Basement Interior Design Principles

Basement interior design calls for a highly specialized set of skills. Because of the qualities unique to a basement, such as the absence of natural ventilation or lighting, a professional specializing in basement interior design would have to consider much more than one who does ordinary rooms.

Training for basement interior design may be achieved by enrolling in a design school with courses specific to basement interior design principles or by working with professionally trained individuals with years of experience in this field.

Things To Consider In Basement Interior Design

There are specific considerations a basement interior design professional must keep in mind when dealing with basement interior design, as these are situated at the bottom of buildings and houses and are, therefore, either built underground or just slightly aboveground.

First, basements must have artificial lighting to compensate for the absence of natural light. In this regard, window treatments may be avoided when undertaking basement interior design.

An alternative would be to create a faux window for the basement to counteract the effects of an enclosed space. However, remember that this may entail additional expenses you may not have considered during the initial basement interior design planning stages.

Second, basements do not have natural ventilation, so you must consider air conditioning or vents when preparing your basement interior design. This will eventually affect the placement of furniture within the area.

A client may also have other basement interior design ideas about what to do with an existing basement. For instance, an artist may convert it into an art studio, or a dance instructor may choose to use it as a dance studio. Similarly, a musician may use it to double as a rehearsal studio for his band.

In all these cases, the basement interior design would have to be adapted to suit the intended function, and this entails more than the ordinary expenses of a simple refurbishing. You will then find your skills as the Project Manager of this basement interior design put to the test!

What Type of Construction Would Be Involved?

Again, depending on the extent of changes the client wants to implement, construction on your basement interior design project may range from very simple to extremely complicated and drawn-out. In most cases, paneling the walls and hiding pipes and wiring would be involved.

If you're dealing with a large basement, you may even deal with additional walls, dividers, and new entrances. Of course, it's always practical to work using existing structures, but there are clients for whom money is no object, and this can give you the extra freedom your creativity needs.

Otherwise, discussing all possibilities with the client before starting the project would be best. If necessary, permanently earmark funds for contingency expenses, and return to the basement interior design drawing boards.

A basement interior design project can be fun and exciting, especially when comparing the "before" and "after" looks. You'll be amazed at what paint, panels, and light play can do.