With the right basement floors, décor, and furniture, a remodel of your lower level can add a whole new dynamic to your home. Whether you want to create a welcoming space for guests, a fun entertainment zone, or a super comfy gathering area for the big game, here are six basement remodel ideas worth considering.

Build A Home Theater

Some basements may not have much natural light, but that’s perfect for a home movie theater! For in-home cinema, many homeowners love a thick plush carpet to add the kind of comfort that you can’t find in actual movie theaters. Kick off your shoes, recline in that over-sized theater-style seat, and enjoy your favorite show.

Some ideas to consider for your basement home theater:

• Install an actual projector and screen for a true widescreen feel.
• Use floor lighting to help you navigate the space in the dark.
• If you’re a movie collector, build a display case to show off your collection.
• Decorate the walls with classic film posters.
• Don’t forget surround sound and easy-to-control, dimmable lighting.

Your Own Private Gym

When it comes to home gyms, some people prefer that clean, minimalist look with neutral grays, whites, and blacks. Go with luxury vinyl tile for some added comfort under foot, and mix in that corner TV to keep up with the latest scores. A simple combination of resistance training, cardio equipment, and free weights doesn’t need to take up a lot of space but can create an atmosphere that’s great for a mind-clearing calorie burn any time of day.

With a home gym, you can also keep it simple and go for an industrial look by taking advantage of already exposed concrete floors and walls. Add artwork from your favorite sports teams or action movies, and roll out a commercial grade carpet for free weight and stretching areas. Some homeowners even make their basement home gyms into a yoga or dance studio with wall-length mirrors, hardwood flooring, and plenty of open space.

The Ultimate Gathering Space

In larger basements, you can create a multi-faceted entertainment room. Incorporate a bar with vintage, iconic art on the walls for mixing up the latest cocktails. Add a widescreen TV and a large sectional nearby for an ideal spot with friends and family or to host a small party. Add to the inviting vibe with a durable wood-look vinyl plank floor in a rich red or white oak color that looks great and feels comfortable.

If there’s room for it, basements are also excellent places for a billiard table and darts. With a large space, you can create entertainment zones—where one group is immersed in a television show, another competes for bragging rights in a game of darts, and others chat at nearby bar stools.

Create a Loft-Style Apartment

Basements can also make for great guest rooms, a mother-in-law quarters, or spaces where friends can relax, hang out, and spend the night. We suggest modeling your space after a loft-style apartment with light-colored hardwood or wood laminate basement flooring.

Embrace open space with some contemporary or minimalist furniture. Consider adding in futons or sleek pull-out couches that use space efficiently and have multiple uses—during the day, the bright, airy space can double as a relaxing gathering area before your guests tuck in for the night. A cute corner kitchen and small dining table for two are also perfect welcoming touches for a loft-style guest space.

Go For a Cozy Cabin Look

With exposed wood in the ceiling, a basement can naturally offer some rustic elements. Some homeowners will add decorative wood beams overhead, along with wooden wall paneling for a cozy cabin look. Add to the cabin look and vibe with a low-maintenance wood laminate basement floor to offer more warmth and texture.

Big couches with puffy pillows and a TV are essentials in a space like this. And don’t forget a corner kitchen to brew up some coffee or tea! For flooring, consider going with more of a classic look by using thin hardwood slats.

Build a Creative Space or Art Studio

Sometimes you just want that getaway space where you can create something uniquely your own. Whether you paint, record music, write poetry, dance, or sing, a safe retreat to nurture your inner artist can be found with the perfect basement remodel.

Install blinds for a window well to shed light on your canvas in the early morning to get those creative juices flowing. You can also add sophistication with a vinyl tile or vinyl plank floor that has a wood look but offers the water resistance to handle that messy art project, too.

Throw in a workbench with years of creativity scars, add a separate couch and sitting space alongside your personal creative zone, or paint the ceiling stark white or a vibrant color. The best thing about making your basement into a creative space is that it truly starts and ends with your own imagination. You make the décor rules, and can choose to follow them or not.

