So, those of you with a BASEMENT or cellar, what do you use it for please?

[WonderingWhy]

I've got a large one with two little rooms, window that doesn't really work so it cant be a bedroom as you couldn't get out in case of fire/flood.

Do we just use it as an attic, a tool shed (it's a flat with no garage or shed) or what?

We do have a lot of crap to store but am afraid things like baby clothes will go mouldy down there. It isn't terribly dry afaik.

Ideas please!

my mum has a big basement which has main open area & 3 separate rooms. Main area has washing machine, 2 big sinks, clothes pulley, space was used for buggys & bikes when we were kids.

Other rooms store:
workshop, garden equipment, ladders, DIY stuff
suitcases & Xmas tree & decs, spare dining chairs
coal cellar & wine rack

Wish I had her space now! My mum isn't a hoarder & has a fairly minimal lifestyle so space is aplenty for her. She has no loft so this is her main storeage space. fwiw the garage contains old boxes, paint pots, and car bits n bobs

ps her basement looks out 2 back garden so lots of natural light except coal cellar which is v dark

Thankyou for the ideas, Webchick. I couldn't visualise what to use it for and that is a great list

The window bit sounds lovely! But we do have electric light.

It is DHs wine cellar - is all kitted out with the proper shelves with the notches in and little signs for the type opf wine and a temperature thing and everything - was the thing that swung DH agreeing to buy this house I think. We also store logs for the fire and coal down there.

Can you put washing machine and tumble dryer down there?

We have a basement with two large rooms and one small room.

We used it as a kitchen when renovating the rest of the house - we have a sink down there, cooker (now unused), washing maching, tumble dryer, freezer. Also used as storage space - tools, broken furniture waiting to be taken to the skip, garden furniture, an old pram, and it's constantly full with junk.

Would never store clothes down there - too damp.

We also have a small window in the cellar which was used to pour coal into the cellar.

It's a very good place to keep a freezer - because it's cold down there it doesn't require so much electricity.

And good for the washing machine so that we don't hear it in our kitchen.

Belgo thankyou, I don't think there is a water supply at the moment for the washing machine idea - well, there is water but not the right plumbing and I don't know if the pressure would be up to it or not.

Mind you our garden is at the other end of the flat to the cellar door, so I think I might keep the laundry activities in the kitchen so I can hang things outside.

I will look into it though and the freezer idea is wonderful. Thankyou for that, I was wondering where to put the freezer!

I will probably get there (we haven't moved in yet) and find that my junk fills it up faster than expected!

Sorry got mixed up, Thankyou Twinkie as well!

and course if there is an unexpected leak from the freezer or the washing machine, it doesn't mess up the kitchen floor as it's all in the basement.

Nearly everyone in Belgium has a basement but they are prone to flooding as well. We lucky to be on top of a hill so we've never been flooded, but it would be annoying if it happened.

Can you really hang wet clothes down there to dry? I wasn't sure if they would as I don't think it has any heating and there's no window for air.

Belgo I really want a washing machine down there now!! You have converted me! It is near the bedrooms and bathroom so that would be fine - it's just drying the clothes that might be an issue, as TD is so dear to run, I don't use it often.

My mother in law uses one of her basements to hang out her clothes to dry - but it's very warm down there - it's like an airing cupboard I suppose.

Our basement is cold and slightly damp so nothing would ever dry down there.

collecting flood water mainly

Lol Zippi

I've recently seen appartmetns built in my town and they built cellars for them as well - they had to pump water out for days before they could start the building. And of course all that water has to go somewhere, no wonder basements are so prone to flooding.

Yes it seems daft in this climate to build new cellars! Places that have never flooded before around here, are now beginning to, it is quite scary.

Riven - there are enormous fireplaces at the flat but the agent says I can't use them

And the heating is 25 years old!!

Trying to get a grant to have system replaced.

I'll check the contract, but yes, it is rented and the agent just said he would lose sleep if his tenants used real fires

I am used to it and very careful, but he said no. I wish I had not asked and just used them anyway! There is an inglenook and a regular massive hearth as well, and I am takling the carpets up (allowed!) so no risk of sparks on the carpet etc.

Might be able to negotiate if it isn't in the small print I guess.

do a smoke test first the chimneys may not be sound

check for leaks in the loft area too as well as bedrooms and next door if attached

a professional chimney sweep will check your chimneys

Our cellar is only accessible from the garden not direct from the house so tends to get used as a shed/storage area for things like the lawn mower, bikes, deckchairs etc.

It also acts as a wine cellar but for the bottles that haven't yet made it to the indoor wine rack and houses the boiler.

we have 2 cellar rooms, both head height and a fairly horrible concrete floor - no windows.

We have the washer and tuble dryer down there, and a rowing machine in the bigger room. We do dry all our clothes down there, but we also have a de-humidifier going all the time, left over from our days in Asia. The smaller room has an awfull lot of junk in it.