Aesthetic Aspects of Finishing Your Basement that Will Help You Create the Perfect Look

Finishing a basement can seem overwhelming at first. With so many things you need to do to fix it up, it can be difficult to know where to start. Identifying a few things that you can do right now can help you get the motivation to really clean up the basement and make it a space your family loves.

One of the most important things to address when it comes to finishing your basement is the basement’s flooring. Typically, in an unfinished basement, the floor consists of cold concrete or unfinished wood. If you have the time and resources, consider adding flooring. There are multiple economical options to think about. You can purchase laminate wood strips that actually snap into place and appear like the real deal.

You can also add rugs to the space to bring in warmth and to make the floor more inviting. Rugs can be a good option for kids as well because they are softer and easier to play on.

The wall color in the basement is especially important. Because the basement is darker than the rest of the house, it’s important that you choose something that can brighten the room.

But you should also recognize that because the basement is relatively set apart from the rest of the house, you can also have more fun with the wall color. Feel free to play around with it and potentially do something a little different.

Basements can be pretty dark. Light them well and consider taking advantage of windows to let in natural light to keep them from feeling gloomy. And if you add curtains, you may want to consider choosing curtains in lighter colors or in more translucent fabrics. This can help make sure that you maximize the light in the basement.

You should also think about creative ways to bring in more light—in addition to adding lamps in the room, think about adding elegant globe lights to the room. These can allow you to add more consistent light to the basement whereas lamps add concentrated pools of light to certain areas of the room. Adding mirrors on the walls can also help you make the room appear bigger and brighter.

Choosing the right kind of furniture for your basement is incredibly damp. There are multiple factors to consider. First, basements sometimes have the tendency to be damp, so make sure you take good care of your furniture down there.

Because of this dampness, you may want to shy away from delicate woods that can bubble easily. Fabrics like cotton and rayon tend to do well in more humid conditions so choosing throw pillows and curtains in these fabrics is a good idea.

Figuring out how to actually organize a basement’s space can be difficult at first. Especially when you want your basement to serve multiple functions. Maybe you want part of the basement to function as a kids’ playroom. Maybe you want another part of it to function as a lounge area and movie watching space. Another area could be a nook dedicated to crafting.

One of the best ways to create these separate spaces in a basement that really is just one main room is to use your décor to frame these spaces. Putting frames on the wall around your crafting desk can create a visually cohesive space set apart from the rest of the room.

When it comes to finishing your basement, one major thing to think about is storage. If your basement is pretty unfinished, you may not have any closets installed where you can store things like games or kids’ toys. So, you’ll have to get creative.

One way to add storage is by building trick-the-eye built-in cabinets. Surprisingly, it can actually be quite easy to build fake built-ins. Install a set of shelves that you like and then simply add molding around the shelves that blends into the ceiling.

Another way to add more storage is to be creative in your furniture selection. Add benches that double as bins. Add an ottoman that opens up. Have multiple decorative baskets that can store ties inside. Choosing decorative items and furniture that is also multi-functional will help you address your storage needs.

Often in unfinished basements, you may have exposed pipes, coils or cords hanging from the ceiling, while it may not always be possible to get rid of these or directly address these eye sores, there are a couple things you can do to improve the situation.

If your basement’s ceiling still has exposed wood beams, you can purchase adhesive wood planks that you could stick to these plans to hide the coils and wires and simultaneously make the space look more finished with a cool ceiling. On the other hand, if this seems like too much of a project, you could also consider simply painting some of the exposed pipes. Adding paint to pipes typically doesn’t have any major effects on the pipes’ function. Painting over them is a safe way to camouflage ugly pipes.

One of the worst parts of unfinished basements is the musky smell and the slightly humid air. Adding a dehumidifier to the basement can help you make your basement feel as fresh as the rest of the house.

Even if it may not seem like the first thing on your list of ways to improve your basement, it can actually make a big difference. When the literal atmosphere feels lighter, the rest of the room will feel lighter and more cheery as well.

Finishing a basement doesn’t have to be a totally overwhelming project. Beginning with the suggestions in this article can help you get off to a good start. Then think more precisely about your family’s particular needs to decide on the most important changes to prioritize.

We can help you to make a basement that fits all your needs. Contact us to get started!