Easy Ways to Make an Unfinished Basement More Appealing

Easy Ways to Make an Unfinished Basement More Appealing

 

Are you trying to sell a home that has an unfinished basement? Or maybe you’ve recently purchased a home with an unfinished basement and don’t know what to do with it?

 

Unfinished basements aren’t always cozy looking. While they’re a great extra space in your house, many homeowners struggle to know what to do with them beyond turning them into a storage space.

 

If you’re selling your home, you might want to make that unorganized, grey unfinished basement look more appealing for walk-throughs. Or if you’re in the process of purchasing a house, you might want to start thinking of ways to better utilize the space.

 

No matter what your reasons are, it is actually fairly easy to make an unfinished basement more appealing, even if you’re not ready for the commitment of turning it into a fully finished basement.

A little bit of paint adds color

Applying a quick coat of paint to your concrete walls and floors is a great way to instantly spruce the place up.  Always clean the floors and walls before painting them. Generally, you’ll want to paint your floor a more neutral shade, and then get creative with your wall colors.

 

If you have exposed beams on your ceiling, you may also want to consider painting them. If you find that your basement is damp, a coat of waterproof sealer over the paint can also help prevent moisture from gathering on your walls.

Find small ways to decorate

Even if you’re not spending much time down there, a few decorations throughout your unfinished basement can help make it more appealing. There’s no need to go overboard with decorations, but some simple touches can make your unfinished basement less scary-looking.

 

Consider adding a few throw rugs or foam mats for some pops of color. String lights strung throughout the room can also add some ambiance lighting. If you’re lucky enough to have windows in your basement, you might also want to consider hanging curtains.

Organize your storage

Many homeowners fall into the trap of carrying boxes of storage into their basement and just letting them pile up over time. This not only looks unappealing, but it could also damage your items.

 

If you’re using the basement for storage, consider installing shelving units that all you to organize your belongings. This way, when Christmas comes around and you’re looking for those boxes of ornaments, you can find them without digging through all your items. Another bonus of organizing your unfinished basement is you might find items to get rid of—less clutter is always better!

Turn it into an extra living area

While you’re not going to want your formal living room in an unfinished basement, it is possible to use it as a living area. Unfinished basements make great large motor playrooms for children. They also make great hangout spaces for teens—put an older couch, a pool table, and a TV down there for them.

 

Of, if you’d rather use the space for yourself, turn it into a home gym. It is often better to place heavy equipment such as treadmills on a concrete floor than to risk damage to a hardwood floor.

Make it your workspace

Unfinished basements are also the perfect place to put a crafting area or a woodworking station. This way, you can spread your projects out within a designated area without worrying about disturbing the rest of your family.

 

And while you probably wouldn’t want power tools hanging out in your living room, an unfinished basement is the perfect place for large tools, such as this drill press from Wen. It’s also easier to clean paint and sawdust up from concrete floors.

Add partitions

If you’re using your unfinished basement for different purposes, you might want to consider putting up partitions to help make it seem homier. For example, if you have a den-like area right when you come down the steps, a partition can help keep that area separate from your storage area or your washer and dryer.

 

Partitions can help make your unfinished basement look similar to a finished basement! Floor-to-ceiling shelving units, heavy curtains, and room dividers all make good partitions.

Final thoughts

As you can see, there are ways to make your unfinished basement a vital part of your home. Just because it doesn’t look as nice as your living room or kitchen doesn’t mean it should be ignored! If you do start regularly using your unfinished basement, don’t forget to add a space heater (to help get rid of chills) and a dehumidifier (to remove moisture).