Basement finishing projects can seem like a huge task if you have never attempted it before. There are various uses for a finished basement, which make it completely worth the trouble. For instance, finished basements can be converted into game rooms, home offices, apartments, or even a bar.

Turning your finished basement into a game room is a great way to use this extra space. This family space could include pool tables, arcade machines, gaming systems, even home theaters. The basement is the best place for this because game rooms get noisy, and below grade spaces contain this excess noise. This also allows your upstairs spaces to be reserved for quieter activities.

Home offices are another perfect use for a finished basement. Home offices require storage space for computer equipment, desks, file storage, and more. The basement is a good choice for this as it removes you from the home environment, allowing for greater productivity, and the ability to keep the office clutter out of the normal living spaces. This is essential if you run a home-based business, as it means you won’t have to use an extra bedroom or worse, the garage, as an office space.

Apartments are another great way to use the extra below-grade space. Hard times are upon us all, and its common for in-laws or even grown children to move back home into a stable environment. Having this separate area for overnight visitors, or family members, means maximum comfort for the visitor as well as the ability to not disturb the daily goings-on of the family currently occupying the upstairs space. You can install a bathroom, kitchenette, bedroom, and even living area in your finished basement so guests have their own space when visiting. If you go the extra distance, and include separate entrances to the outside, you could even use your basement as a rental space.

One of the most common uses for a finished basement is to make it into a bar. Putting a bar in your basement is a great way to entertain guests when they visit. There are different themes that go with a basement bar. You could build an irish pub, sports bar, even a trendy night club theme. Regardless of what you use to decorate it, you and your friends will be able to fully enjoy a bar environment in the most intimate of settings, your own home. This makes for great social events and parties.