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You've finally decided it is time to do something with all the unused space in your basement. Perhaps, you office out of your home, and you need a write off or two and remodeling your basement to include a home office space will be the ticket for you to be more productive next year.  Maybe the kids, who are teenagers now, need a place to hang out with friends. You possibly need one more bedroom and bathroom to make room for guests and extended stays. Or maybe, you want to add a killer curved HDTV with wireless surround sound, sound bar and all controlled from the comfort of your seat with your phone or iPad!

Now that is living!

So what are the basement remodeling trends?

Home audio room in the basement

The trend today is toward entertainment. People like to be able to watch movies and TV at home with the best sound possible in a relaxing and comfortable environment. Homeowners want to surf the internet using their TV or see who’s calling without missing a second of the game.  These upgrades in sound come from surround sound systems and soundbars  (which don’t require a receiver) and wifi speakers that can be seamlessly added to perfect the viewing experience.

Trends are toward Game rooms

Gone are the simple days of Pong and Pac Man. Entire rooms are being designed to enhance the gaming experience. And we are not just talking teen agers! The average age of a gamer in the U.S. today is 31. There are more gamers over 36 than there are between the ages of 18-35. Men make up 52% of the gamers, which means, the ladies are not that far behind. Everyone is looking for the best picture and the best sound for their gaming experience and a comfortable environment to do it in. Remodeling your basement for gamers may include the high end audio system in conjunction with lots of comfortable seating and soundproofing insulation (if you wants to go without the headphones)

Basement Remodeling trend: Small kitchenettes

You want to be comfortable but you don't need to have the amenities in your basement to cook and service Thanksgiving dinner. The trend these days is toward smaller kitchens as oppose to the cocktail bar of the past. Homeowners are installing simple, compact and useful basement kitchenettes. Kitchenette appliances such as microwave drawers and under the counter refrigerators and a disposal in the sink, make it easy for younger kids to help themselves. Don’t forget about style. You can still use a darker cabinet in a basement. Add a glass and stainless or stone backsplash and you’ll be right in step with the latest trends. Better to put a compact dishwasher in now then wish you had done it later.

Now is the best time to take that unused square footage in the basement and turn it in to the home theater, game room or entertainment and hang out space for your kids. Professional remodeling companies sometimes offer specials for such construction during the winter months.  According to Bankrate.com for the Kansas City areas, the home equity line of credit rate for $50,000 is around 3.25 and 5.15 % right now (based on good FICO score and other factors). There may also be tax advantages to remodeling your basement before the end of the year if you have a home office or use some energy efficient materials like insulation. Remodel your basement with the latest trends! You’ll increase the usable space, the value of your home and you’ll have a great basement to game, send the kids to hang out with their friends or watch a movie!