Basements are superb areas for storage, but many designers, like Alair Homes, are taking things to the next level and utilizing below ground areas to achieve truly awesome results. Below are several ways people are using their underground spaces.
Storage
If you can raise the floor of a room, the room can double as a storage area. Raising the floor of the room will allow you to cut out removable sections of the floor to use for storage. This idea can be used for storing blankets or children’s toys if you like.
Wine Cellar
If you’re a wine fanatic, then you’re going to want a cellar. However, not everybody has the luxury of a basement to store wine. In these cases, you can dig out an area below your kitchen to put your wine in. You can cover up the opening with a hatch, or put a guard around the opening to prevent any accidents.
Courts
If you have a large enough basement, you can put a tennis court, basketball court, or bowling alley in your basement. A solid option for those who don’t have a large backyard or a nearby sports facilities.
Pool
Basement pools are ideal for those who have the space, and for those who live in climates that are very cold, or not warm enough, to justify an outdoor pool. You may want to incorporate a skylight to give the space a more open atmosphere.
Book Storage
Having a storage area for all your books beneath the floorboards can save you space in a small apartment or home. Having a vertical shelf beneath your floor is impractical, so storing your books laterally makes more sense. You just lift up the removable section, reach down, and pick your book before closing the section again.
Garage
Garages use up a lot of space in a home, so many home designers are placing garages underground. Like many apartment buildings, underground garages allow tenants and visitors to park their cars, and then use an elevator or stairwell to go up to the main floor.
Additional Apartments
Building an additional living area below your home requires some imagination. Many homeowners desire a place to spend time underground, but they want everything to be retractable, compact, and budget-friendly. When those things are achieved, you can have a great bunker for friends and family to hang out.
Coolers
Having a walk-in refrigerator underground makes sense. When a refrigerator is underground, you will use less electricity, or none at all, as the ground acts as a natural insulator. A perfect area for produce and meat.
Although the ideas and designs above are innovative, that doesn’t mean these are the only designs you can install underground. Creativity goes a long way when designing a new area underground, and you may surprise yourself with a great idea no one has thought of yet.