7 Tips For Turning Your Basement Into a Home Office

With the recent events suddenly turning millions of people into work-from-home professionals, contractors have seen a huge surge in demand for home office renovations.

Garage conversions have been popular for years, and many people are now looking to convert their unused basements into home offices as well.

This strategy makes sense from a practical standpoint. You don’t have to sacrifice living space elsewhere in your home, and the basement’s relative isolation makes it a strong setting for those who equate peace and quiet with productivity.

7 Tips For Turning Your Basement Into a Home Office

If you’re thinking about converting your basement into a home office, here are some practical considerations you’ll want your plan to cover.

1. Start with an assessment

First, take a look at the space you’d like to convert. Think about how much furniture it can accommodate, whether it has enough insulation and waterproofing and whether you might need to add safety features like an emergency exit. Also, make sure that adjoining floors and ceilings do not have any leaks or other issues requiring remediation.

2. Arrange a professional inspection

For added peace of mind, it’s a wise idea to hire a professional home inspector to confirm the findings of your assessment. Have them make an independent evaluation of the space, and incorporate the professional’s advice into your overall plan.

3. Tailor your plan to minimize noise

Everyone wants to create a peaceful, quiet space that’s conducive to productivity. Thus, you should plan to center the workspace in an area that’s shielded from upstairs noise, outside noise, and overhead foot traffic to the greatest possible degree.

4. Prioritize lighting in your plan

Basements are usually pretty dark, so you’ll likely want to brighten things up. Home design experts recommend a three-step approach to your lighting plan:

• Create a strong, bright source of overhead lighting
• Supplement this key light with recessed lighting or track lighting, if necessary
• Make sure there are plenty of electrical outlets and enough floor space for adding lamps and other portable sources if necessary

This will ensure you have lots of light, even for those times when you need to work late into the night.

5. Consider connectivity

When creating your floorplan and furniture layout, make sure you know where your electrical outlets and wired connections are going to be before you finalize the details. Also, make sure you’re aware of the technical specifications required to host the kind of office equipment you’re looking to add.

6. Don’t overlook air quality

Lighting and connectivity are huge issues, but they’re not the only ones to consider. If you’re going to be spending a lot of time in your new home office, you also need to think about air quality. Make sure to leave enough floor space for a portable humidifier/dehumidifier and air purifier.

7. Work with a professional

A renovation of this scope and scale is best left to a professional unless you’re an accomplished and experienced DIYer. If you decide to hire a contractor, reach out to multiple reputable local companies, collect insights and bids, and carefully vet each option. Ensure complete, current licensure and carefully research the contractor’s customer satisfaction profile before proceeding.

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Whether you’re looking to add office space to your home, thinking of building a patio, or add a garage, investing in a skilled contractor can go a long way. Here at Mid-Atlantic Home Improvement, we can help you turn your dreams into reality!

Over the last 45 years, we’re performed countless custom home improvement & high-end remodel & renovation projects throughout Virginia. From high-quality home additions to kitchen upgrades, fire and water damage repairs, basement renovation projects, and much more, we are your one-stop-shop for all your home improvement needs, large and small.

We are a fully licensed, insured, and bonded Virginia Class A Builder, in business since 1975!