The following basement remodeling ideas can help transform an often-underutilized part of the family home. In home remodeling, basements are too often relegated to storage, mechanicals, or a workshop that’s never used.
Basement Remodeling Ideas
Some of our home remodeling clients concentrate their resources on areas that are used more often. But many still want to add a place for their kids to play, a bonus space for a hobby, or a media room.
Even if you can’t yet afford your dream basement, a budget makeover can create the new spaces you want without breaking the bank.
1. Paint the ceiling
Painting the ceiling in your basement is among the least expensive upgrades, but it can have a huge visual impact.
Some homeowners envision a more expensive drop ceiling with acoustic tiles. But many interior designers agree that a painted ceiling is more aesthetically pleasing.
While a homeowner could paint their ceiling themselves, hiring a qualified home remodeling or painting contractor generally provides better results.
The steps
A professional contractor will:
- Use compressed air and a HEPA vacuum to remove all the dust and debris.
- Use a paint sprayer to apply the proper primer over each of the wood, metal, and plastic assemblies in the ceiling.
This is one of the most important steps because it allows the paint to permanently bond to all the different surface types.This also prevents oils in the wood floor joists from migrating through the finished paint.
- Apply the finish coat (or two).
As professional contractors, we recommend a satin or matte paint sheen and to avoid glossy finishes.
See also: Our post, Paint Sheens Explained.The colors
Most commonly, clients and interior designers recommend gray, white, or black for the basement ceiling color. Darker ceiling colors create a feeling of intimacy and create a modern space.
Clients who want their space to feel larger might use a lighter color, like a white or cream.
Gray basement ceilings might be a good compromise between white and black. Gray offers lots of color options so you can pick the perfect hue.
But not all basements follow a typical color schedule. Renowned Milwaukee-based interior designer Leslie Dohr raves about her recent selection: Brown Horse (2108-30) by Benjamin Moore is a brownish-black combination that encouraged a level of sophistication not often seen in basement remodeling projects.
No matter the color, a uniform ceiling helps avoid the distraction of mechanical clutter that tends to draw your eye upward in a basement.
2. Add recessed lighting
Proper lighting is important in every room. We encourage our remodeling clients to consult a lighting designer or interior designer to make sure it is perfect.
Most basements do not have an abundance of natural light, and the ceilings are usually low.
To provide ample lighting without attracting attention to the ceiling height, we recommend adding recessed can lights.
Most commonly, can lights are 5”, but in high-end remodeling, we most often use the 4” variety.
Adding an LED trim with an adjustable color spectrum can help you dial in the perfect lighting color for your space.
If you want to go the extra mile, consider painting the white can trims to match the color of your ceiling.
3. Add flooring
Before considering any updates to your flooring, make sure your floor is ready.
- Address any dampness in your basement before installing any type of flooring.
- Make sure the floor is level. When having flooring installed on top of concrete, even slight slopes and flaws can impact the finished project.
- Ensure that additional flooring doesn’t reduce the height of the ceiling below the minimum required by your municipality.
When your floor is ready, here are seven options for finishing your basement floor, ranked from least to most expensive:
Paint
The least expensive finished floor option is also the most DIY-friendly. If you have a limited budget and simple basement remodeling ideas, paint may be your best choice.
Make sure to choose a paint formulated for concrete floors, and carefully follow the instructions for surface prep, application, and drying time.
Epoxy
Applied in two parts, this coating can be applied much like paint. But it creates a thicker layer that’s usually smoother, more durable, and easier to clean.
With most epoxy treatments, you can spread plastic flakes or fine sand over the surface right after application. The sand adds texture, while the flakes add texture and color.
If you plan to do this yourself, make sure to check the manufacturer’s safety instructions: Some epoxies may produce hazardous fumes during application and curing.
Tile
With tile comes a greater variety of design options in addition to a quick way to cover your existing concrete floors.
Rubber tile or rubber sheets
Common in health clubs and gyms, rubber tile or sheets are also a great choice for a playroom or laundry room.
They’re durable, waterproof, stain resistant, and easy to clean.
Some people notice an unpleasant odor, but this usually dissipates over time.
Vinyl planks or tiles
This basement flooring option offers great value for the money. Interlocking joints make vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring easy to install.
Also, vinyl planks and tiles are available in a wide variety of styles. They can be made to look like different wood species, or resemble ceramic tile.
Sheet vinyl
Buying a large roll of vinyl gets you a new floor for a very affordable price. But if you plan to do it yourself, make sure you will be able to fit the big roll into your basement, as well as cut it to size.
Engineered wood flooring
If you’re aiming for a high-end, finished basement room with the look and feel of real wood, consider engineered wood flooring.
It’s similar to plywood in its composition. But this type of flooring has a thin layer of genuine wood (many different species are available) bonded to other wood plies or composite board.
Some manufacturers sell engineered wood flooring that can go down over a concrete floor. But it’s better to install it over a subfloor, which we recommend hiring a professional to build.
4. Create Zones with Curtains
Hanging curtains can create separate areas in your basement without the expense of new walls.
Available in a wide variety of designs, curtains are an economical and attractive way to create visually distinct areas. And their soft texture can add warmth to a cold, sterile-looking space.
- Easy to install: You do not need any special tools to install zoning curtains.
- Easily replaced: If you want a new look, just pick out new curtains or switch to another material.
- Simple to clean: Just remove them and put them in the washing machine or send to the dry cleaner. If they’re not made of fabric, you can just wipe the curtains with a damp cloth.
- Space saver: Curtains do not take up as much room as additional walls. This is especially helpful in small spaces.
- Reconfigurable: As your family’s needs and interests change over time, it’s easy to rearrange your space to accommodate them.
In a partially finished basement, one of the best uses for curtains is hiding ugly clutter from view.
If your basement is one big, open space, ceiling-height curtains could help conceal your laundry area, storage shelves, or HVAC equipment. But be sure to leave space around the furnace to avoid contact with fabric.
5. Use flat pack furniture and cabinets
The cabinetry on most of our projects is bespoke. But cabinets from your favorite Swedish big-box store can work pretty well too. There are entire blogs and YouTube channels devoted to elevating Ikea furniture.
By utilizing these stock cabinets, you can create a bar, a library, toy storage, or an entertainment center.
While these cabinets do not have the configurability or quality of custom cabinets, they look decent and should last a few years.
Increase the Value of Your Home
Remodeling your basement on a budget can add function and value to your home.
Upgrading your basement from a creepy storage area to a beautiful family room does not have to be cost prohibitive.
To turn your basement remodeling ideas into reality, start by calling a qualified builder. Feel free to contact us at LaBonte Construction, voted Best of Milwaukee 2022 Basement/Rec Room Remodeler by Shepherd Express readers.
We were also voted best in Home Remodeling, Bathroom Remodeling, and Kitchen Remodeling, and were finalists in Home Builder.