Finished basement kitchen ideas
10 ways to make basement kitchens elegant |
(Image credit: Ca'Pietra)
The best basement kitchen ideas will ensure that its lower floor location is no impediment to designing the room you hanker after, whether it’s the home’s only kitchen, or a second kitchen incorporated as part of a basement remodel.
A basement kitchen can delight with its looks and functionality, and be light and bright, too, so that all your kitchen ideas are achieved without compromise. But, it is true that the basement location can present particular challenges that need thoughtful design to solve.
Do so successfully, however, and a basement kitchen can prove a room as comfortable to cook in, and as pleasant to spend time in, as a main floor version.
Basement kitchen ideas
Using clever basement ideas, you can bring light in, create a successful layout, select the right colors and finishes – and design a space to share with the family. These basement kitchen ideas and expert advice will help you achieve a dream space.
1. Plan with daylight in mind
(Image credit: Martin Moore)
In a space with windows, designing the kitchen layout to take advantage of the daylight for both preparation and eating is the best way to make the most of your basement.
‘Use areas with the most light for cooking and dining, with darker parts reserved for the pantry and storage and utility areas,’ says Daniel Bowler, director, Eggersmann UK .
Thinking cleverly about your basement ceiling ideas and how you can let light flood in throw skylights and lightwells is also a great way to enhance your basement kitchen with natural light.
2. Consider polished concrete flooring
(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd Photograph: James Merrell)
Kitchen flooring ideas need to be hard wearing and easy to clean, and those for a basement kitchen are no exception. One option you might like to consider is polished concrete. It’s a durable floor surface that’s low maintenance. It can also reflect the light well to swerve gloom in a room with limited or no natural daylight.
Bear in mind that this floor finish won’t suit every family. It’s a flooring that doesn’t yield underfoot, so may not be the best option when you have young kids. Note, too, that polished concrete must be properly finished and sealed to avoid moisture penetration, so should be installed by a professional.
3. Plan an effective lighting scheme
(Image credit: Ray Main )
Layered kitchen lighting ideas with ambient, task, and feature lighting is always important, and particularly as part of your basement kitchen ideas.
‘Emphasizing light in any basement is essential, but more so in a basement kitchen when handling sharp and hot objects,’ says Darren Watts, design director at Wren Kitchens . ‘This will also help provide a cozier atmosphere whether you’ll be using the space for family time or hosting dinner parties for friends. Using LEDs under your cabinets and spotlights on your ceiling is a great way to add additional light.’
4. Brighten with the backsplash
(Image credit: Ca'Pietra)
Backsplash ideas for kitchens can make for beautiful features, but when it comes to basement kitchen ideas pay attention to its reflectivity as well as other factors.
‘A mirror used as a backsplash can enhance light as well as reflecting design features and allow the person cooking to see what is going on in the rest of the kitchen,’ says Shalini Misra, interior designer and founder Shalini Misra and The Design Buzz.
Prefer tile for the backsplash? Choose gloss versions to bounce the light around a basement kitchen.
5. Pick metallic pendant lights
(Image credit: Davey Lighting)
When basement kitchen ideas include creating an island as part of the design, think about opting for metallic pendant lights above.
‘Metallic lampshades hanging above an island are great for highlighting the area as a space for socializing while the gleaming tones reflect light and add depth,’ explains Christopher Dance, managing director and head designer at InHouse Inspired Room Design .
6. Embrace bold hues
(Image credit: Tom Howley)
The lack of light in a basement doesn’t mean light toned cabinets are the only option available – you can choose more inviting kitchen cabinet ideas.
‘Don't be afraid to go bold with color,’ says Christopher Dance. ‘Although it might be tempting to lean entirely towards a light, bright palette to make up for a lack of natural light, this might make the kitchen feel too clinical or sterile. Instead, think about the wide variety of ways that color can be used to make the room feel more welcoming. Dark cabinetry in deep terracotta or ocean blues, coupled with lighter flooring and counters, can help to create warmth without making the space feel too small.’
