Bedrooms in basement designs
10 basement bedroom ideas that you would never know are underground
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(Image credit: Interior Fox)
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By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.On the hunt for basement bedroom ideas? Let's be honest, they aren't always the easiest of spaces to design or decorate. Basements do get a bit of a bad rap and it's assumed that they lack natural light, have low ceilings and feel a bit... gloomy. BUT, we've found 10 gorgeous basement rooms that will prove that they can in fact be gorgeous, light, inviting spaces that really don't feel like you are actually underground.
We've got plenty of tips you make your underground bedrooms feel bigger, taller, lighter and just all round more lovely. So just keep on scrolling to get inspired...
- Find more bedroom ideas (that can all be used in a basement) in our gallery.
1. Plan your lighting as the first step
(Image credit: Interior Fox)
What usually takes a basement from a glorified storage space to a lovely cozy bedroom you'd actually not be terrified to sleep in is lighting. Whether that is natural or artificial, you need to make sure there is plenty of it.
If you are lucky enough to have windows in your basement, chances are they will be positioned at the top of the room, not ideal for bringing in lots of light. However, you can maximise it by keeping the space around the windows as clear as possible, and pick light and floaty window treatments – a mix of blackout roller blinds and a nice voile curtain would be our top pick.
'Given the same consideration as other rooms, the basement can become just as stylish and functional as a main-floor living space.
Start by considering how much natural light the room has; this will determine how much electrical lighting is required. Spotlights are always a great place to start: they are low profile and, paired with a dimmer, will allow for full control depending on the time of day or activity. Layer with wall lights, floor and table lamps to really help to set the tone.' explains Jen & Mar from Interior Fox .
2. Make sure your insulation is top notch
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Before we go into all the lovely decor ideas, this is an essential for creating a basement bedroom rather than just a bedroom you have stuck down in your basement. Most basements are just going to have bare concrete walls, so you make the space more liveable you'll need to add a layer of insulation. This will keep heat in and reduce noise from upstairs too.
3.
Zone off your basement bedroom with sliding doors(Image credit: Katie Gelsheimer)
How gorgeous is this basement space by Katie Gelsheimer ? The bedroom is actually windowless, but it feels far from gloomy because it's so beautifully lit and decorated. Those sliding doors are such a feature of the space and they allow for all the natural light from the kitchen area to flow through and keep the open plan feel but can be closed when privacy is needed.
4. Work with industrial elements
(Image credit: Simon Maxwell)
Loving the... car park vibes of this bedroom. No seriously, this is such a cool space, so if you are renovating your basement consider going for this more industrial, unfinished look. Concrete ceilings are bang on trend at the moment and you can really soften up the look with a muted color palette and wooden textures.
Also note the internal window here, a really good way to ensure light flows through the whole space. And another top tip to take from this space is the low slung furniture, keeping the bed closer floor creates the allusion of there being more height.
5. Build in a window seat
(Image credit: Interior Fox)
This gorgeous basement bedroom designed by Interior Fox is the perfect example of how to make basement spaces both inviting and practical too. The one benefit of having the small, high windows that usually come with basements is you have room to add something lovely like a window seat. It smartens up the room but also adds some handy extra storage too.
6. Keep things light and airy
(Image credit: Simax)
We all know that in small spaces, especially if you are dealing with low ceilings and a lack of light, you are best playing it safe with a really light color scheme. Keep the walls and ceilings some variant of white and use your decor to bring in your personality and to warm up the space.
This simple bedroom still feels really lived in thanks to the lovely pieces of quirky vintage furniture, the warmth from the gold accents and of course that very inviting look bed and the button back headboard.
7. Make low ceilings feel higher with a four poster
(Image credit: Richard Gadsby)
You might think a four-poster bed sounds like an impractical choice for a basement bedroom, but if your ceiling is high enough to squeeze one in, they can actually make low ceilings appear higher. Plus they always bring that coveted hotel vibe, especially if you pair it with piles of gorgeous bedding and squishy cushions.
