Creating the Ultimate Basement

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Throughout the years, basements have been referred to by many different names: The furnace room, storage area, the crypt, substructure, under-building and more. All of these names create an image of uselessness. Recent changes in the way homes are being built has changed the way basements are viewed. The transition from the prior to an area which can be considered livable space is now taking place. The new basement rage can be attributed to larger substructures more conducive to design possibilities. Basements now have a new set of slang by which they are identified: The Man Cave, The Game Room, Theater Room, Kids Zone and more. The last 20 or so years have created a markedly different description of how how a basement is utilized. Basements are now being created and developed with livability in mind. Many homeowners utilize their basements as a hideaway and/or a place to entertain. How do you use your basement?

Reasons for a Modern Basement 

Redesigning a basement or upgrading it from a storage area has many benefits.

1. Increase the future marketability of a home: A home with an empty basement has potential but a home with a well designed finished basement has solid selling potential. With the addition of a quality finished basement you can be sure that your home will increase in resale value.

2. Account for an increase in family size: Many of us have experienced -"Growing out of a House." Creating a basement can account for the increase in family size. A basement can contain an extra bedroom, a play area, or create new living space. Instead of purchasing a new home, redesigning a basement can be a welcomed option.

3. Sheer fun: Many basements are created with entertainment in mind. From home theater systems, pool tables, video games, bars, saunas and more. Creating an entertainment area can make life a little more relaxing.

The Home Theater 

What makes a great Home Theater

Modern day basements are notorious for having home theater systems. Home theater systems can be very complex systems which involve running speaker wires through drywall and studs to account for a clean looking 7.1 or 5.1 surround sound system. They may also require drop down movie screens, inset plasma screens, high definition televisions and more, video projectors and more. On the other hand, a high quality home theater system can be created simply, with a quality television and speaker system with out going crazy.

Lets look at the basic components to a home theater system. First you need to get a television. Finding the right home theater television can be a complicated issue for some people. With so many varieties on the market today, which one do you choose? Well, first and foremost, you need a television which will meet upcoming, digital broadcast changes. After that it's all up to you. Taking price and preference into account is the best place to start. Obviously the more you can spend now, reaps larger benefits down the road. Purchasing a TV with cutting edge technology will inevitably last longer when it comes to quality standards. Personally I always suggest Samsung televisions. They seem to be the most cutting edge and the most reliable televisions. But, there are many great brands out there. Another company that I really like, may come as a surprise. Vizio has recently entered the market with high quality televisions which are priced ridiculously low. Some Vizio televisions can be purchased with 5.1 wireless speaker systems which makes home theater system development extremely simple.

Here are some great television recommendations:

Samsung Televisons 

Bring your basement to life with a Samsung Television!

There was an error connecting to the Amazon web service. Please try again. Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

Vizio Televisions 

Quality and value, you can't ask for anything more! Turn your basement home theater system into something special with Vizio.

VIZIO VA19LHDTV10T 19-Inch ECO 720p LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV

Amazon Price: $2,049.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

VIZIO SV471XVT 47-Inch XVT-Series 240 Hz LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

VIZIO VF550M 55-Inch Full HD 1080p 120 Hz LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

VIZIO SV421XVT 42-Inch XVT-Series 240 Hz SPS LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony Televisions 

Do you love sports? Sony knows sports!

Sony makes cutting edge televisions which are perfect for viewing you favorite sports from the comfort of your basement.

TechCraft SDE42 Matching Stand for Sony KDFE42A10 Television

Amazon Price: $229.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony Bravia L-Series KDL-26L5000 26-Inch 720p LCD HDTV, Black

Amazon Price: $354.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony Bravia S-Series KDL-32S5100 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV, Black

Amazon Price: $529.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony BRAVIA XBR KDL-32XBR9 32-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV

Amazon Price: $599.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

The Ultimate Viewing Experience for Your Basement 

Turn your basement into a movie theater..

Many people are turning to movie projectors these days for their viewing pleasure. The technological advances in movie/video projectors has made realistic, theater quality viewing possible for use in modern day basements.

Vote your favorite home theater product to the top! 

Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Samsung PN42A450 42-Inch 720p Plasma HDTV

Take your home entertainment experience to the nex more...1 point

Vizio 47

Vizio 47" 1080p LCD HD TV - VO47L FHDTV

Vizio VO47L HD LCD TV Peer into the High Definitio more...1 point

Game TV LCD Projector for PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, DVD

Game TV LCD Projector for PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, DVD

The Game Projector is designed to work with all vi more...1 point

Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Sony BDP-S350 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

The BDP-S350 models support BonusView (picture-in- more...1 point

Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)

Samsung HT-Z310T 5.1-Channel Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)

Now there are more ways to enjoy your home theater more...1 point

Samsung HT-TZ515T 5.1-Channel 5 Disc Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)

Samsung HT-TZ515T 5.1-Channel 5 Disc Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)

With Samsung's HT-Z515 home theater system, you en more...1 point

Xbox 360 Console by Microsoft

Xbox 360 Console by Microsoft

This listing is for and Xbox 360 console only. The more...0 points

Fun %u2018N Games Bundle for Nintendo Wii

Fun %u2018N Games Bundle for Nintendo Wii

Wii Fun 'N Games bundle includes: Wii System with more...0 points

Bose Lifestyle V20 Home Theater System - Black

Bose Lifestyle V20 Home Theater System - Black

The BoseĀ® LifestyleĀ® V20 system changes the face more...0 points

Samsung HL61A750 61-Inch 1080p LED Powered DLP HDTV

Samsung HL61A750 61-Inch 1080p LED Powered DLP HDTV

61" widescreen HDTV (16:9 aspect ratio) * bui more...0 points

Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Set of Six, Black)

Polk Audio RM6750 5.1 Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Set of Six, Black)

Polk Audio RM6750 Black Six-piece 5.1 Channel Home more...0 points

Epson EMP S5 - LCD projector - 2000 ANSI lumens - SVGA (800 x 600) - 4:3

Epson EMP S5 - LCD projector - 2000 ANSI lumens - SVGA (800 x 600) - 4:3

This projector is designed for enjoying larger tha more...0 points

Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Blu-ray means incredible full-HD images, breathtak more...0 points

Samsung HT-Z512T 5.1-Channel 5 Disc Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)

Samsung HT-Z512T 5.1-Channel 5 Disc Home Theater Surround Sound System (Set of Seven, Black)

Lose yourself in awe-inspiring sound and enjoy you more...0 points

VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV

VIZIO VF551XVT 55-Inch XVT-Series TruLED 240 Hz SPS HDTV

VIZIO VF551XVT 55-inch XVT-Class TruLED 240 Hz SPS more...0 points

More Theater Projectors 

Optoma HD65 720p DLP Home Theater Projector

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Optoma HD20 High Definition 1080p DLP Home Theater Projector (Grey)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Epson MovieMate 60 V11H319220 Home Theater Projector

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Video Projectors for your Basement 

Cinemin Swivel Multimedia Pico Projector

Amazon Price: $305.93 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Warpia Wireless PC to TV/Projector Display Converter Kit

Amazon Price: $109.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

ViewSonic PJD5111 2500 Lumens Portable DLP Projector

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

EPSON PowerLite S7 Projector

Amazon Price: $519.42 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

High Quality Surround Sound Systems 

No basement would be complete without surround sound!

The second thing on the home theater list is the surround sound system. There are so many ways to recreate theater like sound in the basement, where do we start. There are simple 2.1 systems which can increase the overall sound quality by adding right and left channel speakers and a small sub for a little more base. There are extreme audiophile basement surround sound systems which consist of real cinema quality sound. These systems vary in price from under $99.00 to well over $100,000. So lets see what kind of home theater surround sound systems are available.

Simple 2.1 Systems 

Adding a quality sound system, regardless of the size, can greatly increase your listening pleasure. These small 2.1 systems make a great addition to any basement.

Onkyo TX-SR607 7.2-Channel A/V Surround Home Theater Receiver (Black)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony BRAVIA DAV-HDX589W 5.1-Channel Theater System (Black)

Amazon Price: $326.07 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony HTSS360 5.1 channel Home Theater System (Black)

Amazon Price: $269.23 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

5.1 Home Theater Systems 

Recreate the movie experience in you basement with these quality 5.1 systems.

