Transforming an Unfinished Basement

In these tough economic times and with so many mortgages underwater, it may be more beneficial to upgrade your current home rather than moving to a bigger home. Many people are opting to finish their basements, but if that is not in your budget the following are a few ideas to transform an unfinished basement into a useful space.

Start out by covering up the walls with bed sheets. Purchase single, King size (flat sheets) from your local big box store in a solid color; preferably in a neutral tone. Use metal thumbtacks or new nails to attach them to the floor joists. Avoid placing sheets near your utilities!

To give the room warmth, purchase large pieces of remnant carpeting and padding. Many big box hardware and warehouse carpet stores have large assortments available at discount prices. Place the carpet right on the cement floor without attaching with tacks or glue.

If you’re looking to create an entertainment room or a living room, add overstuffed couches with coordinating pillows. Finish the entertainment area with a coffee table and end tables for beverages.

If you’re trying to create a room for the kids to play in, make space for that large ping pong table or pool table. Add a kitchen table for playing games and make sure you include a small couch or bean bag chairs for the kids to sit on while enjoying a good book. Don’t forget to purchase shelving units for the books, toys, and board games.

After the furniture is in place, add lighting. Table lamps on the end tables will do for an entertainment area. For a kid’s playroom, be sure to add a combination of table lamps and torch lamps throughout the room for adequate lighting.

If there is a window in the basement, give the room a little extra touch by adding a fancy curtain rod and curtains. Don’t cover up the entire window! Natural lighting will give the basement a warm feeling.

Finish the room and give it that extra personal touch with accessories. Add candles on the end tables to give the room the illusion of warmth. Decorate the walls with decorative wall art or wrought iron wall décor. And make sure you add a lot of overstuffed pillows to the couches or lounge chairs throughout the room.

Rather than spending a lot of money to finish your basement or purchase a new home in these tough economic times, create the illusion of a finished basement with these helpful tips. You can add to the living area and value you place on your home while sticking within a modest budget.