Oh and definitely also check out the curtains in this room, look how they hang from the top of the ceiling all the way to the floor. This is a great hack for again creating more height in a room that has low ceilings.
8. Pick warmer flooring options
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The choice of flooring you pick for a basement bedroom is key. You really want to avoid anything that's going to make the space feel cold and clinical, so while carpets aren't totally on-trend right now, they are a good pick to bring warmth and coziness into a basement.
Pick something minimal if the idea of adding carpet makes you shudder and be sure to add a really nice thick underlay too.
And if carpet is an absolute veto, choosing a warm wooden flooring and putting down a large area rug will have a similar effect. You could even add a small sheepskin rug either side of the bed to welcome bare feet in the mornings.
9. Build in a wall of storage
(Image credit: Interior Fox)
Basements don't normally lend themselves to lots and lots of furniture. Filling up a bedroom with wardrobes and drawers is only going to break up the space and make it feel cluttered. Opt for a single wall of built-in storage that won't visually interrupt the room and makes for the most efficient solution.
This space also proves you can make darker colors work in a basement! The wardrobes are painted with everyone's faves, Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue and that scheme is continued with the cushions and the lampshades. The very crisp white walls, ceiling and bedding still keep the room feeling fresh.
10. Accentuate the coziness of a basement
(Image credit: Simax)
It's not always about making basement bedrooms feel light and airy, sometimes you are best off to just rolling with the low ceilings and lack of windows and create a space that feels really cozy and inviting. Think snug cabin vibes that everyone is loving right now. For us, that means wood, and plenty of it.
The wooden headboard in this space adds some lovely textures and despite its size, it doesn't intrude into the room because it's wall-mounted rather than attached to the bed. Loving the bare concrete wall too!
How do you style a basement bedroom?
The key to styling a basement bedroom is to treat is as you would any other small bedroom. You want to feel like a part of your home, not at totally separate space, so bring your style into the space too so it feels just as inviting as a bedroom upstairs would.
In terms of color schemes, if you want to play it safe, a neutral backdrop is always going to work in a room that's smaller with low ceilings.
You can bring color and interest in with your accessories. And don't shy away from the small proportions either, enhance the coziness with styles that lend themselves to basements.
How do I make my basement room feel cozy?
Beyond the practical ways, like insulation and underfloor heating, you can make a basement feel cozy really easily by adding lots of soft furnishings and layering up the textures.
In a bedroom, make sure to always have a couple of throw blankets to hand, and add plenty of plush cushions to the bed. Even if you have smaller windows, hanging curtains will soften up the space if you hang them ceiling to floor. And of course a squishy carpet underfoot or plenty of rugs will add to the cozy vibes.
Hebe joined the Real Homes team in early 2018 as Staff Writer before moving to the Livingetc team in 2021 where she took on a role as Digital Editor. She loves boho and 70's style and is a big fan of Instagram as a source of interiors inspiration. When she isn't writing about interiors, she is renovating her own spaces – be it wallpapering a hallway, painting kitchen cupboards or converting a van.
9 Easy Bedroom Basement Ideas & Design Tips
All of us at some point start looking at our homes and hoping there were a little bit of extra room around so that we could organize it in a better fashion. If you can find a whole new room, then even better! With space becoming such a premium in the modern world, it makes sense to fully utilize every inch that is on offer. Putting the basement to good use is one such option that is neither difficult nor very expensive. Basement bedrooms are a wonderful way of not only creating additional, usable space, but also treating yourself to a quiet, cozy retreat right at home.
by Madison Taylor
All you need is proper planning and some creativity. Most homeowners do not fully realize the potential that their basement holds. The darkness and maybe even the chilly dampness drive many away. But for those looking to add an additional bedroom or even a guest room to their crowded house, this space is invaluable.
