In our 20+ years of experience, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners make the most out of their properties by turning their basements into brand-new additions to their homes. And in all that time, we learned a thing or two about what makes or breaks a basement remodeling project.
In this article we’ll share with you, Wellesley, MA homeowners, our top tips for creating a home office that can easily double down as a spare bedroom when need be. So let’s dig in!
- It’s all about the lighting
Home offices are more than simple rooms. They need to help you finish your job as easily and as quickly as possible. And one of the most important things for productivity is having the right ambiance.
If you work in a poorly lit room, your productivity will undoubtedly suffer, so properly setting up the lighting in your basement will be worth the time and effort you invest in it.
The rule of thumb is to try and get as much natural light in as possible. So, if you’re able to install even the tiniest of windows, do it. Then make sure the doors leading up to the ground floor at either transparent or semi-transparent so even more natural light can get into your basement that way.
Accent lights are also extremely helpful and often overlooked. Just a handful of accent lights can change the look and feel of an entire room completely, so make sure you plan ahead to include some.
Finally, warm light is always better than white light – think of hospital lighting, that’s white light, it’s never pleasant.
- Murphy beds are the answer you’ve been looking for
By adding just a few inches to the thickness of one of your basement’s walls, you’ll be able to install a full-size bed that can transform into a bookshelf when you don’t need to use it.
Imagine having to work every day with a bed in from of you. Not exactly an ideal working environment. Not to mention all the space a bed would take from your home office.
But with a foldable, Murphy bed, that’ll never be a problem. Just fold the bed up and it magically vanishes behind a row of shelves.
Also a great conversation piece, the Murphy bed will save tons of space and it will make your home office feel like an actual office, not a room you had to make do with.
- A separate bathroom in your basement
Last but not least is a private bathroom for your home office. First, a basement bathroom is known to pump up the value of your property considerably.
And then, there are also more immediate benefits to it, like not having to go up the stairs every time you need to use the facilities, for example. Imagine you’re hard at work and then you up to use the bathroom. Since you’re there, you might as well grab something from the kitchen, or maybe walk your dog. It’s hard to stay focused when working from home, so don’t make it any harder.
And that’s not to mention how weird it would be for a guest that sleeps over to lack the privacy a basement bathroom would provide. Imagine them waking up and having to face you and your family on their way to freshen up.
Renovating your basement and turning it into a home office that can double as a spare bedroom will both increase the value of your property and your productivity while working remotely. It’s a phenomenal investment that will pay for itself many times over.
If you’re living in or around Wellesley, MA, and you’re thinking of remodeling your basement, you should consider the Owens Corning® Basement Finishing System® for the job. As opposed to drywall, the most popular alternative, our panels are mildew- and mold-proof, can be easily taken down and put back up again, and insulate. Schedule a FREE estimate of your basement remodel project.