Short answer: Almost anything a main floor holds, as long as it's planned room by room. This basement in Clark, NJ has a home gym, a bar that looks into a media room, a wet bar, a full bathroom with a steam shower, and a climbing wall for the kids.
Most people picture a finished basement as one big room with a couch and a TV.
This one has a gym, a steam shower and a climbing wall. Here's a look at each part of it.
Where the Stairs Land
Lit shelves meet you at the bottom of the steps. Under the stairs, three pull-out drawers use space that usually sits empty. Closed, they look like part of the wall.
A Full Bathroom With a Steam Shower
The steam shower has frameless glass, a built-in bench, a niche in the wall for shampoo and matte black fixtures. Next to it is a floating wood vanity with a thick gray top, a black faucet and a mirror lit from behind.
A Bar That Looks Into the Media Room
Four stools sit at a long counter, with outlets built in underneath. Across from the counter are a wall-mounted TV, recessed lights and an LED strip along the edge of the ceiling. You can watch the game from the bar.
A Wet Bar Under a Lit Wood Wall
The wet bar has black cabinets, a drink fridge and a sink. Above it, a lit shelf runs across a wood slat wall.
A Home Gym Behind Glass Doors
Frameless glass doors close off the gym, but you can still see in. Inside:
- Rubber flooring made for heavy weights.
- A wood slat wall around a big mirror.
- Room for a full cable rack.
- An open ceiling painted black. Leaving it open keeps the full ceiling height, and the black paint makes the pipes and beams less noticeable.
A Climbing Wall for the Kids
The play area has climbing holds on a painted mountain wall, monkey bars, an overhead rig for a swing and a rope, and thick mats underneath. It's for the homeowners' toddler.
Some of the Walls Are Doors
Some of the white wall panels are hinged doors. Behind them, the pipes and shutoff valves stay easy to reach for repairs. The basement also has a Murphy door, a shelf that swings open like a door.
The Floor Under All of It
Luxury vinyl plank runs through the whole basement. It handles basement moisture better than hardwood, and it still looks like oak.
What the Homeowners Said
"What a beautiful experience. Our luxury basement is complete thanks to Giovanni and his team at MG builders. They skillfully built our home gym, bar, TV area, bathroom with a steam shower and glass doors and ninja warrior play section complete with a rock wall, rope, swing and monkey bars for our toddler. They implemented all the extras that inspired us online including the murphy door, pull out drawers under the staircase, hidden doors and cove moldings with lighting. The job was completed in the time he promised and they were very considerate and clean. From planning the layout to picking the finishes, Giovanni was by our side the entire time." Jason D., Google review, 5 stars
Finished Basement Questions
Can you put a bathroom in a finished basement? Yes, if the plumbing allows for it. This one is a full bathroom with a steam shower. Basement drains can sit below the sewer line, so the plumbing gets checked before anything is framed. See what to check before finishing a basement.
What flooring works in a basement gym? Rubber flooring, like in this gym, because it takes the impact of heavy weights.
Should a finished basement ceiling stay open? It's a good choice for a gym or any room where height matters. Painting it one dark color makes the pipes and beams less noticeable.
Planning a basement? See MG's basement finishing service or get a free estimate below.
Giovanni Merino
Owner & Founder, MG Builders LLC · 29+ Years Experience
Giovanni founded MG Builders in 1997 and leads the Edison-based remodeling company. NJ Home Improvement Contractor Business registration NJ #13VH08376600.
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