And here are some basic pointers that will help you with this smart transformation –
1. Keeping Away the Chills
The most basic requirement for turning the basement into a beautiful bedroom is getting the insulation right. In many ways, this step defines how comfortable your new basement bedroom truly is, and if done poorly, you will soon be driven away from the room both in winters and in summers! Since most basements only sport bare concrete walls, opt for top-notch insulation, even if it costs a tad bit extra. Adding a few wooden panels is a good idea, as wood is a wonderful insulator and will keep your room snug and cozy even during the dreariest winters. Good insulation also keeps the noise in the basement bedroom down to a minimum.
2. Pick your Bedroom Style
This might sound like a bit of a given while designing most rooms, but there are additional benefits to picking the style of basement bedroom well in advance. Since the basement walls need finishing, you can save on costs and make a style statement by leaving some of the elements intentionally exposed! An odd steel pipe here and there or an accent concrete wall coupled with the right pendants can easily give you a rustic or industrial look.
If you are planning a bedroom for a couple of kids, throw in a rustic-style bunk bed and usher in the woodsy cabin style. But most homeowners prefer a serene and lovely basement bedroom that looks clean and complete.
by Laura Stein Interiors
3. Adding Visual Space
While some homes come with extensive basements that might allow you to add not just a guest bedroom but also a bath and a small living area, others have just enough room for one small bedroom. It is important to make the most of these small bedrooms by creating as much visual space as possible. Perception is a funny thing, and with right design, even the tiniest rooms can look airy and elegant. There are plenty of little tricks you can use here. Vertical stripes or simple chevron patterns look trendy and posh. Mirrors also are a fun way to not only usher in an open appeal, but also to spread light in a more even manner.
by Phil Kean Design Group
4. Warm and Cozy Colors
Painting the basement bedroom is all about ensuring that those sleeping there feel as secure and relaxed as they do when sleeping in one of the other bedrooms in the house.
Try keeping the backdrop as neutral as possible and add an accent wall in warm hues to drive away any dreariness. Keep the color palette simple and do not use more than 2 predominant shades. Since most basements have little natural light, it is also a good idea to paint the entire room in a shade like golden yellow or cream for an inviting, warm appeal.
by White Crane Construction
5. Ceilings and Floors
A drywall finish with decorative ceiling beams is possibly the best look you can opt for in a basement bedroom. It gives the room a distinct identity, yet keeps the ambiance as close to the main-level rooms as possible. In fact, if you have a spacious basement, we suggest keeping the color scheme and the decor as close to the style and theme of the other levels in the house as you can. This gives the basement a sense of continuity, and you do not feel like you are stepping into an alien spaceship every time you are down there.
by Globus Builder
Solid wood flooring is not an option in most basements, thanks to the humidity and the possible temperature variations. Paint, laminate tile and carpet are all good choices for the basement bedroom floor. Stylish rugs can be used to further enhance the space and add the required color and pattern.
6. A Staircase to Drool Over!
Don’t we all love to make a grand entrance? The staircase leading to the basement might seem like an afterthought, but if you have to climb down a ladder to get to the bedroom, it does not seem one bit suave! A gorgeous spiral staircase saves on space and adds sophistication to the basement bedroom. The entrance could be something more fun like a slide if you are planning a custom bedroom for your kids. Make sure that the staircase complies with the building codes in your area and opt for one that is both stylish and secure.
by Zephyr Interiors
7. Drive away Darkness
We often talk about how important lighting is in the grand scheme of things.
It becomes twice as significant in the basement bedroom than in the main levels of the house. With natural ventilation being minimal, you rely almost entirely on artificial lighting fixtures in the basement. Like always, the best approach is to combine several different layers of lighting. Since you are planning for the bedroom, you might not need as much focused lighting as in the case of a playroom or family room. Add a couple of bedside sconces and use a few snazzy pendants to save on precious space.
