feeling.
Bedrooms and bathrooms require walls – that’s unavoidable. However, there are tricks to setting these up that will
leave you with additional space for other features on your wish list.
Basement ceilings - everyone's first problem
My book discusses the different ceiling types and the advantages/disacvantages of both common basement ceilings
Probably the most feared part of basement remodeling is the ceiling. Most basements were built as 'secondary' areas.
It used to be that basements were never finished areas. No one thought to dig a deep basement. Low hanging pipes, heating ducts, and other
obstructions were commonplace and not looked at as being a problem. But nowadays, sooner or later, nearly every basement gets finished.
Many homeowners have suddenly found themselves staring at the basement obstructions and scratching their heads, wondering what to do saying:
"How do I get rid of all these pipes and ducts and wires?" And "Do I put in a drop ceiling or finish it with drywall?"
"Once it's in, how do I ever get access to the stuff now buried in the ceiling?"
Don't worry, it's really not as hard as you may think. The answers are easy, and once you know them you'll enjoy putting in your ceiling. I give
you the complete solution to everything so there's no stress.
How to make your basement look great with proper lighting
Here you can see just how effective proper lighting can be. You can make your basement much more
appealing by getting the lighting right.
While natural lighting is the best way to illuminate any room, most basements get very little of it. I'll tell you all about the
three main types of lighting, and how to use them to your best advantage.
Good lighting can add emotional impact to a room. Your guests won't know exactly why, but they will find the room captivating.
Part of the reason all these basement remodeling pictures you're looking at are so attractive is just good use of lighting. It's not that the
owners spent lots of money. When the lighting is done right your basement can look like you spent a million, without having to.
I'll give you the secrets.
How to put a bathroom in your basement
You can have a fantastic bathroom in your basement, even if the plumbing isn't cooperating right now.
Some basements were originally built with very well-placed plumbing that makes adding a bathroom very easy. But not yours, right?
Again, this is a pretty easy thing to solve. There are, however, several things you need to consider when planning where to put your bathroom.
This is important whether you are doing the basement remodeling all by yourself or not. Even when hiring a plumber to do the actual work,
there are design considerations that you want to know about. And you want to know about these during the basement design phase.
I'll walk you through all the important stuff so you know what you're doing.
Home theaters - sit down, relax and enjoy
This homeowner wanted the home theater as a separate room, and it has become a wonderful sanctuary for them.
If you want your basement to feel downright inviting and comfortable, there's no better way than a well-designed home theater.
You'd be surprised how easy it is to create a space that looks like you spent a million bucks, even when you didn't.
And as I mentioned earlier, there are things you definitely need to consider for a home theater before you start the basement remodeling.
Otherwise you may find yourself in a stituation that is difficult to fix.
Game rooms - the party's at your house
This is one of my favorite game rooms ever and I just had to include it. Basement Ideas shows you how to create a great
basement game room.
Here is a great way to make people like you: just put in a fabulous game room. Suddenly you're very pouplar with friends and family.
Pool tables are common requests, and I'll tell you how much space you need for them. But what if you just don't have enough? There
are other alternatives, and I'll walk you through the basics.
Your options for a great game room are many. And if you live in a two story house you can make noise all night long without waking the rest
of the family.
How to build a bar in your basement
This bar was created using my system. You can adapt the system to your own basement bar.
One of the most common requests I get is to put a bar in a basement. So I developed a system for building them that works every time.
Now, earlier I said this book isn't a how-to manual, and it isn't. But this chapter is an exception. I take you through how to build your own bar.
I show lots of pictures and give different ways to do it, including a way to do a basement bar with only minimal space.
How to do bedrooms right
Bedrooms are fantastic for having guests over. Watch out for this if you don't like your in-laws.
You're also going to learn how to design basement bedrooms. These add fantastic livability to a basement, and will
add nicely to the usability of your house.
If you want to entertain people for more than a day, but don't have the room for them, this is your easiest solution.
Your guests will love it, and you will too.
How to have a functional workout room
There is an easy way to keep a workout room feeling spacious and open even if it is separate from the rest of the basement.
There are things you need to know to design a workout room properly. I'll will show you, with pictures, the things you need to know so
this room is safe, comfortable, and functions the way you want it to.
Believe it or not, it's pretty easy to find out after the project is done that you forgot one important thing. This important thing means your efforts
were wasted or parts of it need to be redone. I'll tell you what you need to know and keep you from this nasty surprise.
I'll show you the greatest ideas in storage ever created
This folding shelf is only one of the many ways to hide your storage, and give you more storage at the same time
Basements can have plenty of storage and still have lots of living space at the same time. They are wonderful because there are so many
nooks and crannies which create great opportunities for storage.
It is impossible to have too much storage space, and you can have plenty of it in ways you never thought of. There are some great ways to 'hide'
storage space right out in the open, and other ways to hide it totally.
Don't miss this chapter. You're going to get great ideas and see how you can make the most of whatever space you have.
Designing your perfect home office
Notice the large amount of extra storage offered by the cabinets. My book shows you lots of ways to use elements cleverly.
Home offices are pretty simple and don't require a huge amount of know-how. But even here I will show you ways to stretch the space
without stretching your budget. This will keep your office lively and inviting, and keep you from feeling isolated and shut off.
One more free tip here: put in more electrical outlets than you think you need.
If you can't sell your house you might as well enjoy it
With the current real estate market, you may be in your place for a while. So let's make the most of your basement and it can be like you
have a new house without having to move.
Bring your friends over and show them your new basement once you're done. Just watch their faces. They will want to have a basement
as nice as yours.
If you have teenagers, this will become a safe place for them to come and hang out. If not, you've got a terrific place to enjoy for yourself.
Basement Remodeling Success
"Without a doubt, your book was worth every penny. We finished an 1800 square foot basement and doubled the size of our living space.
We did use a home design program and put all of the ideas we got from your book into the program – everything from the refrigerator hidden under
the stairs, to the location and number of recessed lights, to the paint design.
I am convinced that our project cost less AND took less time because we were able to show our contractor exactly what we wanted based
on the ideas we got from your book. And we were thrilled with our project because there were no surprises. I can’t imagine anyone undertaking
a project of this magnitude without using your book. A small investment that paid us back many times."
Ellen R.
New York
You can read many more at the bottom of the page.
Download now for only $19
You can download the book right now for only $19. Or you can get a printed copy, or get it on CD for just $24.95.
The CD version includes a FREE copy of Basement Explorer, a near-total immersion into some of the best basements ever created.
Here's to a great basement.
- Dave Schrock
You have 2 choices to order
1 . Download Basement Ideas now - $19
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 Immediate download
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2. Order the book on CD right now - $24.95
and get a FREE copy of Basement Explorer
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CD contains all the materials in the book plus "Basement Explorer" software FREE.
Basement Explorer Software
includes complete floorplans of 30 great basements, with photos, 3D tours and design notes to immerse you in the possibilities
of what your basement can become.
CD Compatibility:  Windows 2000, XP, Vista. Your computer must be connected to the Internet when installing this software. Requires free Adobe Reader and QuickTime Player which will be automatically downloaded and installed if not already on your computer.
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