Transform Your Basement Into a Teen Hangout and Make the Whole Family Happy
The ways we use our home evolve as our families do. One day you’re setting up a Pinterest-worthy nursery, and, after what seems like just a few years, you’ve got a teenager who just wants to spend time in his room texting with friends and blasting music late at night.
If you’re lucky enough to have a basement space, you may have the solution to your problems. The basement can offer teens the privacy they crave and space to hang out with their friends, while keeping the rest of the home more tranquil—especially desirable if you also have a baby or young children.
Here are some key considerations if you want to transform your basement into a teen-friendly space that will make the whole family happy.
As the mother of four teenagers, Brie Fowler knows all about relegating the chaos to the basement.
“I have two teenagers living in our basement right now, and they love having their own bedrooms and shared bath down there. They’re always playing video games and watching movies with their friends,” says Fowler, a Realtor® with the Fowler Group at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Erie, CO.
In the past, basement remodels didn’t always give homeowners the best resale bang for their buck, but that’s changing, adds Fowler.
Today, having a bedroom-bathroom combo below definitely boosts property values, especially in the eyes of buyers with growing families.
“Today’s basements are very customized, and it’s a great idea to have a safe environment for your kids to sleep and relax,” says Fowler.
Make the necessary structural changes
Often, basement windows are below grade, so make sure the bedroom window is the right size for someone to exit in case of fire, and get permitting for any changes you make to ensure everything is done to code, suggests Kim Trouten, a Realtor and designer with Allen Tate Realtors in Charlotte, NC.
You also need proper ventilation.
“If you’ve got high moisture in a basement or changing temperatures because the heating and cooling isn’t quite as effective in the lower level, then you may need a dehumidifier,” Trouten says.
Get rid of any old drop acoustical-ceiling tiles and splurge on high-quality insulation to muffle the impromptu jam sessions and late-night gaming tournaments. Trust us, it’s worth every cent.
“It’s OK to have different ceiling heights, so if you have to drop it down in one section to accommodate ductwork or pipes, you can create intimate flex spaces or built-ins,” adds Trouten.
A basement doesn’t need to be a dim lair, either. Put in some recessed lighting and hang some mirrors strategically to brighten it up. And since teens are so device-dependent, install smart outlets throughout the space.
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