Considering a basement remodel? Let a professional help you find the right type of floor for you. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate to see how easy the whole process can be!

The post 6 Ideas for An Epic Basement Remodel appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

1. Waterproof Vinyl Plank flooring

Vinyl plank flooring is one of the top-requested waterproof floors available today because homeowners can enjoy a natural wood look without the maintenance worries. Vinyl planks are softer, too, for added comfort, noise reduction and they’re a cost-effective option as well. They’re especially popular in kitchens, bathrooms, and hallways, but many homeowners will go all out and use it in bedrooms and beyond.

This popular option can easily handle the spills, resist scratches and can look fresh and new in high-traffic areas for years. Pet owners love them, too! Vinyl planks can be installed on a variety of sub-floors, including concrete slabs. They come in wider planks, usually between four and eight inches, for a modern look, too.

Product: Grand Junction; Style: Aspen

2. Waterproof Laminate Flooring

Wood laminate flooring has been popular for a long time, and, like vinyl plank, offer a realistic wood look for a fraction of the cost. While vinyl plank has been at the forefront for waterproof wood-look flooring options for a while, there are waterproof laminate wood options that are great at handling big spills. These tough laminates look more like real wood than ever, and they’re a great long-term investment for any home.

Laminates, in general, are also popular for the wide range of colors and wood-grain types they offer. Waterproof laminates are no exception. You can find everything from unique grays and whites to natural traditional colors, and just about any other style or color you can imagine.

3. Waterproof Vinyl Tile

Vinyl tile is a more affordable option than authentic wood, stone, and ceramic tile and is almost impossible to distinguish from the real thing.

Just like vinyl planks, vinyl tile is softer for added comfort and warmth. It’s UV resistant, easily handles moisture and is attractive to those wanting all the beauty at the right price. These features combined with waterproof capabilities makes vinyl tile a fantastic option for your home.

Water-Resistant Flooring vs Waterproof Flooring Options

With so many features available for flooring, it’s easy to be confused. But you want to make sure you have the proper knowledge when searching for flooring that can handle moisture and spills. The biggest thing for you to know is the difference between water-resistant and waterproof flooring options. What’s the dividing factor?

Well, water-resistant flooring does as the name suggests: it “resists” water penetration to a certain extent, but not completely. A water-resistant floor works for topical exposures that are quickly wiped up and allowed to dry. A truly waterproof floor is impermeable to liquid. Naturally, if you’re expecting water “proof” but only get a water “resistant” product, you might be disappointed.

In the end, you have a varied range of styles, colors, and flooring types to find the perfect waterproof flooring option for your home. It’s all about preference and knowing what’s best for you. Are you more interested in durability or affordability? A wood look or a stone look? The choice is yours! What’s most important is that you have the proper installation and knowledge of whatever flooring you choose!

The post Best Waterproof Flooring Options appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Flooring Type: Vinyl Tile

Product/Color: Options—Beige

Rooms: Kitchen, Laundry Room, Hallway

What’s better than a vinyl tile that’s highly durable and beautiful? One that is also easy maintenance and comfortable to the touch! Unlike porcelain or ceramic tile, which can be a bit colder to the touch, this vinyl tile has a more comfy feel and is warmer to the touch. With water and mold/mildew resistance as well, this choice was a hit for these New Jersey homeowners. They chose the Options series of vinyl tile in the Beige color. We think the colors match perfectly with their home decor! Take a look and see how the project turned out.

The post Vinyl Tile Flooring is a Hit for This NJ Home appeared first on Empire Today Blog.

Get Kitchen Floor Tiles that Fit Your Lifestyle

When choosing kitchen floor tiles, the best thing to do is consider your lifestyle. How big is your family? How often do you cook, and what meals will be cooked? How much time do you have to clean? All of these play into what kind of tile you should get in your kitchen. If you have kids, accidents are bound to happen. You want flooring that doesn’t make you stress over every spill and stain. If you have a pet, you want kitchen tile that won’t give in to claws.

