One of the great joys of owning a home is being able to make every room enjoyable and useful. Homeowners spend a lot of money on remodelling, interior décor, landscaping, and all the other home treatments that convert their home into their small haven. You should make sure that you use all the space in your home constructively.

The best rooms in most homes are the ones that are often used. These include the kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, dining room, family room and other favourites. Others such as a basement, stores and the attic are usually neglected. If they are not neglected completely, they are used to store old items or house clutter that nobody wants.

You can convert your basement into useful space. For example, if you love wine, you can have your cellar without spending a fortune on it. The good thing about wine is that it is a natural product. If you store it properly, it can stay in your basement for many years to come.  The wine cellar is an effective use of your space since it de-clutters your basement, and it helps to improve the flavour and aroma of your wine. The basement is easy to manipulate in terms of space and temperature, and you can be able to create conducive environment for your wine.

Proper storage of wine requires a proper environment. You can follow the following tips on how to create the perfect wine cellar in your basement.

Have a proper plan

If you know a thing or two about storing wine, then you know that you need a proper cellar plan that does not consist of a refrigerator and a few shelves. You have to make a design that will keep your wine in proper conditions.

Consider having a plan for a tasting area, wine racks, barrel racks, step stools, cooling systems, insulation and other considerations. If you are not clear on what is required you can call the professionals to have a look at your basement and create one for you.

Have a working budget

The wine cellar is not a simple project to undertake. You can look at your plan and see how much it will cost. If you find that it is a bit overwhelming, adjust it towards the amount that you are willing to spend. The budget will determine the size of your cellar and the type of features that you will use. It will also control your spending. If you go to the market and find many options that look great, your budget will guide you on what to take and what to leave.

Take advantage of what you already have

If you have an unfinished basement, you will be surprised that it is exactly what you need. You can take advantage of the dark and cool atmosphere which is best for a wine cellar. However, if your basement is damp because of moisture, you will need to install a filtration system to remove the humidity.

If you have a basement made of stone, you are lucky since all you need is to clean the walls and leave them bare. Install dim lights and build wire racks along your walls.

Have proper insulation

Make sure that you have proper insulation so that your wine can survive all the seasons. Depending on your geographic location, consult a professional to tell you what kind of insulation you will require.  Most of the time, you need to protect the wine against moisture. You are required to create a moisture barrier on the exteriors of every wall, floor and ceiling. Add a closed cell fibre or foam to prevent mold build up from condensation.

Make a high-tech cellar

Unlike old cellars, modern cellars have tracking systems that help with tracking. If you have a large collection, it can be tedious to track your wine manually. Have wine room management software to help you with easy tracking. The software comes with alphanumeric tags that are attached to every wine bottle to help with systematic tracking.

Technology advancement in a wine cellar does not stop at tracking wine. You can also have a system for cooling and lighting to keep everything in mint condition. If you want it to look modern and posh, install wine racks that have a shiny metallic finish. Have inbuilt lighting that illuminates the room in a posh way. Have glass tile floors and install overhead glowing lights to reflect on the floor as well. Have contrasting display racks with different shapes and angles to create drama in the room.

Spruce up your tasting area

Do not get carried away with the idea of wine storage and forget to reserve an area for wine tasting. If you usually like to entertain guests with wine and cheese, you should create an area for you to serve them. Include a rustic table, some stools, chairs, and cabinets for mature wine.  Choose sitting positions according to the number of guests. You can make the sitting space as flexible as you can so that you can host many people if you need to.