I'm finishing my basement. Any recommendations on must have additions to it?
I'm putting in a 50" TV with surround sound and at some point I'm adding a bar. I'm planning on building built in shelves to display sports memorabilia with LED light strips. I have some original Tiger Stadium seats that I bought before it was torn down that I'm putting a picture of the stadium and a collage of Tiger's trading cards above it. I'm going to try to fit a pool table and poker table in if there's room.
What else does it need to push the awesomeness to the next level? Preferable something that doesn't take up much room.
by
jeffrjohn
asked 4 months ago
Make sure you put in outlets for 7.1 Surround. Even if you use 5.1 currently, you or someone else in the future might want 7.1
If you have to "try to fit a pool table", then you most likely don't have room for a pool table. If you've ever tried playing in a small room, you know what I'm on about. If you don't have at least 5 feet of wide open space from each side of the table, then you don't have room for it. Go for a foosball table instead.
Assuming you've taken the proper moisture precautions (grading, vapor barrier, etc.), then I'd recommend carpeting on the floor and some sound dampening material on the walls to prevent echoing.
@rprebel: I'll have room for one or the other for sure, except for a pole that will be a constant pain, I'm just not sure both will fit comfortably. You're right though, if I only can get a couple of feet clearance to the walls, I won't spend the money. Foosball might work, but I suck at it.
@jeffrjohn: Well now's your chance to get good at it!
I recommend sealing the walls and floor with a clear cement sealer and buy a dehumidifier hooked up to a drain line. Put in speakers into the ceiling and try putting in an eheater depending where you live, it is a really cheap way to heat a basement when there is no insulation between floors.
@falcondeal: Probably a good idea, but I am leaving the ceiling open and just painting it black and will have room to hide wires anywhere I need. I would like to put in wired internet down there. I notice wireless streaming for Roku or Netflix can be a dog with wireless.
think pinball...
@philosopherott: Excellent suggestion. My friend's dad had one in the basement and we spent hours playing it.
I would go with a dartboard (doesn't take up much space) and if pool table is out of the question, shuffleboard table instead. Fits up against a wall and leaves room for other things.
If this is actually a "Man Cave" vs a finished basement, then add a urinal in the bathroom. Finish the ceiling above the bar in tin tiles for a rustic bar/pub look (they also have drop ceiling tiles that look like tin).
how about a "secret hidden room"
@mellielou: Forget putting in a whole other fixture (Urinal) in the bathroom. I'd opt for a toilet seat that is spring loaded to automatically lift up like in Barney's bathroom on How I Met Your Mother. Then you could mount a small TV on the wall and never miss a minute!
Barney's Toilet Lid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgFch-agM-k
Stripper pole. Doesn't matter if you are married or not. Stripper pole. Trust me.
jukebox, the one you put cd's in
@brays3440: now that my kis are old enough to get into my guns, I was looking at gun safes, but I decided for the price I can build a cinderblock room in the basement with a keypad lock, so that's what I'm doing. Not quite a secret room, still pretty cool
@jeffrjohn: But make the door look like a bookcase.
Put conduit in all the walls, and take pictures before the drywall goes up. It will save you a lot of time later.
As to accessories, a really slick MAME cabinet would be on my wishlist.
@sskarstad:
Built one last year with my boys. It replaced the door to the storage under the stairs.
Haha... I thought this said "I'm fishing in my basement.."
My first thought was "WTF? People do that?" heh..
@drchops: Hmmmm, so a fishtank...great idea!!!
I've finished two basements. No pool table unless you have 6' all around. MAME cabinet first, then pinball. Wire everything to code, make sure you put double outlets around areas where you will have electronics. Wire speakers for 7.1, and add another set or two coiled up for shakers or whatever. Man cave needs walk-in man shower. Carve out an area for workbenches if you're handy or build models. Good luck on the divorce.
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