What Purpose Does Your Kitchen Serve?

While thinking about your lifestyle, also consider how you’ll be utilizing your kitchen. Is it strictly for cooking, or do you have a dining area for your family to share meals? Maybe your house is the designated holiday party destination. Whatever the purpose is, make sure your flooring is ready to take it on. For heavy traffic, make sure it’s scratch resistant. If your family can dine in the kitchen area, make sure the kitchen floor tiles are spill resistant. If you feel your kitchen will have a lot of water and moisture, vinyl’s mold and mildew resistance is a feature you should consider.

Know Your Kitchen Floor Tiles Options

Style is one thing, but it’s important to understand how the flooring you choose will benefit your family’s lifestyle. Consider these tile options and decide which is best for your home:

Vinyl: Kitchen Floor Tiles with Easy Maintenance

Vinyl tile has quickly become the popular flooring choice for modern homes. Its realistic aesthetic and feel make the difference from actual tile unnoticeable. In addition to having a ceramic look, vinyl tile is easy to maintain. Its water, stain, and scratch resistance helps it last even longer in kitchens with high traffic. But that’s not the end of its capabilities. Vinyl tiles are also mold and mildew resistant. Rooms that are moisture prone are breeding grounds for mold and mildew. Vinyl tile’s resistance results in a better chance of longevity so you can keep your style for a while.

Style Meets Durability with Porcelain and Ceramic Kitchen Floor Tiles

Ceramic and porcelain kitchen floor tiles not only have a vast array of looks, they have the durability to help these styles last. Like vinyl tiles, they’re water, stain, and scratch resistant. This makes them perfect for heavy traffic and a busy lifestyle. In addition to those three features, Empire Today has ceramics that also have slip-resistance. Not only can water damage flooring, but standing spills can be accident hazards for children playing or even adults just grabbing something out of the fridge. Having flooring that’s slip-resistant can help prevent nasty falls and bumps and bruises.

You may be wondering, “What is the difference between porcelain and ceramic tiles?”. Well, while they’re similar in look and features, porcelain tile is more durable. When manufactured, its clay is heated for a longer time at a higher temperature, making tougher overall.

When choosing which type you want for your kitchen floor tiles, consider the benefits and what it means for you and your family. While certain tiles may seem similar the small details may make a big difference in your household. As long as you’re making an insightful decision, you can’t go wrong.

Get a Style You’ll Love

Know what to consider when choosing kitchen floor tiles that are best for your home? Check. Learned the different types of kitchen floor tiles? Check. The next question to ask yourself is what look are you going for?

Do you want a standard tile or do you want a realistic wood or stone look? Wood look tile can bring a modern and timeless aesthetic to your kitchen without the stress of spills and moisture ruining your floors. While a stone look can bring an elegant and classic feel to your home’s décor. Even traditional kitchen tile like Empire’s Equilibrium porcelain can elevate your kitchen with its sophisticated twist.

Another thing to take into consideration is your backsplash tile. Your floor tile doesn’t have to match it exactly, but it’s important not to make them clash. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to have fun! Think beyond what you used to know about kitchen tile. Flooring has improved over the years and so has its styles. Go for the stone or even the wood look and still have kitchen floor tiles that are durable to withstand your family and guests.

Get a realistic wood look with Woodland Trail porcelain tile

Equilibrium gives a sophisticated twist to traditional porcelain tile

Stone look with high durability with Options vinyl tile

Your flooring plays a very important part in your kitchen’s aesthetic. Make sure you know what tile options are available, what to consider when choosing one, and what style will go perfectly with your home’s décor.

Ready to take your kitchen to the next level? Schedule your FREE In-Home Estimate and have a flooring professional show you our various porcelain, ceramic, and vinyl tile styles that are made especially for kitchens.

The post Getting Kitchen Floor Tiles to Enhance Your Home appeared first on Empire Today Blog.