8. Plan Your Escape Route!
In most countries, basement living spaces must have emergency escape and rescue openings as per the local building codes. Even if your local authorities are not too particular about it, do incorporate them for your own safety and that of your family. Basement escapes have proven to be great life savers in case of fires and natural disasters. An egress window is a smart option that is worth considering. Large upper windows in the room also provide a wonderful escape route, along with some much-needed natural light.
from Egress Windows
In case you really wish to transform the mood of the basement bedroom and also provide a deft escape option, basement window wells come in handy. Setting them up does require some effort and digging, but they are well worth the sweat!
by Knudson Interiors
9. A Touch of Opulence
The approach to designing the basement bedroom might be completely different from the one you take for the bedroom on the main levels. But the quality of bedding, decor and accessories must be exactly the same. In fact, we suggest you invest in comforters and pillow covers that are far more comfy to turn the basement bedroom into an amazing retreat. Just sink into this reclusive little haven of yours on weekends and holidays and find a tranquil escape right at home. For those with busy lives and a large family, it is the perfect way to catch a much-needed break!
by Robin LaMonte/Rooms Revamped
Creating a modern basement bedroom is well worth the added effort and time you put into it.
It also allows you to be a better host and puts an end to your search for that elusive additional bedroom, a delight that is waiting to be unearthed!
by Lord Design
by Michael Abrams Limited
Sherry is a blogger who loves to live her life to the fullest. She enjoys everything associated with design, décor and stylish modern trends. Born in California, Sherry has grown up on open ranches and in a wild setting, which has defined her taste for design and developed her interest in examining how structures and homes interact with the beauti[...]Next Post
What to consider when furnishing a basement bedroom
At some point, many homeowners start looking for free space in the house to make additional space for their needs. And a dry, spacious basement is quite well suited for placing a cozy nest in it - your new bedroom.
Today we will talk about how to fulfill your dream and place a cozy bedroom or guest room in the basement.
This option is a great way not only to create additional space, but also allows you to treat yourself to a quiet and rather cozy stay at home. All that is needed is the right layout and a little creative thought.
Most homeowners are hesitant to remodel their basement because they are afraid of closed space and the basement for them is a rather uncomfortable option for sleeping, you can only store tools, pickles and vegetables there for the winter. But for those who want to add extra space and place their bedroom or guest room there, the basement becomes simply invaluable.
Here are a few tips that will help you properly equip and arrange a beautiful room in the basement of your country house, and not only.
Getting rid of dampness and cold
Deep cellars have always been used for storing vegetables during the winter cold and home preservation in the summer, as it is always cool here in the hottest weather. Therefore, when converting the basement into a cozy bedroom, you should make good insulation and sheathe the walls with wood, because wood is an excellent insulator and perfectly retains heat in the winter cold.
Additional insulation will make your room quite cozy and will not let in unnecessary noise, in addition, if fragrant pine or spruce shavings are poured between wooden panels and concrete walls, this will create additional comfort in your future nest.
Choose your bedroom style
When furnishing a basement, you don't need to plaster everything, and remove the heating pipes under the panels - you can leave part of the brick partition in its original form to fill the room with a peculiar color.
If you are planning a bedroom for children, then you can make it in a rustic style with a bunk bed and accessories that are inherent in a village hut, somewhere in a distant province. Children like everything unusual and original.
If you decide to arrange your bedroom away from external and domestic noise, then give it the look that will help you comfortably relax in its silence from daily worries and fuss.
Add visual space
Some buildings have quite spacious basement basements with narrow windows at the foundation level - in such rooms you can equip not only a cozy bedroom or guest room, but also a bathroom, and even a small guest area with upholstered furniture and a small fireplace.
Two small bedrooms can also be made, creating a visual space with mirrors built into the walls. The perception of space is a very funny thing, you can make a spacious room so that you can only walk sideways, squeezing between a huge sofa and armchairs, or you can even equip a tiny room so that it looks spacious and elegant.
There are quite a few different tricks that can be applied in the basement. Vertical stripes built into the walls of the mirror not only make the room visually taller and more spacious, but also help distribute light evenly throughout the room.
