Turning a basement into a family room is a common practice with homeowners in Ontario, Canada. The basement has more than enough space to be converted into an additional room that can be used other than just storing things that are rarely used by the household. Basement family rooms are sought out by many families due to the fact that these rooms can be used to gather family and friends on any given day. This type of family room can be used to host parties or gatherings without disturbing other members of the family. Homeowners should ensure that their basement family rooms are cozy enough for people to enjoy staying inside them. This article will list down some tips to improve the coziness inside a basement family room.

TIPS TO MAKE BASEMENT FAMILY ROOMS COZY

IT IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE THAT THE BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM HAS ACCESS TO HEATING, VENTILATION, AND AIR CONDITIONING (HVAC) SYSTEMS.

o   It is necessary that a basement family room can be heated or cooled on certain days of the year. Since houses in Canada are exposed to extreme climate changes, basement family rooms can be uncomfortable during the winter and in summer. It is highly recommended that the project of turning the basement into a family should be done by a contractor that is an expert on basement renovations. This is very important since any type of electrical and structural works on your basement, which may be needed in giving access to the HVAC systems, should always follow the guidelines and standards set in the Ontario building code. With regards to the electrical works alone, the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) does not allow homeowners to directly hire unlicensed skilled workers or even freelance licensed electricians. These licensed electricians have to be working with a licensed contractor to fix the electrical system of your basement.

AS AN ENCLOSED ROOM, IT NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED WITH INSULATION.

o   Even if the basement family room gives access for the HVAC systems to reach the area, there is also a need to have the area properly insulated. This will help make the space cozier and also help maintain a low energy bill. The basement can have multiple areas with surfaces that contain very small cracks and voids. These spaces allow hot air to pass through. This will make it impossible for the HVAC system to work efficiently and attain the desired room temperature that has been set on the thermostat. Without any insulation material covering the small cracks and voids, hot air can freely enter the basement during summer and escape outside during winter. This will make the basement family room either too humid or too cold.  However, insulation can completely seal the cracks and voids inside the room. Insulation will also help the HVAC system reach the desired room temperature at the shortest possible time to make the room a comfortable place to stay in.

INSTALL A MODERN BAR INSIDE THE BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM.

o   Having your own modern bar installed inside your family room will give you multiple benefits. Having your personal wine cellar will make it easier for you to manage your family gatherings in your basement family room. With all the necessary drinks, glasses, and tools already included in your modern bar, you avoid the hassle of leaving the basement just to get more drinks or ice from your kitchen. On special occasions, you can have wine nights with your loved ones. This would make the mood of the place more intimate and cozier. A modern bar gives you comfort, which is what coziness is all about.

ADD A DURABLE BUT COMFORTABLE SOFA, COUCH, AND CHAIRS.

o   With the basement family room being a place where gatherings will be occasionally held, it is important to add furniture that people can lounge on while inside the room. The furniture needs to be durable as it will be a hassle to constantly move furniture around once a piece of furniture needs to be fixed. In relation to the type of furniture, it would be best to use those with softer cushions and add soft throw pillows. Even lazy boy chairs can be added to the basement family room so that family and guests can take quick naps while enjoying the cozy space. One of the coziest additions to a basement family room is a bean bag chair. People who sit or lie on this chair can easily doze off due to its sponginess.

PUT IN AN ENTERTAINMENT CENTER.

o   Families usually use family rooms to gather around and enjoy doing activities together as a group. By adding a wide-screen television, complete sound system setup, gaming consoles, and computer workstations, the basement family room can be a lounging center for the whole family. Movie and game nights can be done in the basement family room. The cozy setup will make the basement family room the first option to do group activities. It would be best to have the television and sound system installed while the contractor is still in the process of converting the basement into a family room. This is a way to ensure that any special requests, like hiding the wires and mounting the equipment to the wall, can be easily done by the contractor.

MAKE SURE THAT THE BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM HAS A WIRELESS INTERNET CONNECTION.

o   Having internet connection inside the family room will make the room very enticing during lazy days. The fact that the room has been setup with comfortable furniture and controlled room temperature, family members can just lie down on the furniture while surfing the internet. Also, with the internet connection, family members and friends can watch online videos and play video games online, depending on the types of entertainment options that were added into the basement family room.

PAINTING THE WALL OF THE BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM WITH WARM COLORS WILL MAKE IT A COZIER ROOM.

o   Warm colors are known to make the mood in a room more intimate and positive. This is because these colors send out a happy and playful vibe. Colors like orange, red, or yellow may make you want to just stay inside the family room and just lie down, snuggle with your loved ones, and watch movies with them.

INSTALL WARM-TONED RECESSED LIGHTS.

o   Like the warm color of the paint used, having lights that do not give out a bright white light will add to the coziness of the room. Having lights that are too bright can easily kill the cozy vibe inside the family room. Also, it is highly recommended that you stay away from fluorescent lights because these will associate the room to a commercial or office space. Recessed lighting with warmer tints can produce a quieter atmosphere in the basement family room.

 USE CARPET FLOORING.

o   A cozy setup for a basement family room entails that noise is kept at a minimum even if there are children running around and furniture being moved around the room. Having wood or cement flooring will make the basement family room very noisy when there are other people moving around the room. A carpet is known to dampen as much sound as possible even if things are dropped on the floor. This feature of effectively dampening noise adds to the coziness to the room.

PUT WALL ART INSIDE THE BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM.

o   By adding some art into the room, you avoid making the space a boring place to stay in. As people enter the family room, the different paintings will pique their interest. This will make them appreciate the room even more. It is also important that the art used have some meaning or at least have unique designs. The point of having art inside the family room is to remove any feeling of boredom.

INSTALL AN ELECTRIC FIREPLACE INSTEAD OF GOING WITH A TRADITIONAL FIREPLACE.

o   Lounging in front of a fireplace on a cold winter night is one of the coziest things that a family can do. A traditional fireplace is not recommended due to safety reasons. Also, it may be a hassle to constantly chop wood and bring them into the family room and possibly dirtying the carpet and the furniture. An electric fireplace can effectively mimic a traditional fireplace. However, it has advantages over the traditional one. It is easier to control how much heat will be emitted by the fireplace. Also, there is no risk of burnt coal or wood from flying inside the family room and spreading soot all over the place.

NOTHING BEATS A COZY BASEMENT FAMILY ROOM

Even though the living room is usually the place that family members usually crowd into, a basement family room gives a more intimate and cozier atmosphere to the whole family. In houses that have not been soundproofed, there is a chance that any noise made in the living room can easily reach the neighbors. A basement family room does not have this issue since it is technically located under the ground. People can enjoy and have fun without worrying that they are being a nuisance to the neighbors. If you need a contractor that is focused on basement renovations, you can contact Basement Now at 647-370-1399. We will help turn your basement into your dream family room.