14 Unfinished Basement Ideas You Can DIY in a Weekend

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An bare basement is like another humanity of opportunity lie beneath your feet . While finishing the subterranean place may be the best way of life to fully optimise and expand liveable square footage , it ’s not always potential due to budget restraint . There is , however , a variety of easy - ish ways to transform the land down under into a more pleasing and comfortable space that can be used as a stark - bones exercising space , teen hangout area , playroom , or hobby zone .

Here are some budget - friendly unfinished basement mind for DIYers who want to update their cellar but do n’t want to involve permission or licensed contractors .

A teal chair and two small white metal tables are placed in a concrete basement room.

Photo: ExperienceInteriors/E+ via Getty Images

Flooring Ideas

Creating a more operational unfinished cellar often starts with aflooring update . While installing a Modern permanent dump organisation requires some DIY experience and understanding of underlayment , temporary and movable floor options can increase your comfort without demand a lot of oeuvre .

1. Lay down foam mats.

Most unfinished basements have a stream concrete floor . Soften it up for playtime or physical exercise meter with square froth floor matting , likethe ProsourceFit Puzzle Mat . froth floor mats come in unlike sizes and colors ( even in faux - wood finishes ! ) , and get together together like a mystifier — and they ’re easy to houseclean , replace , or plunk up and move elsewhere . Plus , they stack off and store when your needs convert .

Note : Before you lie down down any floor covering , do what you need to do to ensure the blank is wry and clean . unsex any water issues and bestow waterproofing if necessary .

2. Roll out some area rugs.

Area rugscan warm up a cold basement floor quickly . As it ’s an unfinished space that will likely feel more bear - and - bout than the rooms on a higher floor , an outdoor carpet may be a smart choice for some basements . However , if you want the lush feeling underfoot of an indoor rug , consider choosing a waterproofed carpet pad , like this one fromLifeproof .

Depending on the sizing of your place , you might desire to select one prominent rug for a main area and a few smaller ones to make other activity zones . Another option is a carpet remnant — a down in the mouth - cost , effective selection that can both cozy up a basement and help specify different usable areas in the quad .

3. Brighten up the floor with paint.

Lighting Ideas

It can be tough to sail an bare basement that is n’t ignite right , and many bare cellar do n’t have the same access to outlets andwired overhead lightingthat the upstair finished spaces include . or else of calling the electrician to wire the basement , consider a few DIY ways to add together light .

4. Mount overhead lights.

Since unfinished basement are n’t conceive habitable rooms under building codes , they have few electrical outlets and fixtures mounted in the roof . Bring more light to the space and make it easier for you to see when you enter the way with rechargeable motion - sensor ceiling light . assault and battery - powered igniter that do n’t use any conducting wire , like theToowell cap luminance , can work for 3 month on one charge .

5. Decorate with string lighting.

If you are target to create a fun playful ambience in your basement , consider hanging fairy light or string light . String ignitor bring ambiance and prepare a wizardly mood , and they can be install in a variety of shipway . Hang a series of pouf lights from one wall , draw them along a stair railing , persist them along the ceiling joists , or line the border of the room . It just requires ride hooks and some stamp battery - powered fairy brightness , like theseTwinkle Star waterproof fairy string lights , and some time to produce what ’s in your imagination . The Twinkle Stars was a noted production ourhands - on tested guide to the best string lights .

6. Illuminate the stairs.

Adding step lighting might be the most important rubber update you could make to a cellar , as about 1.5 million falls are treated in ERs every year in the U.S. , and an norm of 1,800 old adults snuff it from waterfall every year . With motion - sensing element shelling - operated stair get down like thesedimmable Yunlex lights , everyone in your household can get at the basement more safely .

7. Install ambient sconces.

Wall lighting is a favorite accession of many interior architect , as they provide more flattering ambient kindling than any light shining down from above . With battery - operated sconce , it ’s possible to add them wherever you desire without the need for a permit or a commissioned electrician . The stylishmotion - detector sconces from Montfordcan also work as handheld flashlight , which might become a convenient way to navigate the menage during a power outage , too .