7. Opt for an open feel
(Image credit: Future)
One of our favorite basement kitchen ideas is that of incorporating open shelving and cabinets together with glass-fronted cabinets into the design. These elements will help keep the kitchen feeling open, which can be crucial in a basement location – especially if it isn’t a large space – but won’t compromise the amount of storage available. Don’t limit open storage to wall areas either; open cabinets are ideal as part of an island unit.
Glass-fronted storage can be preferable for items that aren’t used frequently to keep them free of dust. Meanwhile, the more utilitarian items of open plan kitchen ideas should still be stashed behind cabinet doors.
Likewise, open wine storage will ensure your bottles of vino are kept at their best, whilst being on display for guests to see.
8. Make a basement kitchen cozy
(Image credit: Devol)
Boost the coziness of a basement kitchen by turning up the dial on texture. Follow this kitchen’s lead with a pie crust apron-front sink, and combine with Shaker kitchen style wood cabinetry, a wood floor, and tactile counters.
Think about faucet finish as well to make a basement kitchen a more welcoming space, swapping cool choices like chrome and nickel for warm brass.
9. Create a view through the basement
(Image credit: Future Publishing Ltd Photograph: Paul Raeside)
It’s possible for a basement kitchen to feel constricted, particularly if the ceiling is lower than in the rest of the house, or the basement is long and narrow, but paying attention to how the space is divided can eliminate this effect.
‘Avoid solid walls to retain the sense of flow and natural light, with open shelving and glass partitions being best,’ says Daniel Bowler.
Here, the basement staircase has a glass wall that visually widens the space as well as letting light through. Meanwhile, if the basement is a multi-purpose space, open shelving between the kitchen and a seating area can make the zones distinct without compromising the openness of the space.
10. Build in windows
(Image credit: Future / Jonathan Gooch)
If budget allows, it is well worthwhile introducing floor-to-ceiling windows into a basement kitchen design by building out into the backyard or stepping it to connect the kitchen with the exterior of your home and bring in natural illumination.
Bear in mind, though, that the disadvantage of this option is that cabinets can’t be positioned on the exterior wall. In this scenario, consider a run of cabinets along the wall perpendicular to the window with a long island facing to create a galley layout.
This ensures there is still plentiful storage and counter space along with a view to the yard.
Can you put a kitchen in a basement?
A kitchen can be located in a basement. In some homes it’s a great place for the family kitchen, freeing up the main floor entirely for living space. However, it’s also worth factoring adding a kitchenette in the basement to your basement conversion costs when remodeling.
‘If the basement is a family room, it’s useful to have a small kitchen to make providing drinks and snacks convenient,’ says Homes & Gardens' Editor-in-Chief Lucy Searle. ‘And if the basement is guest accommodation, it allows visitors to cater to their own needs without interrupting preparation and cooking in the kitchen, or disturbing the rest of the household early in the morning or late at night.’
How do I put a small kitchen in my basement?
The best way to put a compact kitchen in a small basement is to use a one-wall layout along an entire wall, or part of one, depending on which features are required.
A basement kitchen could accommodate cabinets at floor level and on the wall along with counters, a refrigerator or wine fridge, plus a combination of items such as a microwave, combo oven, or even a stove, sink, and dishwasher.
If there’s more space available, use a corner of the room for an L-shaped layout, or opt for a galley layout if bigger is better.
Remember that adequate ventilation will need to be planned in if the kitchen includes cooking facilities.
Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor. Previously executive editor of Ideal Home, she’s specialized in interiors, property and gardens for over 20 years, and covers interior design, house design, gardens, and cleaning and organizing a home for H&G. She’s written for websites, including Houzz, Channel 4’s flagship website, 4Homes, and Future’s T3; national newspapers, including The Guardian; and magazines including Future’s Country Homes & Interiors, Homebuilding & Renovating, Period Living, and Style at Home, as well as House Beautiful, Good Homes, Grand Designs, Homes & Antiques, LandLove and The English Home among others.
It’s no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house renovator.
