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Have you ever thought to start a basement remodel project to make this often neglected part of the house a nice little place to hang out in, or you want to keep using it as just another storage space you have in your house?
Have you ever thought about putting into practice some basement remodeling ideas, by making this space more useful by renting it, but all of the stored up things you don’t need, keep minimizing your space?
Bring some life to your old basement by making it a place where you can enjoy yourself and not feel like you’re in a stuffy and gloomy area by using some basement makeover ideas to brighten up the ambiance in the house. Start learning now how to finish a basement!
Basement makeover ideas
The Right Kind of Light
Image source: krista hermanson design
Starting a basement makeover? Think of lighting first. A basement could be a relatively dark space, considering the fact that most such spaces have low ceilings and only a small amount of natural light entering them. When adding the right lighting to the basement, can instantly fix the gloomy effect.
A good choice regarding the ceiling is using pot lights; track lighting is also an interesting redesign basement idea, although such a solution may not be very practical for very low ceilings.
Image source: Dwelling Designs
Of course, basement design ideas don’t stop there – one can’t forget about the task and ambient lighting. You can use wall sconces, tables, and floor lamps to fill up space, and if the height is appropriate you can even hang a chandelier or pendant.
You can definitely use that kind of decorating if your ceilings aren’t too low and there’s enough space for dining or maybe to create an island too. If you want to enhance the brightness, you can use mirrors to reflect the light and create an illusion of a wider basement too. Feel free to improve the interior design and be creative in creating a nice basement.
Use Warmer Colors On A Basement Makeover
Image source: Ashton Woods
Except for the obvious brighter colors that create a brighter atmosphere, it’s good to consider incorporating into your basement layout some bold shades for the furniture and décor to add a dramatic feeling.
Replace the cold vibe of bright white-colored walls and finish basement walls in a color that’s also bright, but more soothing and warm, like caramel or cream.
Image source: John Kraemer & Sons
Combine these colors with something contrasting for the furniture and you will have an unforgettable basement design. A deep purple or bold red is a great choice for pillows; they will bring attention to the room, as will do floral or any other kinds of artistic arrangements.
Get inspired by the color palettes of your furniture’s patterns and choose one of those colors for the flooring and other elements to create the perfect ambient. With such elegant but simple additions, the cost to finish a basement will be significantly low.
Overhead beauty
Image source: Synergy Design & Construction
It’s smart to have a soft-colored ceiling – nothing bright white, as previously mentioned. There are many other options of your basement color scheme you can try when working with white, for example, an off-white that has a tinge of color; you can even use a paler shade of the wall color, so it will match while being brighter.
When you are trying to organize your finished basement ideas, don’t overdo the ceiling – the more simple it seems, the better the results. You need to think about allowing the walls and ceiling to breathe as much as possible.
Open Wide
Image source: Ryan Duebber Architect, LLC
During a basement makeover, maximize the space by adopting an open floor plan. Expand the area – including by tearing down any unnecessary walls to create one big room. Aside from making a brighter and airier room, you’re getting as much space as possible which is important when talking about basements.
Layout
Image source: Scott Christopher Homes
The most popular use of basements today is storage. People frequently underrate the basement and consider it undeserving of organization and arrangements. But with some smart ideas and good budget planning, you can have your own cool basement space, to rent or to live in.
One shouldn’t let their basement look like a dump as there are countless basement design ideas; a little layout goes a long way. When working on the arrangements needed for finishing a basement, it is important to leave more space and reduce at minimum the decoration and the amount of furniture.
The Floors Require Durability and Warmth
Image source: The Bellepoint Company
When choosing the flooring of a moist environment such as the basement, a moisture-resistant floor is the best option, but considering that basements tend to be cold leads us to search for warmth as well in order to get the best basement finishing touch.
Aside from floors, if your basement doesn’t have a flooding problem, carpets are great at achieving this. An interesting mix of laminate floors or vinyl tiles with area rugs is a way to achieve both the durability and the warmth you need in a finished basement.
Image source: Whonsetler Photography
While considering many unfinished basement ideas, keep in mind that you can also color the floors with warm and happy colors while the rugs can have interesting patterns to liven up the color palette. Cork floors also meet the requirements by being a long-lasting and soft material.
Remove the Mess from the basements
Image source: DURST & GANS BUILDING CORP
With a little bit of time and effort, cleaning and organizing all that piled-up clutter will make space feel less closed up and crowded, hence giving it a brighter and fresher feel. If space is already well settled, you may realize that the worries you had about how much does it cost to finish a basement were not serious, as the basic investment may be significantly lower.
Making your storage containers more visually appealing and giving all the dusty surfaces a good clean is just about enough to make the room shine and open up to a better atmosphere and significantly reduce the average cost to finish a basement.
Proportionality
Image source: Hendel Homes
Keep an eye on the scale when you’re filling the basement with furniture and lighting. Basements have lower ceilings than the rest of the rooms in a household, so choose something that will shift the attention to the vertical walls of the basement and discard its negative sides.
Among the interesting basement wall ideas is the possibility to create a special space feeling by using low-slung sofas and chairs in dark colors. For better comfort, you can use soft textures for furniture and short lamps for lighting. Wide shades also go great in basements, because they work with the ceiling and make the space more welcoming.
Painting Bricks
Image source: NF interiors
A brick fireplace is a common occurrence found in many basements, especially those designed in the 60s or 70s style, and even though these elements are interesting, with time they might get dirty and old.
If you want to refresh the style of your basement decor, you can consider painting the bricks for bringing more light into the room. Painting bricks is an interesting activity and with the right amount of effort and creativity can be an effective way to bring attention to the room and your DIY basement will be ready within days.
What about the Problem Areas?
Image source: Madison Taylor
Problem areas can be found in more than an unfinished basement. They can be a real problem when designing the basement, but if you work wisely on them you can actually make them compliment the room nicely.
Ductwork could be boxed in with drywall; another way to cover this up is by coffering the ceiling. A cheaper alternative to basement renovation is painting ductwork and joists in many different colors – this will give your room a modern touch.
Image source: Rezac Construction
If you’re having trouble with moisture, you can always use dehumidifiers or even put a freestanding fireplace that will minimize the dampness.
Something for the Windows
Image source: Maric Homes
A bright and patterned curtain could be just the thing to liven up a damp and gloomy room like the basement. They can also be helpful when making the low-ceiling space seem higher. Those are great basement bedroom ideas.
If you don’t have any natural light in your basement, you can fake it by strategically placing an antique window or you can even frame a mirror and a slender wall sconce. It’s interesting and gives the room a feel of extra space and character and turns finished basements into a sample of good works of interior design.
Give Yourself the Freedom to Experiment with Furniture
Image source: John Kraemer & Sons
Upholstery is welcome when you’ve got your humidity and ventilation is working properly. Make sure you’re safe from moisture by using synthetic tile flooring or moisture protection pads for your furniture.
When you have that in check, you can let your imagination run wild when choosing and arranging the furniture you’ve intended to put in your space. The range of looks and styles is limitless.
Keep Your Style
Image source: Rocky Point Custom Homes
When it comes to basement finishing ideas, don’t forget to be consistent – make this newly renovated space compatible with the rest of your home. The transition between the first floor and the basement should be subtle; you don’t want anyone to notice a really big difference, for it might be uncomfortable. Make your basement a fun and pleasant place to stay in by achieving a modern basement design.