Warm and cozy colors
Painting in the basement, where the cozy bedroom is located, is a concern for those who will relax here - it will help them feel relaxed and protected, as if they were sleeping somewhere else in the house upstairs.
Try to keep the background of the entire room as neutral as possible, adding decorative walls in warm wood tones to ward off any dullness. Keep the number palette simple and try not to use more than two dominant shades.
Many basements don't get enough natural light, so it makes sense to paint the room golden yellow or soft cream for a cozy and warm appeal.
Ceilings and floors
Now it's time to talk about the ceiling and floors in your new bedroom. Finishing the ceiling with drywall, with diffused light fixtures built into it, is the best option in this case. This will give the room its own identity, without creating a sharp difference from other rooms in your house. The ukenet range and the whole decor in general, as close as possible to the whole style and theme as on other levels of the whole house, so that there is no sharp contrast.
In the new bedroom, the floors are laminate, special tiles or carpet, which are ideal for a basement or basement. Stylish rugs will help expand the space and add the necessary color and pattern, while a built-in fireplace will add coziness and a peculiar charm.
Making stairs to salivate
The stairs leading to the basement may seem secondary to many, but judge for yourself - you go down a simple wooden staircase and find yourself in a fabulous apartment, a difficult transition for an inexperienced viewer.
Therefore, the staircase must correspond to the room located in the basement.
A magnificent spiral staircase with wooden steps and acrylic, transparent railing will save space and add the necessary sophistication to the bedroom located in the basement. The main condition is that it should be not only stylish and original, but also of sufficient quality and safe to use.
Light will drive away the darkness
All the leading designers in the world constantly remind us that quality lighting plays a very important role in the equipment of any room. This rule is doubly relevant when equipping a cozy bedroom in the basement.
In the basements of houses, as a rule, only artificial lighting is used, and in our case it should be of the highest quality. If you decide to make a cozy nest, then you will not need a lot of focused lighting, as is the case with a guest area or a game room. Just add a couple of bedside sconces or floor lamps, or you can put LED lighting on the ceiling above the bed, which will save you a lot of space.
Plan an emergency exit
In the basement, if it is converted into a living space, it is necessary to equip an emergency exit for the safety of the whole family according to safety standards. The basement serves as a shelter during a fire or natural disasters, such as "Tornado", and with windows that an adult can climb through, and not just a child, an emergency exit is no longer needed.
If there are no windows in the basement, then you should make an emergency exit with an exit at some distance from the main building, so that your guests or yourself feel absolutely safe for all occasions in life.
You can't forbid living beautifully
Your approach to planning a new space may be qualitatively different from those upstairs. With the same basic decor, pillowcases, blankets and chair upholstery can be much richer than in the rooms upstairs to create the necessary comfort and coziness.
Create a little oasis for you, your loved ones, on weekends and holidays you will find a calm and comfortable refuge here, especially when a fairly large family lives in the house, and you want privacy and silence.
All funds and your efforts will pay off in the future when you create a cozy bedroom, away from the noise of the city and home, where no one will bother you to relax or read your favorite book, when the life of a large family is going on rapidly upstairs.
Nursery for three children: design photo of the interior of a nursery for three children
The whole floor turned out to be at the complete disposal of the children - there is a common living room, bedrooms, places for games, recreation and study
To the owners of a large two-story house, David and Emily, I really wanted to equip the basement floor, already given to the power of their young children. “Before the redesign, this space was a place with narrow corridors and tiny rooms,” recalls Ronan Tarlet, the project’s lead architect. The owners asked him to transform the space in accordance with the spirit of the times and the needs of the children, but they could not even imagine the upcoming changes.
The architects completely rethought the floor, adapting it for children: “We decided to demolish everything, including several walls, and designed a common open space. Now daylight, penetrating here only through the southern facade of the house, extends to the entire floor. The result is a huge modern living room with two wooden blocks in the center. Large sliding doors structure the space, hiding the children's bedrooms (when closed) or, conversely, uniting all the interiors into one whole (when open).