25 Basement Kitchenette Ideas For a Stylish Bonus Space
By
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel
Kristin Hohenadel is an interior design expert who has covered architecture, interiors, and decor trends for publications including the New York Times, Interior Design, Lonny, and the American and international editions of Elle Decor. She resides in Paris, France, and has traveled to over 30 countries, giving her a global perspective on home design.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 11/30/22
Rebecca Foster Design / Photo by Meghan Beierle-O’Brien
Whether you're remodeling an underground rental apartment, in-law guest suite, or a family game room, including a basement kitchenette can provide a place to make simple meals, store wine and snacks, host poker night, and help create a flexible bonus space that will make your home feel more functional and fun.
Space constraints and a lack of natural light can make designing a basement kitchenette challenging. But just because a kitchenette is relegated to the basement doesn't mean it should be treated like an afterthought. Here are some ideas for decorating a basement kitchenette that doesn't skimp on functionality or style.
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01 of 25
Add Cottage Style
Design by House of Jade Interiors / Lindsay Salazar Photography
This cottage style basement design from House of Jade Interiors is designed to optimize movie and game nights, with a built-in pantry for storing snacks, a glass-front fridge for beverages, soft blue cabinetry, a farmhouse sink, and a decorative real stone wall in shades of beige, taupe, and gray.
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02 of 25
Think Pink
Fynes Designs
Fynes Designs added a pastel pink kitchenette with a diamond-patterned tile backsplash, gold-toned hardware, and open shelving that includes a bistro table and chairs located off to one side, and a lounge area with a comfortable couch and coffee table on the opposite wall.
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03 of 25
Feature Exposed Brick
Pizzale Design Inc. / Photo by Mike Chajecki
For this stylish renovated home basement in Mississauga, Ontario, designers at Pizzale Design Inc. created a kitchenette built into an exposed brick feature wall that includes hidden storage. "A second kitchen was created to accommodate the mother’s love for cooking with more fridge storage," the designers say. A spacious island with a place to drink or dine defines the kitchenette from a nearby sitting area outfitted with a comfy sectional in bold coral upholstery.
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04 of 25
Go British Style
Design by deVOL Kitchens
Not all basement kitchenettes are created equal.
In the U.K., townhouses often feature a basement kitchen that opens up onto a terrace or back garden. The Classic English Kitchen range by deVOL Kitchens looks just as great underground as above ground, in classic black and white. Exposed beams, black piping, painted white brick, and a red Anglepoise task light give a polished industrial feel, while an open shelf decorated with a plant and an oil painting adds a homey touch. -
05 of 25
Make It Peachy
Design by Pluck
This basement kitchenette designed by London-based Pluck is decorated in luminous shades of peach that amplify the natural light from the window.
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06 of 25
Keep It Light and Airy
Louis Duncan-He Designs / Photo by Genevieve Renee
This large basement renovation from Louis Duncan-He Designs includes a kitchenette that's clad in white shiplap and cabinetry that maximizes the natural light from a small window.
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07 of 25
Go Dark
Christina Kim Interior Design / Raquel Langworthy Photography
Christina Kim Interior Design added a stylish wet bar with moody black finishes and gold accents to this basement rec room that could be adapted into a full kitchenette with a heat element.
The relaxing, sophisticated space is a self-contained bunker for family hang outs and game nights with friends that stretch into the wee hours. -
08 of 25
Light It Up
Design by deVOL Kitchens
One of the biggest challenges when outfitting a basement kitchenette is ensuring that there is adequate lighting. If your basement space doesn't have windows or natural light of any kind, installing recessed lighting into the ceiling is a clever solution. In this contemporary London basement kitchenette designed by Sebastian Cox for deVOL, glass block-style built-in LED panels diffuse warm light from overhead that gives the illusion of natural light and is strong enough to illuminate the functional space, a more stylish solution than your average can lights.
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09 of 25
Game It Out
White Sands Design Build
This Southern California coastal farmhouse style basement game room from White Sands Design Build has a kitchenette tucked discreetly in the corner so that you can keep your game night drinks and snacks at the ready.
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10 of 25
Make It Fun
Rebecca Foster Design / Photo by Meghan Beierle-O’Brien
"This Manhattan Beach, CA basement kitchen was designed to be fun but functional," says interior designer Rebecca Foster. "The kids can get snacks but also wash dishes in the dishwasher, and it is a combo oven so meals can be cooked, not just microwaved. It is the perfect spot for after beach snacks or dinner and a movie." Stainless steel appliances, gray wood-toned cabinetry, and white walls and ceilings give the space a crisp, modern look, while multi-colored glass storage jars displayed on open shelving create a focal point.
