How to Start Designing a New Kitchen for Your Basement Renovation

Have you started renovating your basement? Whether you’re designing a relaxation spot for the family or have your eye on trying to make a little extra money with a basement rental, you might consider adding a new kitchen to the lower level of your home.

Any kitchen addition or renovation requires careful planning and can be costly if you aren’t careful. A basement kitchen addition has special considerations that you should be aware of before beginning your project. As well you do need to consider the Building Code and Zoning regulations where you live – be sure that you are allowed a second kitchen in a single-family home, and if creating a new suite – that the entire suite will meet the requirements for a legal living space.

Safety First

Building a kitchen in your basement isn’t as simple as installing appliances and cabinetry. The kitchen needs proper ventilation since its primary use is cooking. It’s essential to figure out how you will provide ventilation before you begin your project, so you don’t get derailed just as you start. 

Range hoods remove odors, smoke, and moisture from the kitchen. The hoods are available in both ducted and nonducted varieties. A range hood may be a good option for you; however, you should consult a professional to ensure you choose the correct ventilation method for your space. 

In addition to proper ventilation, you will want other safety measures in your basement kitchen. Smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and even carbon dioxide detectors are essential safety equipment to add to your basement kitchen. 

Plumbing, Gas, and Electricity

When you’re installing a kitchen in your basement, access to plumbing, electricity, and gas, if you prefer a gas range, are crucial considerations. If your laundry area is already in the basement, or if you have a basement powder room, getting access to water isn’t as difficult as it would be if there’s no plumbing installed downstairs. You also must ensure that your electrical box has enough circuits free to dedicate for lighting, outlets, and your chosen appliances. 

 

The availability of utilities can determine whether you can install a full kitchen or if you must install a small, bare-bones kitchenette. A full kitchen includes full-size appliances like a stove and refrigerator. They also require more dedicated space within your home. On the other hand, a kitchenette occupies a smaller footprint and may or may not have full-size appliances. 

A typical kitchenette uses small appliances or a hot plate for cooking. Some of them also use a mini refrigerator because it’s a secondary kitchen for guests or family game nights. 

When considering your plumbing, you must also consider drainage. If the plumbing exits above the slab for your basement, you might need a backflow valve and other specialized equipment. Experts recommend mapping the drainage before beginning any plumbing work to determine whether what you want will work correctly in your space. 

Size Matters

When adding a kitchen to your basement, the size of the basement itself will dictate some of the choices you make with your basement reno. For example, a small basement might require a Pullman or galley kitchen or a small kitchenette. A Pullman kitchen puts cabinetry and appliances on one wall leaving you room to have an island or table for dining. A galley kitchen has a walkway between two parallel walls of cabinetry and appliances, and a kitchenette has a much smaller scale than any other kitchen we’ve discussed. 

You can use any of the small kitchen designs for a larger basement space, but if your basement is larger, you also have other designs you could consider. For example, a medium-sized basement can accommodate an L-shaped or Peninsula kitchen. Both offer greater versatility than a Pullman or galley kitchen, and a peninsula gives you the usability of an island without having a large standalone piece in the middle of the floor. 

Larger basements add more options to your kitchen layout choices. In a large basement, you can have a full kitchen complete with an island workspace that can also double as an eating space with the addition of bar stools. Another popular choice for a large basement is a U-shaped or Horseshoe kitchen. This layout has three walls that house cabinetry and countertops. 

Remember that, just like your main floor kitchen, customization and additional elements will add to your basement kitchen renovation cost. 

Summing Up

When considering adding a kitchen to a finished basement, you have several options based on the size of the area you’re renovating. You also have several considerations, such as safety and utility concerns. The cost will be similar to that of renovating the main floor kitchen based on how much you customize your space.