6 Cozy Basements on Airbnb To Help You Design Your Own Winter Retreat

When thinking of basements, you might imagine something completely unfinished, an undecorated play space, or worst, a dark and dank room straight out of a horror film—but there are plenty of cozy basement designs breaking that stereotype on Airbnb. And while the CDC is currently restricting travel, there’s nothing stopping you from pulling inspiration for your own basement right now and bookmarking listings for when travel resumes later.

From an electric-colored pad in Broomfield, Colorado, to a coastal-themed space in Greenville, South Carolina, there’s every kind of style to execute in your own home. Filled with bespoke furniture, houseplants, and lots of light, these basement designs will help you create a comfortable spot to hibernate in during the winter months.

Scroll through some of our favorites below, found with the help of Groundworks Companies, and let us know which you like best in the comments.

How do you bring to life the often-most neglected area of the house? This artist studio located near Denver proves that you simply add color. It doesn’t look like a subterranean space at all, with its electric colors, new furniture, and collection of wool rugs and paintings. And because there are not a lot of windows, the numerous lights and exposed ceiling beams help make it feel bright and spacious.

Located in the historic Joslyn Castle neighborhood, this basement in a 100-year-old fixer-upper retains its old-world charm without looking, well, old. The owners were able to do so by keeping the exposed brick while adding bold colors and mid-century modern furniture.

Perhaps the most luxurious basement on this list (or any list), this apartment is a Manhattan brownstone. The interior combines rustic features with modern furniture and pop art—as well as a beanbag chair and indoor hammock—to create a fun, design-forward vibe. 

This private guest suite might be near downtown Greenville, but it makes you feel like you’re at the beach with a surfboard, guitar, and tropical houseplants, among other coastal decor. The recessed lights keep the space looking fresh, too.

The owners of this ground-level suite in Utah call it an “entertainment paradise,” and rightly so. It’s a vibrant red and blue game room with large-screen TVs, gaming consoles, foosball and air hockey tables, an arcade machine, and two dart boards—plus it’s got some special light effects installed in the ceiling.

This newly-renovated English basement apartment of a DC row home feels light and airy, thanks to neutral colors and boho textiles. With just a few couches, a dining table, an office desk, and a kitchen table in the open layout, this basement is proof that less is more.