The 10 Most Popular Basements of 2019
Pool tables, well-equipped bars, smart built-ins and big TVs were a hit with Houzz users this year
This Trending Now story features the most-saved basement photos uploaded to Houzz in 2019.
Basement renovations pose a specific set of challenges — low ceilings, a lack of natural light, egress requirements, utility storage, awkward ductwork and more. But Houzz designers and builders have met these challenges head-on, and the results are beyond the wildest of basement dreams. Here’s a countdown of the 10 most-saved basement photos of 2019. See if any of these popular designs can inspire your home plans.
Basement renovations pose a specific set of challenges — low ceilings, a lack of natural light, egress requirements, utility storage, awkward ductwork and more. But Houzz designers and builders have met these challenges head-on, and the results are beyond the wildest of basement dreams. Here’s a countdown of the 10 most-saved basement photos of 2019. See if any of these popular designs can inspire your home plans.
9. Beachy and Breezy
A deep window well allowed for full-size windows in this basement in Alexandria, Virginia. Architect Laura Campbell played off the increase in natural light, infusing the room with a light, beachy style. Using tans and creams, rather than white, tones down coastal crispness for something warmer.
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A deep window well allowed for full-size windows in this basement in Alexandria, Virginia. Architect Laura Campbell played off the increase in natural light, infusing the room with a light, beachy style. Using tans and creams, rather than white, tones down coastal crispness for something warmer.
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8. Industrial Chic
Platinum Design Build gave this Atlanta basement chic industrial style with exposed brick walls, caged light fixtures and accents of metal and wood. And painting the rafters allowed the designers to keep the ceiling as high as possible while sprucing up its look.
Platinum Design Build gave this Atlanta basement chic industrial style with exposed brick walls, caged light fixtures and accents of metal and wood. And painting the rafters allowed the designers to keep the ceiling as high as possible while sprucing up its look.
7. Marked by Stunning Millwork
Well-planned built-ins and other feats of carpentry make this Chicago-area basement a stunner. Bookshelves, cabinet doors with grilles, deep drawers for storage and handsome columns are just a few of the special custom touches designed and crafted by the team of Two Hands Interiors and De Groot Construction.
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Well-planned built-ins and other feats of carpentry make this Chicago-area basement a stunner. Bookshelves, cabinet doors with grilles, deep drawers for storage and handsome columns are just a few of the special custom touches designed and crafted by the team of Two Hands Interiors and De Groot Construction.
Hire a local general contractor
6. Refined Rustic
Cool gray-blues paired with wood textures give this Chicago basement a refined rustic-meets-industrial look. Reclaimed wood walls and furnishings of leather and hide bring in rustic elements while metallic finishes add shine. Beautiful upholstery elevates the entire space.
Cool gray-blues paired with wood textures give this Chicago basement a refined rustic-meets-industrial look. Reclaimed wood walls and furnishings of leather and hide bring in rustic elements while metallic finishes add shine. Beautiful upholstery elevates the entire space.
5. Cozy Cabin Style
Cushy leather sofas, plaid pillows, wood barn doors and a reclaimed wood accent wall give cozy cabin style to this Minneapolis basement by Mark D. Williams Custom Homes. Box beams on the ceiling make sense of the challenges posed by soffits and ductwork (a common issue in basement spaces). And well-planned built-ins keep media equipment, games and books organized.
Cushy leather sofas, plaid pillows, wood barn doors and a reclaimed wood accent wall give cozy cabin style to this Minneapolis basement by Mark D. Williams Custom Homes. Box beams on the ceiling make sense of the challenges posed by soffits and ductwork (a common issue in basement spaces). And well-planned built-ins keep media equipment, games and books organized.
4. Rock ’n’ Roll Entertainment Space
A Boston-area couple was craving a place to entertain friends on casual nights, complete with a pool table, a bar with wine storage and a home theater. So interior designer Kelly McGuill lightened up their existing red walls with white paint and redesigned the space. The new bar area contains a tall wine fridge and floor-to-ceiling wine racks. McGuill plucked the photographs of musicians from the homeowners’ art collection. “The basement is a real rock ’n’ roll space,” McGuill told Houzz.