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11 of 25
Outfit the Guest Suite
Designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Tramp
This 49-square-foot basement kitchenette in a guest suite designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design was built with Hellen's mother-in-law in mind, equipped with everything she would need to cook up a storm like she does at home.
The efficient L-shaped layout includes a built-in oven, a small stovetop, and a full-size Smeg refrigerator. A soothing palette of white, gray, and pale blue keeps it feeling light and airy. -
12 of 25
Use Vertical Space
Designed by Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Tramp
Many basements have lower ceiling heights than upstairs spaces. In a basement kitchenette, adding open shelving that reaches all the way to the ceiling will add storage while making the ceilings feel taller by drawing the eye upward, especially if you finish the walls and shelving in bright white tones.
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13 of 25
Add a Dining Table
Michelle Berwick Design
Michelle Berwick Design relegated this basement kitchenette to a single wall, adding a long stone backsplash with a built-in display shelf. A large dining table anchored by a pendant light replaces a kitchen island, creating a space for comfortable sit-down meals that divides the kitchenette from the seating area.
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14 of 25
Use Shaker Cabinetry
Design by deVOL Kitchens
This basement kitchenette from deVOL Kitchens is tucked into an alcove, with Shaker-style cabinets painted in a serene blue-green, a farmhouse-style sink, and floating shelves in a darker shade of teal. Wide plank hardwood flooring elevates the space.
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15 of 25
Add an Island
Design by Pluck
This London basement kitchenette designed by Pluck has wrap-around blue cabinetry, a sink under the window that lets in natural light from the street above, a farmhouse sink, navy blue cabinetry, and a marble-topped kitchen island.
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16 of 25
Add Some Art
Britt Design Studio
A stone countertop and matching backsplash, gold hardware, and a gilded framed painting that's lit like it's in an art museum adds polish to this wet bar from Britt Design Studio that has plenty of space for preparing and storing drinks and snacks.
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17 of 25
Make It a Snack Station
Cake & Confetti
Two-toned blue cabinetry and countertops, a colorful backsplash, gold hardware, and a cute retro-style mini refrigerator turn this colorful family-friendly kitchenette from Cake & Confetti into snack central.
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18 of 25
Open a Cellar Bar
deVOL Kitchens
While it's not technically a kitchenette, this cellar bar and wine storage corner made up of elements from the Real Shaker Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens is a great alternative for those who love to drink and don't need to cook, preferring to use their basement square footage for an impressive collection of bottles and a dedicated prep area for cocktails.
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19 of 25
Mix Materials
Michelle Berwick Design
Michelle Berwick Design mixed pale wood cabinetry and shelving with an abstract patterned tile backsplash wall that adds interest to the small dry bar and could work just as well in a basement kitchenette.
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20 of 25
Include a Wine Fridge
New Perspective Design
This basement kitchenette, complete with a wine fridge from New Perspective Design, is incorporated into a faux brick feature wall, allowing it to blend into the background and keep the focus on a comfortable seating and TV watching area perfect for family movie nights and watching big games with friends.
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21 of 25
Add Wood Paneling
Design by Laura Brophy Interiors
Laura Brophy Interiors added wood paneling to this wet bar that could easily double as a kitchenette with a hot plate that can be stored when not in use. Dark lower cabinets and a pale wood-paneled backsplash with windows and open shelving adds balance.
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22 of 25
Keep It Open
drewhadley / Getty Images
This modern basement apartment conversion has shiny white walls, polished pale gray concrete floors, and a dark wood kitchenette with a peninsula housing the sink tucked into the back wall of the room, out of the way but open to the rest of the room.
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23 of 25
Choose Glass-Front Cabinetry
New Perspective Design
In this basement pool room from New Perspective Design, a kitchenette provides temperature-controlled storage for adult beverages, a mini-fridge, and plenty of built-in storage for snacks. Glass-front, interior-lit upper cabinetry mimics a pair of windows on either side of the kitchenette, and recessed can lighting brightens up the basement space even more.
