Cheap Unfinished Basement Ideas
Basements can provide an area for kids or adults to play, or they can be a gigantic waste of space that only houses the utilities, the laundry and the holiday decorations. Whether old or new, a basement can often be dank, dark and uninviting. Making the space welcoming is a challenge, but it is one that can be accomplished without a pricey renovation.
Space
Determine first what space you would like to devote to this "renovation." Plan to screen or somehow block off your utilities from the new living space, particularly if the space is to be used by children. You don't want to find Legos in your basement drain or balls in the sump pump. If you can, have the utilities in a separate room. You can hire someone or build this small room yourself for the cost of some 2-by-4's and some drywall.
Walls
A bright white color on the walls in the basement will give you a start on lightening up the space. If your concrete floor is new, consider sealing it to cut down on any concrete dust. After painting the walls, find bright, patterned fabric to use as wall hangings--cover the entire wall with fabric or just hang it like curtains sporadically over the space. If you are confident in your artistic skills, paint a mural or a series of scenes on the walls. Stencils can also be used for this purpose.
Floor
You won't want to put wall to wall carpet down on your basement floor. Carpet attracts moisture; if you have any moisture at all, this will be the beginning of a musty smell in your basement. However, you can use interlocking play mats (made of foam), carpet tiles, throw rugs, and rugs with cities and towns on them for children, placed around the room to brighten and soften the floor. If you don't mind the look of it, outdoor "lawn" carpet also works since it is weather proof and, in some cases, fairly soft. If you don't need the floor to be soft, but would like it to look less like a basement floor, buy two colors of coordinating paint that you like and paint a checkerboard pattern on the floor. This will add interest and color for very little money.
Lighting
Most basements have that one single light bulb hanging in the center of the room, with a pull string to turn it on. Brighten up your space by getting several lamps and placing them throughout the room. Wall sconces and track lighting are relatively inexpensive and will add a lot of light and style to your room.
Tags: your basement, basement floor, Basement Ideas, Cheap Unfinished, Cheap Unfinished Basement
