Lounge and media wall
The wall you face from the sofa does the most work: a TV set into stone, wood or slats, often with a linear electric fireplace below it and storage built in beside it.
Wet bar
A sink, a counter and fridges under it, with open shelves or glass-front cabinets above. Some face the room across an island with stools.
Kitchen
A full kitchen downstairs: an island, a range and full-height cabinets, for a second suite or a family that entertains.
Bathroom and sauna
Frameless glass showers, floating and furniture-style vanities, and in one Oakville walkout, a sauna beside the shower.
Home gym
Room to move, mirrors, and a floor that takes the weights. Some gyms open to the family room; one sits behind glass.
Games and playroom
Space for a ping-pong table, a play mat and toy storage that closes at the end of the day.
Bedroom and guest suite
A basement bedroom needs an egress window that meets the Ontario Building Code; it is drawn into the permit drawings we file.
Office and music room
A quiet corner with a desk, or a room of its own for the drum kit.
Dining and open plan
A table by the kitchen or the fireplace wall turns the basement into one open space instead of a row of rooms.
Stairs
The first thing you see on the way down: wood treads, painted risers, metal spindles, or a curved stair.
Ceilings and lighting
Pot lights on dimmers, a tray ceiling with a hidden light strip, and pendants over an island.
Storage and built-ins
Built-in shelving, closets behind sliding doors, and lit niches for the things worth showing.
More basement ideas, room by room
Our guides go deeper into each room and finish. They are worth a read before your design session.
Rooms
- Basement Kitchen Ideas
- 8 Steps for a Brilliant Basement Kitchen
- Basement Bathroom Ideas
- The Benefits of Building a Basement Bar
- Tips for the Ultimate Basement Gym
- Tips to Build the Best Basement Theatre Room
- 12 Best Basement Playroom Ideas
- Ultimate Guide to Basement Office Ideas
- The Best Rooms to Add to a Basement
Floors, walls and ceilings
Ready to build one? See what basement finishing includes, how we approach basement design, and what goes into a basement bathroom renovation or a basement kitchen renovation.
The photographs above come from basements we finished across the GTA. See our basement renovations in Toronto, and our work in East Gwillimbury, Vaughan, Woodbridge, Thornhill and Oakville.