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24 of 25
Add Color
Michelle Berwick Design / Instagram
Don't be afraid to introduce color in a basement kitchenette, like the yellows and blues that lift the herringbone pattern white subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances and hardware of this basement kitchenette from Michelle Berwick Design.
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25 of 25
Mix Dark and Light
Design by Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions
Open wine storage, glass-front cabinetry, and gleaming silver backsplash tile keep this dark wood basement kitchenette and wet bar from Amy Leferink at Interior Impressions from feeling too heavy.
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Antonina Ivanova
Highchair for the child in the kitchen - removable and easy to put away in the closet, it is attached to any chair, incl.
and to the bar.
Design ideas for a Scandinavian style kitchen
Liana Ni
A fresh design idea: a bright, mid-sized corner kitchen in a modern style with a dining table, a solid sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, a gray splashback, black appliances, light parquet floors, beige floors and black worktops without islands - great interior photo
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Tverskaya
Hasmik Kalantaryan
Stylish design: direct, bright medium-sized neoclassical (modern classic) kitchen with dining table, recessed panel fronts, white fronts, white backsplash, cement tile backsplash, furniture-like appliances, multi-colored floors and white countertops without an island - the latest trend
Apartment on Tsvetnoy Boulevard
Natalya Shirokorad
An example of the original design: a separate, parallel, light medium-sized neoclassical (modern classic) kitchen with a sink sink, fronts with a protruding panel , beige fronts, granite countertops, beige backsplash, granite backsplash, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floor, island, beige floors and beige worktops
Duplex apartment in the center of St.
Petersburg
Dmitry Izumrud
Inspiration for home comfort: a small straight kitchen-living room in a modern style with flat fronts, gray fronts, wooden worktops, light parquet floors, beige floors and brown worktops without islands
Color Therapy
Aleksandra Sakmarova
Original design example: separate, U-shaped, bright, medium-sized contemporary style kitchen with flat fronts, light wood fronts, laminate worktops, colorful backsplash, hog tile backsplash, black appliances , vinyl flooring, brown flooring, white countertop and sink without island
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Mönchengladbach
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Klare Kante - Hochwertige und einzigartige Schreinerarbeiten
2-room apartment
Full cycle finishing works
Realization of an apartment in the center of Krasnodar.
Walls and ceilings were painted with Little Green English paints
Design Idea: Contemporary style kitchen
inter-decore.com
Now to the word about self-leveling floors. It was my old dream. And finally implemented. They are branded. Highly. Every hair, every speck of dust. You can’t do without a robot vacuum cleaner, or without a Dyson-type vacuum cleaner, which is always at hand. And you have to wash more often than it was done before. But! What a pleasure to vacuum and wash them! They are smooth but not slippery. They are warm, like parquet. Under them, you can feel the routes of heating pipes laid to the radiators especially where you walk most often. Heated floors are automatically obtained. And - most importantly - no joints between different sexes! They are in the kitchen, and in the bedroom, and in the bathroom, and in the living room. My favorite smart white self-leveling floors. Yes - and no skirting boards! nine0004
Apartment in a panel house
Anna Shimanova
Pictured: neoclassical (modern classic) kitchen with recessed panel fronts, green fronts, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, multi-colored floors and black worktops with
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9 out of 5 stars 8 reviews
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Photography for MAKEDESIGN Design Studio | APARTMENTS IN CHEKHOV
Galaganov Dmitry
Design idea: modern style parallel kitchen-living room with overhead sink, flat cabinets, gray fronts, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, gray floors and white countertops without an island
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Duisburg
Buschmann Project GmbHAverage rating: 5 out of 5 stars 3 reviews
Bauunternehmen | Dusseldorf
White apartment with office
Alexander Tischler
A fresh design idea for a mid-sized gray and white corner modern style kitchen with porcelain stoneware flooring, gray flooring, dining table, sink sink, flat cabinets, white cabinets, with quartz agglomerate countertop, white backsplash, quartz agglomerate splashback, black appliances and white countertop without island - great interior photo
House by the river.