Why go small, Go 7.1 Surround 

7.1 is the ultimate audio experience. Turn you basement into a wall shaking movie theater with these great 7.1 surround sound systems

Onkyo SKSHT750 7.1-Channel Home Theater Speaker System (Black)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony STR-DH700 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver (Black)

Amazon Price: $175.01 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Nothing Like Bose for Home Theaters 

Bose is one of the top names when it comes to home theaters systems. If you want truly rich sounding basement surround sound, you should consider Bose.

Bose Lifestyle V20 Home Theater System - Black

Amazon Price: $1,699.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Bose Lifestyle V30 Home Theater System - Black

Amazon Price: $2,549.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Polk Audio 

Polk provides the ultimate entertainment experience.

Polk Audio RM705 5.1 Home Theater System (Set of Six, Black)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Polk Audio DB651 6.5-Inch Coaxial Speakers (Pair, Silver)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Polk Audio I-Sonic Entertainment System 2

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Upgraded Home Theater Receivers 

Get the most out of your Home Theater with high output audo receivers. Quality receiver make adding speakers, game consoles and Blu-Ray DVD players to your basements home theater system a snap.

Kenwood Audio Receivers 

Re-create life like sound with high quality Kenwood receivers. Why not make your basement surround sound even better with Kenwood.

Kenwood VR-309 Dolby Digital Receiver

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Kenwood VR-3080 Dolby Digital Receiver with DTS

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Basements and Gaming Systems 

Add some interaction to your Home Theater System. A basement wouldn't be complete without a killer gaming system. Modern day game systems are far more interactive nowadays. The Xbox360 (Microsoft), Playstation 3 (Sony) and the Nintendo Wii all offer users a unique gaming experience.

Sony PS3: Bring a Basement to Life 

The ultimate in graphics, sound and playability has arrived. Bring your basement to life with Sony's, Playstation 3 (PS3).

Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote

Amazon Price: $19.82 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

PlayStation 3 250 GB

Amazon Price: $349.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller

Amazon Price: $49.49 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

PlayStation 3 120 GB

Amazon Price: $299.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

DualShock 3 Wireless Controller - Blue

Amazon Price: $42.96 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Xbox 360 Consoles  

Make your basements home theater system come to life with the Xbox 360!

Xbox 360 Elite Winter 2009 Lego Batman / Pure Bundle

Amazon Price: $298.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Xbox 360 Arcade

Amazon Price: $198.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Xbox 360 12 Month Live Gold Card

Amazon Price: $39.96 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Black

Amazon Price: $37.96 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Xbox 360 Wireless Controller

Amazon Price: $34.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Interact With Your Basement: Nintendo Wii 

The Nintendo Wii is the most interactive gaming system available today. The graphics may come in a distant third when compared to the PS3 and Xbox360, but where it sacrifices in graphics it makes up for in entertainment. This highly interactive gaming system is perfect for entertaining in your new basement.

Wii

Amazon Price: $199.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Wii Nunchuk Controller - White

Amazon Price: $17.88 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board

Amazon Price: $89.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Wii Play with Wii Remote

Amazon Price: $39.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel

Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Blu Ray DVD Players: Revolutionary HD Quality 

No basement entertainment center would be complete with out the highest quality video player available. Blu Ray is the way to go. With its initial competition, HD DVD, no longer in production, Blu Ray has taken center stage in the high definition industry.

Blu Ray DVD Players: Icing on the Cake 

Top of your basements home theater system with a Sony Blu Ray DVD player.

Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu-ray Disc Player, Black

Amazon Price: $127.30 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony BDP-S360 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Amazon Price: $126.84 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sony BDP-N460 Blu-ray Disc Player (Black)

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Samsung BD-P1600 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Amazon Price: $149.98 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

LG BD270 Blu-ray Disc Player

Amazon Price: Too low to display (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

More Goodies for Your Basement 

When we think of entertaining and basements, games take center stage. Pool Tables, Foosball, Table Tennis, Air Hockey, Video Games, Dart Boards, Shuffle Board Tables, Poker Tables and more are among the most popular. Adding a game creates the perfect basement and makes your basement a hit with friends.

What is your favorite basement game? 