A Boston-area couple was craving a place to entertain friends on casual nights, complete with a pool table, a bar with wine storage and a home theater. So interior designer Kelly McGuill lightened up their existing red walls with white paint and redesigned the space. The new bar area contains a tall wine fridge and floor-to-ceiling wine racks. McGuill plucked the photographs of musicians from the homeowners’ art collection. “The basement is a real rock ’n’ roll space,” McGuill told Houzz.
3. A Bright Underground Space
A TV lounge, office space, a full kitchen and a full remodel of the existing 1970s bathroom were all on this Toronto couple’s basement remodel wish list. The creative team at Level Studio gave them a clean contemporary space, inspired by midcentury modern design and warmed by organic textures and colors. The accent wall, sculptural shelves and the green sofa were all a big hit with Houzz users.
A TV lounge, office space, a full kitchen and a full remodel of the existing 1970s bathroom were all on this Toronto couple’s basement remodel wish list. The creative team at Level Studio gave them a clean contemporary space, inspired by midcentury modern design and warmed by organic textures and colors. The accent wall, sculptural shelves and the green sofa were all a big hit with Houzz users.
2. A Spot for a Soak
This Chevy Chase, Maryland, basement has a workout space, so when planning a renovation for the adjacent bathroom, designer Jennifer Gilmer suggested a teak Japanese bathtub for post-workout soaks. The family wholeheartedly agreed, and the style of the tub inspired the rest of the basement bathroom’s design. This includes the teak shower floor and shelving as well as wavy 3D wall tiles. The result is a Japanese Zen-inspired respite.
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This Chevy Chase, Maryland, basement has a workout space, so when planning a renovation for the adjacent bathroom, designer Jennifer Gilmer suggested a teak Japanese bathtub for post-workout soaks. The family wholeheartedly agreed, and the style of the tub inspired the rest of the basement bathroom’s design. This includes the teak shower floor and shelving as well as wavy 3D wall tiles. The result is a Japanese Zen-inspired respite.
Learn more about this project
1. A Sports Fan’s Dream
Sports were No. 1 when it came to designing this Northern Virginia rec room. It has three large-screen TVs for watching games or playing video games simultaneously. And for the non-spectators, there’s tabletop shuffleboard and lots of places to play board games or cards. The room is also set up for some put-the-TVs-on-mute conversation. And for serving beverages — off to the right, Metro Building and Remodeling built a bar complete with a sink, wine fridge, beer fridge, ice maker and dishwasher.
Another element that can be tricky in a basement is flooring. The flooring seen here and in many of the other spaces in this roundup is a great option — it looks like hardwood flooring but is actually basement-friendly, low-maintenance, easy-to-install luxury vinyl tile.
More on Houzz
Tour more basements
Browse photos of basements
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Sports were No. 1 when it came to designing this Northern Virginia rec room. It has three large-screen TVs for watching games or playing video games simultaneously. And for the non-spectators, there’s tabletop shuffleboard and lots of places to play board games or cards. The room is also set up for some put-the-TVs-on-mute conversation. And for serving beverages — off to the right, Metro Building and Remodeling built a bar complete with a sink, wine fridge, beer fridge, ice maker and dishwasher.
Another element that can be tricky in a basement is flooring. The flooring seen here and in many of the other spaces in this roundup is a great option — it looks like hardwood flooring but is actually basement-friendly, low-maintenance, easy-to-install luxury vinyl tile.
More on Houzz
Tour more basements
Browse photos of basements
Shop for your home
In this San Diego basement, the architects at Oasis Architecture & Design took advantage of the space beneath the stairs, transforming it into a C-shaped reading nook. The abstract mural’s horizontal lines emphasize length rather than height. And the pool cue rack integrated into the TV wall had many Houzzers taking notes as they saved this photo to their ideabooks.
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