After a while I wouldn’t be surprised if you started to want a bigger home. Most people go through the exact same thing and it’s usually because they have a new addition to the family. It’s not so easy to just pack everything up and move these days unless you have lots of money tucked away under your mattress. Have you thought about converting your basement into an actual bedroom? It’s something that would instantly solve your desire for a bigger home.
A basement is usually a decent size and a big bedroom is always nice. Maybe you could let one of your older children move in and I’m sure they would absolutely love it. There are a few things you need to deal with because it is the basement after all. If you even think you will eventually renovate then have a look at these things you need to keep in mind. You might fancy trying to do some of it yourself since you won’t have to deal with anything structural like you would if you tried to build an extension.
Getting rid of the damp
Because your basement is under the ground there is a good chance there could be problem areas that are affected by wet weather conditions. You can’t start to build a bedroom before getting rid of dampness or you’re asking for trouble. If there are any cracks in the foundations of the home or lots of water is getting in then you will have to call out a basement waterproofing firm so they can deal with it before you do anything else.
Waterproof materials
Once you start looking for materials to use you don’t want to go with any of the normal stuff that will get ruined if it gets wet, especially when doing anything where all the water will fall. Your room might be waterproof, but what if any pipes were to burst above the room in the future? Water only goes one way and that is down. You can actually buy waterproof materials and this should be the stuff you source before any work gets started.
Lack of lighting
When your room is underground there won’t be much light getting in, or at least not as much as you’d like. Hopefully you’re fortunate enough not to be buried completely underground because then you could still get someone to fit windows, but if you can’t have any you will need to think of other ways to lighten the place up. This will require you to call an electrician because they are needed to make the magic happen, so they can discuss your options with you so the room ends up perfect.
Dealing with beams
You can’t exactly take these away unless you want your home to collapse into a pile of rubble, but they look horrible at the moment so what can you do with them? The easiest option would be to paint them the same color as the ceiling so they blend in, but you could try doing something a bit crazier. You could actually try and turn them into a feature of the room by painting them a nice bright color. They also make a perfect home gym if you hang gymnastic rings from them.
Staying nice and warm
The basement isn’t always the warmest room in the house and if you do decide to turn it into a bedroom then you’re going to have to get radiators fitted. This will probably require more work than you’d like and would cost money, but there is a cheaper option. Buy a heater from the shop that will plug into a socket and it will definitely keep the place cozy. Just remember that it will use up more electricity and could end up costing more in the long-run.
The author of this article, Jack Russel, is a successful interior designer. He believes that people renovate their house to make it look more beautiful and lively. If you are looking for quirky front doors in Toronto, you can visit his website.
