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11 Finishing Touches for a Relaxing Basement Hideaway
Make your basement chill-out space more enjoyable, fun and suited to your style with these useful tips
A renovated basement, when designed with your style and needs in mind, can offer a welcome respite from the rest of the house and effectively double your living space – especially important in a small home. These tips can help you put your own stamp on a basement makeover and make it work for the entire family.
Embrace your ‘upstairs’ style
There’s no need to throw your usual taste out the window just because you are decorating a basement. Even making a few stylish changes will elevate the look of the entire space. A wall-mounted TV and a long, low cabinet give this space its sleek, modern look. Fresh white paint, wood-look floors and a fluffy rug, as seen here, may turn your own basement into your favourite room in the house.
There’s no need to throw your usual taste out the window just because you are decorating a basement. Even making a few stylish changes will elevate the look of the entire space. A wall-mounted TV and a long, low cabinet give this space its sleek, modern look. Fresh white paint, wood-look floors and a fluffy rug, as seen here, may turn your own basement into your favourite room in the house.
Conceal pillars, pipes and other less-than-attractive details
Check with a knowledgeable source before covering anything, to be sure you are not creating a safety hazard or blocking needed access. That caveat aside, it can be worth it to invest some of your basement budget into coverings (such as the sleek, horizontal wood panels shown here) that hide eyesores and help your space look really pulled together.
Check with a knowledgeable source before covering anything, to be sure you are not creating a safety hazard or blocking needed access. That caveat aside, it can be worth it to invest some of your basement budget into coverings (such as the sleek, horizontal wood panels shown here) that hide eyesores and help your space look really pulled together.
Build a games room everyone will love
Just because you include a pool table (or a big TV) it doesn’t mean the basement needs to turn into a man cave. In this space, a fun blackboard livens up the wall, while a warm copper light fixture brings to mind a classic pool hall, without going over the top.
See more basement schemes
Just because you include a pool table (or a big TV) it doesn’t mean the basement needs to turn into a man cave. In this space, a fun blackboard livens up the wall, while a warm copper light fixture brings to mind a classic pool hall, without going over the top.
See more basement schemes
Upgrade the card table
Choose a dining table and chairs and watch your options for gatherings expand. You can host poker night, dinner parties or children can use the space as a homework area. This basement corner feels like it belongs in a cosy restaurant.
Choose a dining table and chairs and watch your options for gatherings expand. You can host poker night, dinner parties or children can use the space as a homework area. This basement corner feels like it belongs in a cosy restaurant.
Carve out a guest room
Put the small end of an L-shape room to use by setting up a guest bed area. Closing off the area with a door and adding a wardrobe will make it an official bedroom, but for practical purposes, it can be just as useful without: simply give guests the entire basement during their stay and make sure there is a door they can close at the top of the stairs.
Put the small end of an L-shape room to use by setting up a guest bed area. Closing off the area with a door and adding a wardrobe will make it an official bedroom, but for practical purposes, it can be just as useful without: simply give guests the entire basement during their stay and make sure there is a door they can close at the top of the stairs.
Try a unique statement wall
Basements beg for a little extra fun, so if there’s something you have been wanting to try but are hesitant to in the main house, the basement is the perfect place to experiment. Paint a feature wall or try stencils, salvaged signage or a DIY art project. You can always paint over it if it doesn’t work out the way you had envisioned.
Browse some more creative ideas for feature walls
Basements beg for a little extra fun, so if there’s something you have been wanting to try but are hesitant to in the main house, the basement is the perfect place to experiment. Paint a feature wall or try stencils, salvaged signage or a DIY art project. You can always paint over it if it doesn’t work out the way you had envisioned.
Browse some more creative ideas for feature walls
Give the stairs a creative touch
If the stairs are visible from the main basement space, it pays to give them a little upgrade. A runner (either a rug or a painted treatment) and a wallpapered or colourfully painted feature wall are good options.
If the stairs are visible from the main basement space, it pays to give them a little upgrade. A runner (either a rug or a painted treatment) and a wallpapered or colourfully painted feature wall are good options.
Use every nook and cranny
Under the stairs can prove to be an ideal spot for an L-shaped desk, file storage, an extra wardrobe or built-in shelving to hold art supplies. Look around – you may have more usable space than you think.
Under the stairs can prove to be an ideal spot for an L-shaped desk, file storage, an extra wardrobe or built-in shelving to hold art supplies. Look around – you may have more usable space than you think.
Finish the utility room with style
Having a fresh, polished laundry area can make an everyday chore so much more pleasant. Consider adding surfaces for folding, cabinets or shelving to store supplies, a hanging bar for smart clothes and something soft underfoot.
Having a fresh, polished laundry area can make an everyday chore so much more pleasant. Consider adding surfaces for folding, cabinets or shelving to store supplies, a hanging bar for smart clothes and something soft underfoot.
Use hard flooring for a sleek and practical finishing touch
Basements are notoriously damp and prone to leaks (and even floods), and hard flooring will likely last longer in those conditions than wall-to-wall carpeting.
TELL US...
Do you have (or hope to have) a basement? Share your best tips or ideas in the Comments below.
Basements are notoriously damp and prone to leaks (and even floods), and hard flooring will likely last longer in those conditions than wall-to-wall carpeting.
TELL US...
Do you have (or hope to have) a basement? Share your best tips or ideas in the Comments below.
A large basement can easily be used for several purposes, as long as you make smart use of the space. Brainstorm the things you hope to use your finished basement for, then map out your ideas in a floor plan. A fresh, light colour palette and clever lighting make this basement feel like an extension of the house, rather than an afterthought. A sofa and an upholstered ottoman define the living area, while an Ikea storage unit holds craft supplies and toys near a low work table on the opposite wall.