Every year, millions of Americans renovate or remodel at least one room in their homes. To ensure any structural changes made on buildings do not compromise the safety of the occupants and public, there are building codes that act as a guideline.

In fact, the concept of building guidelines has been in existence for thousands of years. The Code of Hammurabi, which dates from circa 1772 BC, is the earliest known written building code.

One of the popular trends right now is converting basements into family rooms. By using some creative and out-of-the-box thinking, you can come up with designs that breathe new life into your home. Just make sure you follow the building codes.

Here two must-have features in your basement family room.

1. A Fireplace

One of the critical features of a family space is a relaxing area where everyone can gather and talk. To make this meeting place even cozier and even more aesthetically appealing, add a fireplace.

There are several options to choose from when adding a fireplace in your basement. You can choose between the natural feel and thrill of a wood-burning fireplace or a gas-powered one.

Whichever you choose, here are some of the benefits you will enjoy:

Alternative light source

Basements usually do not receive enough natural light. This forces homeowners to rely on electricity for lighting purposes, even during the day. The glow of a fireplace can be used to light up and heat the room. As a result, you will reduce the reliance on electricity and thus lower your energy bill.

Distributed heat

A significant portion of residential energy costs can be attributed to heating and cooling. By installing a fireplace in your basement, you will be able to reduce your reliance on the HVAC unit, even in the upper areas of the house.

This is because the heat will travel upwards and is easily felt on the floors in the upper section. For a greater heating effect, you can have the basement remodeling company install the fireplace near the basement stairs.

Makes the basement usable during the winter

During the winter, most basements become very chilly and can be uncomfortable to be in. This can be attributed to the lack of sunlight, which carries some heat, and the fact that warm air rises.

Both these phenomena occur throughout the year, but their effect is more significant during the winter as it is colder. With a fireplace, you will be able to heat the basement and your family can enjoy all the amenities of your basement family room during winter.

2. A Fun Zone

The whole idea of a basement family room is to have a space that’s suitable and fun for everyone. As such, a fun area is a must-have. If you have little children, set up an area where they can play with dolls, toys, and practice some art.

For teens, you can have a game area equipped with their favorite console and big screen TV that can also double up as a movie theater. Give them the opportunity for physical activity as well with a section with a foosball or ping pong table, darts board, and arcade games.

To make the basement the perfect bonding place for the family, add a board games section. This can be a great way to start a family game night culture. For things to remain exciting and the culture to become permanent, ensure that you keep changing the games.

For the adults, you could have a wet bar in the fun area. Rather than going out to drink with your buddies, you can have them over during weekends.

When it comes to basement renovations, there are many ideas that one can use. However, for you to have the ultimate basement family room, it should have a fireplace and fun zone for everyone. These two features will ensure the basement is desirable to be in, and also hospitable throughout the year.