Pool Tables

Pool Tables

Pool Table are extremely popular basement addition more...0 points

Foosball Tables

Foosball Tables

What about a Foosball table for your basement?0 points

Dartboards

Dartboards

How about tossing some darts in your basement?0 points

Poker

Poker

Poker anyone?0 points

Table Tennis

Table Tennis

Table Tennis0 points

Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard

Shuffleboard - A unique basement game0 points

Air Hockey Table Game

Air Hockey Table Game

Air Hockey - another popular basement game0 points

Slot Machines

Slot Machines

Slot Machines for the Basement!0 points

Pool Tables 

Pool table are one of the most popular basement accessories. Purchasing a pool table lends to the overall feel of a basement and also makes it more entertainment worthy. Pool tables can really top of a basements look and feel.

Club Fun Table top Miniature Pool Table

Amazon Price: $84.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Mizerak P0863 Billiard Deluxe Table Cover

Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Mizerak P0867 Premium Billiard Table Cover

Amazon Price: $60.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Viper Pool Table Accessory Kit

Amazon Price: $7.98 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Mike Massey Billiards Pool Table Cover

Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Holdem in your Basement 

Play poker in your basement. Poker tables an multi-functional game table make a great addition to any basement.

Fat Cat 84-Inch Folding Poker Table

Amazon Price: $179.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Trademark Poker Full Size Folding Blackjack Table

Amazon Price: $169.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Foosball: A Basement Classic 

TABLE TOP GAMES

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Voit Table Top Table Soccer Game - 32"

Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Playcraft Sport 48-Inch Foosball Table

Amazon Price: $149.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Franklin Sports 32-Inch Free-Kick Tabletop Foosball Game

Amazon Price: $74.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Playcraft Sport 36-Inch Table Top Foosball

Amazon Price: $89.95 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

A Classic Bar Game for Your Basement 

Rhino Play M01701W 9-Foot Shuffleboard

Amazon Price: $649.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

CHH 9053 Wooden Rebound - Shuffle Board

Amazon Price: $63.18 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Fat Cat Madison 5-Foot Air Hockey 10-in-1 Combination Table

Amazon Price: $249.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Imperial Premier 12 Foot Shuffleboard Table

Amazon Price: $1,099.95 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Oklahoma State Cowboys Shuffle Board Table

Amazon Price: $2,749.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Tennis in the Basement 

Stiga T0645 1-Star Table Tennis Ball, 36-Pack (White)

Amazon Price: $10.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Butterfly 8270 Naifu Table Tennis Racket

Amazon Price: $18.47 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Butterfly 8256 Seemiller Table Tennis Racket

Amazon Price: $38.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Butterfly TC1000 Table Tennis Table Cover

Amazon Price: $67.16 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Dart Boards 

Dart Boards don't take up much room and yet they greatly increase a basements entertainment value.

Winmau Blade III Bristle Dartboard

Amazon Price: $49.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Sportcraft CX4000 Electronic Dartboard Set

Amazon Price: $28.03 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Arachnid DarTronic 100 Soft-Tip Dart Game

Amazon Price: $30.49 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Arachnid DarTronic 300 Soft-Tip Dart Game

Amazon Price: $49.44 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

MAGNETIC DART BOARD

Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Air Hockey Table 

A basement is a great place to play Air Hockey.

Carrom Face-Off Air Powered Hockey Table

Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Voit Air Hockey Table - 60"

Amazon Price: $139.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

SSG / BSN 5 (2-1/2" Red) Table Hockey Pucks

Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Table Top Nok Hockey

Amazon Price: (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

46" x 20" x 4" Table Top Air Hockey from Olympia

Amazon Price: $117.88 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Limited Basement Space: Get a Bumper Pool Table 

If your basement can't accommodate a full size pool table, try a bumper pool table.

Heavy-Duty Slate Bumper Pool Table

Amazon Price: $485.57 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Large Rubber Rings for Bumper Pool Table: 7 Red and 7 White

Amazon Price: $10.95 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

Gamecraft Rugged Tournament Bumper Pool Table

Amazon Price: $513.00 (as of 12/26/2009) Buy Now

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by J-Stanley

There are so many things I enjoy in life and Squidoo lets me talk about all of them. (more)

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