On project
Who lives here: David, Emily and three of their children
place: ex-en-provence
Size: 170 sq.m
Authors of the project: Tarlet Architectes
: F. Joliot
Tarlet Architectes
“In the basement of the house there are two central blocks - wooden cubes that can be walked around in a circle , - explains Ronan Tarlet, who implemented the project together with his wife, also an architect.
“The only way to bring order to the organization of the space was to unite the disparate, mismatched rooms around the central elements.”
Tarlet Architectes
The ground floor consists of four open rooms - three children's rooms and one common living room for everyone. And four bathrooms and several dressing rooms are placed in wooden blocks.
Tarlet Architectes
Two wooden blocks look very brutal. “In winter, we left these boards outside to grow old. So they lost the tannin, which gives the chestnut wood a reddish tint. We tried to make them as rough and natural as possible, we wanted to create an atmosphere of a simple hut on the floor,” says the architect.
Hidden inside two blocks, sliding wooden doors help delimit the space. During the day, the four rooms become one, while at night, the black-painted partitions create intimacy.
Tarlet Architectes
Previously, the rooms were chronically lacking in natural light.
Now this problem is solved by the possibility of transforming space, which is carried out with the help of sliding doors. When closed, the doors create a feeling of privacy, while when open, they allow sunlight into the interiors.
It was decided to lay polymer self-leveling floors on the floor. Unlike traditional concrete, this material gives a beautiful pattern of stains.
Tarlet Architectes
Central units hold many secrets. Hidden inside the wooden "huts" are four bathrooms, several walk-in closets and wardrobes. Unlike the rest of the basement space, here the architects retained the load-bearing walls that enclose the bathrooms.
Tarlet Architectes
By choosing colors, the architects tried to enhance the character of each space. Warmer colors appear on the south side, while cooler hues adorn the walls on the north side. “The fullness of color makes the interiors more expressive,” explains the author of the project.
Tarlet Architectes
This huge table is made from African iroko wood and brings warmth to the room. It plays in contrast with the white chairs and the apple-colored wall.
Tarlet Architectes
A painted wood partition separates one of the rooms from the rest of the space. If one of the children is watching TV, the rest are not disturbed by the noise in their bedrooms.
Tarlet Architectes
For Ronan Tarlet it is important that architecture fulfills a pedagogical function. “Combinations of materials and beauty of lines contribute to the formation of taste. Children are much more sensitive than we think,” the architect believes.
With such a bold architecture, the clients decided not to add too much decoration. Having shown understanding and taste, they only picked up rounded chairs and armchairs for the new interior.
Tarlet Architectes
The long, horizontal surface of the top matches the vertical and irregular lines of the central chestnut huts. Two types of wood (honey iroko and bleached chestnut), although different from each other, became wonderful friends in this interior filled with bright accents.
Tarlet Architectes
In this windowed room, the bed ends with a worktop. Creating such a structure was not an easy task for the architects: it was necessary to “clearly think over the supporting surface of the frame so as not to install legs under the table top” .
Tarlet Architectes
Iroko wood was used to make a bed and part of the walls were decorated with the same material. According to the architects, “this wood is a little difficult to work with and can crack over time, but at the same time it can bring a surprisingly warm atmosphere to the interior.
”
Tarlet Architectes
Here the architects chose cooler and brighter colors for the bedroom. White, accentuated by spectacular lemon yellow, contrasts with black interior elements, giving it a special clarity and transparency.
Tarlet Architectes
The whole structure of the basement had to be redesigned. Therefore, there are many columns and beams in the interiors - some already existed before. All of them are painted black, and together they are designed to emphasize the structure of the space.
Tarlet Architectes
In this bedroom, one of the chestnut wood blocks acts as a wall. Strict lines and matte colors accentuate the modern style of the interior, while the use of wood brings a warm and exotic atmosphere.
The height of the ceilings on the floor is low, so the architects decided to highlight some elements in black and draw long horizontal lines.