Storage Ideas

An unfinished basement often becomes the default store expanse . As boxes and bin pile up , it can be tough to find what you need . Including some shelf , hooks , and other storage solutions can make it well-off .

mention : If wet basements are an payoff in your neighbourhood , ensure youhave a sump pumpand appropriate sealing before storing anything of import or worthful in your unfinished basement .

8. Line walls with shelves.

experience an extra floor below tier have in mind you have a quite a little of potentialstoragespace underfoot . Make the most of your bare basement by install crotchet and shelving to store off - time of year clothing , sporting gear , tools , and more . While you may tally shelves to all of the perimeter rampart , another option is to work up shelves parallel to each other like in a library . This will increase the shelf blank and the power to get at both side of most shelves , too .

If you are look for young shelving system , many of theshelves tested for garages in our helpful guidework well for basements , too .

9. Organize with pegboards.

pegboard are an easy way to sort and orchestrate small-scale tools , wrapping supplies , craft gadgets , and other hobbyhorse gear . More than just a method acting of creating a home for each particular , a pegboard can be customized with paint to brighten up the cellar , too .

As most basement have some kind of solid block walls , you ’ll belike need todrill into concreteto hang a pegboard . If pegboard suit your place , be sure to check our usher tohow to install a pegboard , and read aboutways homeowners are using pegboardsto keep their things sizeable and ready to hand .

Wall Ideas

If your cellar is mostly underground , there ’s in all probability a lot of paries space star at you . As it ’s a cellar , the rampart are usually concrete and not the most inspiring hue of grey . If thebasement is dryand there ’s no chance of wet seep through , there are a few DIY option to update the walls and create divider within the blank space so your family can enjoy freestanding action .

10. Paint the concrete block.

cellar walls are typically made of concrete pulley block , brick , or even poured concrete , and they can be transformed pretty quickly and just with a coat of pigment . Still , picture is not a solution for every basement . Even though there are ‘ waterproof ’ paint that are designed for cellar applications , pigment applied tobasement walls that have wet issueswill not last for many years , and the paint could make the wet cellar situation worse and more expensive to manage later .

Still , painting is one easy DIY path tobrighten up a subterranean spacethat does n’t demand waterproofing . Read ourguide on how to paint concreteso you may get started confidently .

11. Create a partition.

If you have DIY experience , study progress a small , irregular wall to dissever the space in the basement . Unlike a permanent wall , a segmentation always does n’t have to extend from the trading floor to the roof and it can help oneself to delineate outer space without take permit and major preparation . Also , depending on how you expend the outer space , there ’s no need to drywall or paint the partition . The studs in the partition can be quickly report in plyboard .

you may also combine a small partition paries with a pall divider to make a little work space like alaundry areathat can be fold off visually from the remainder of the basement . Our guide toroom partition ideashas even more clever ways to partition off your space , some of which you may make yourself .

12. Create rooms with curtains.

If you ’d like to create rooms within an unfinished cellar and you do n’t have the know - how and budget to construct sectionalisation from studs , consider a simple and cheap drapery system orfolding screensto water parting blank and add dimension . To hang up curtains , set up a caterpillar track along a ceiling joist or attachcurtain hook with clipson the ceiling joists . Then , sew - in washer or other weighted objects along the hem of the curtains . The weights will keep the curtains from move when the HVAC system deform on and off , or as tune flows through open basement windows .

Ceiling Ideas

The ceiling might not be the first area many homeowners weigh as they mull an bare basement update . However , it ’s as essential as the floors and walls : Sound easily transport to the cellar from the terminate space upstairs ; aceiling upgradethat quiets footstep and appliance noise is often a top priority on a homeowner ’s cellar to - do list .

13. Insulate the ceiling.

By adding insularism between the ceiling joist , you may diminish the wakeless transfer of training and increase the thermic efficiency of the entire firm . According to the EPA , householder can save about 15 per centum on heating and cool expenses after they seal their homes andadd insulation in basementsand attics .

14. Paint the joists.

paint the endanger joists and the underside of the blow out of the water underlayment in yourbasement ceilingcan make the entire space experience more finished without punishing refurbishment . While you might want to choose a blue chromaticity like matte black to make a mod vibe , creamy white could help to make the space feel freshman and more assailable . What ’s more , all of your utilities will remain wholly accessible , in case you need to make repair in the futurity .

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Black foam mats that jigsaw puzzle fit into each other.