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Finished basement kitchen


25 Basement Kitchenette Ideas For a Stylish Bonus Space

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.

10 ways to make basement kitchens elegant |

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(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. 

Before and after: Kitchen in the basement - and why not

The owners of this house moved from Frankfurt to Mannheim, returning to their father's house. But before moving into it, along with two children and all the belongings, the derelict house had to be rebuilt - with the help of Mo + Architekten from Frankfurt. “The family wanted to rejuvenate the house a bit. On the outside, it fits in with the local environment, but on the inside it has adapted to the modern style of the family,” says Heiko Messerschmidt of Mo+ Architekten. It was decided to lower the kitchen into the basement. However, it was there, below, that she became the center of the whole house.

About the project
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Size: Approx. 20 sqm m
Who lives here: Family with two children
Authors of the project: Mo+ Architekten

Photo “Before”

mo+ architekten

BEFORE
tiled staircase with wrought iron railings. “Together with the customers, we decided that the dark basement needed to be converted into a spacious kitchen. So we moved the entrance to the house to an intermediate landing to restructure the space,” explains Heike.

mo+ architekten

Wrought iron railings and tiles give way to a warmer-feeling combination of oak and white lacquered MDF boards. A skylight mounted on a flat roof enhanced the daylight of the flight of stairs.

“The clients wanted to create as many storage spaces as possible,” says the architect. Built-in wardrobes with small recesses instead of handles and an oak bench with a folding seat allow you to hide a lot right at the entrance to the house.

mo+ architekten

AFTER
It's hard to believe that there used to be a dark hallway downstairs - you can see it in the first photo. Now the 20-meter kitchen-dining room from everywhere - from the stairs and through the new window on the right - pours light, complemented by ceiling spots.

The theme of storage was also the main theme in the arrangement of the kitchen. “The question of how to quickly deal with chaos, and without apparent effort, arose constantly,” recalls Heike. The solution was found: the kitchen, strict and laconic on the outside, provides absolute comfort.

mo+ architekten

Behind the white lacquered fronts, there are plenty of storage spaces. When cabinets without handles are opened (Tip-On mechanism), the “inside” of oiled oak appears before your eyes. “It gives the kitchen a little more warmth,” says the architect.

A coffee machine, a toaster and cookbooks, glasses, plates and other kitchen utensils are hidden behind the facades. The built-in furniture was produced by the MTB joinery from Edingen, with which the Mo+Architekten team often cooperates.

Oven and hob: Miele

mo+ architekten

White worktop in Corian® composite. Its properties made it possible to cast the sink without a single seam right in the countertop.

Single-lever kitchen faucet from the Swiss company KWC is also white: “Everything seems to be made of the same material,” laughs the author of the project.

mo+ architekten

When the cooker hood is switched off, it integrates almost imperceptibly into the work surface. The model from EMB is flush-mounted and slides out of the countertop with a remote control or at the touch of a button on the surface.

mo+ architekten

“Exhaust air passes through the kitchen unit into the basement and is expelled from there through the exhaust pipe,” explains the architect. An elegant solution that fits well with all other hide-and-seek games.

mo+ architekten

mo+ architekten

But the surprises don't stop there! From the end of the kitchen island, if necessary, a bench made of oiled oak is pulled out. “We made the concept of white fronts and internal oak inserts common to the entire kitchen,” says Heike.

What is still missing here is glass, which should be attached to the open side of the stairs. This will help create additional protection for children, but at the same time will not block the light from accessing the basement.

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functional kitchen in an unusual place

Decent design of the kitchen in the basement

The site interiors of rooms would like to introduce its guests to the magnificent design of the kitchen by designers Andre and Anna Freeman, the image of which is modern and not only due to the presence of high-tech equipment, but due to the courage and originality of artistic decisions and creative approach.

It is worth noting that such a combined kitchen-dining room is located in the basement, which initially required additional work to deepen it in order to achieve the required ceiling height, allowing you to install all the necessary kitchen elements.

The final result impresses with the depth of its content and the perfection of the formed lines. There is nothing superfluous here, which is quite rare for objects of this kind.

The color scheme of the room, saturated, preferably, with gray and dark colors, as well as the brilliance of metallic elements, dictates a special mood in which elements of rigor and seriousness are read, which is typical for a design with a clear stylistic modern direction.

Hood that perfectly combines both practical and aesthetic functions

The hood, presented among the elements of kitchen equipment in this room, would be the pride of any housewife. By the way, the owner of this miracle device is also unable to hide her enthusiastic emotions.

In addition to the excellent execution of its direct functional purpose, such a product plays the role of a kind of technical decor. It is worth noting that in this case, all household appliances for the kitchen are the basis of such a unique design solution.

Perfection of forms and lines of all kitchen elements

A kind of kitchen island, which together form some elements of the kitchen, is compact and can be easily moved around its entire perimeter.

Such a practical approach, of course, has a positive effect on the result of the cooking process of various dishes, including their taste, because in such conditions you just want to cook and put your soul into these actions.

A variant of competent combination of objects and color design of the kitchen in the basement

The visual perception of such a room is characterized by the presence of extremely positive factors. The stylish kitchen set is made so flawlessly that you can’t find flaws in it, even if you really want to.

The reason for such a stunning result is a competent approach to details, taking into account the characteristics of this basement and using all its design possibilities.

Lack of piling up, as well as an overabundance of various elements, both appliances and furniture, is another secret of a successful design solution. The issue of lighting is also solved in an optimal technical manner.

In the absence of bulky light sources, the abundance of light in this case is provided by more modern and miniature counterparts, which is the best option for a basement.

The designer chairs chosen for this kitchen composition combine styles from both modern and earlier stylistic trends, acting as a bridge between the past and the present. In the conditions of the created interior, this version of furniture looks very dignified and harmonious.

A large dining table, done in a somewhat underground manner, continues the process of mixing styles and times, which also looks quite natural and interesting.

This piece of furniture once again demonstrates how high-quality results can be achieved with minimal effort. Take a closer look at its details, and you will see an ordinary wooden table top, treated with varnish and a support welded from ordinary metal parts.

The original lamps reflect the natural light coming from the street in a rather interesting way, creating a real doomsday. They look great in the context of the color scheme offered by the brickwork located in the dining table area.

A large glass door floods the room with sunlight, making dining at the table pleasant and relaxed, and adding extra color to an existing look.

Gray flooring successfully contrasts with the texture of the brick wall, saturating the image with additional shades and softening some of the severity of existing lines and shapes.

Bright decorative elements fill this room with bright and cheerful notes, giving a boost of vivacity to all family members. The ceramic owl successfully fit into the created design, which once again confirms the idea that it is not necessary to use expensive products.

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