From a design standpoint, one of the advantages of basement space is that it is away from the ordinary flow of traffic through the house (and can’t be seen as you walk through the front door). This allows you to create more private rooms that won’t be disturbed by guests and everyday household activity. On the other hand, you can make the basement the center of activity – add a new hang out place for your teenagers or a playroom for younger kids, for example. The separation between floors also gives you greater freedom when decorating the rooms, allowing you to choose styles that depart from the overall decorating scheme of the main floors of the house.