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Updating Your Basement On a Budget

With more time spent at home these days, perhaps you and your family would like to get started on a project, such as updating your basement. The basement is often overlooked, with many people only utilizing it as a space for storage or junk they don’t want to part with. Instead, consider turning your basement into a livable and useful spot that anyone in your family can utilize. These budget-friendly tips can get you started as you embark on this project that you can mostly do yourself.

Start With a Deep Clean

First, you’ll want to start your basement update by deep cleaning the space. You may need to get out a vacuum, mop, cleaning sprays and scrubs, a duster, and some rubber gloves. Clean the entire room from head to toe. You don’t want to be surprised later by cobwebs or an area with mold.

More than 3,500 dust explosions have occurred over the past 30 years, and these incidents increased in 2019, according to the recently-released annual report from Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering. While these explosions may have occurred in larger spaces that held a great amount of dust, it’s still important to keep in mind that inspecting and cleaning your basement regularly will prevent a build-up of dust, mold, water damage, and other issues from arising and costing you pricey repairs. Having a professional inspection to rule out anything dangerous before you get started on renovating your basement may be a good idea as well.

Second, Consider Flooring and Furniture

What kind of space do you want your basement to be? Perhaps you’d like to turn it into a playroom for your kids, where multicolored floor mats may come in handy. Perhaps you’d like to turn it into a bar for entertaining friends and family, where hardwood flooring and a few rugs may be best. Perhaps you’d like to turn it into a gaming/movie room for your teenagers, where carpeting would be the best bet. Floor installation is a job you can do yourself. Utilize a step-by-step guide and videos online to help you.

Furniture can be bought second-hand rather cheaply. Consider what you will actually need. If your basement is going to a playroom for your kids, then you may only need a storage-style piece of furniture to hold toys, a small table to hold drinks and snacks, and a couch. If your basement is going to be a bar for adults, consider what you’ll need when entertaining. 80% of guests will accept tea or coffee if it’s offered, so perhaps a mini-fridge, an island, a bar cart, and appliances such as a microwave and coffee maker would be handy. Comfortable couches and a coffee table may also be needed, too. A movie room would need a TV, couches, and side tables to hold popcorn and soda. Before you decide what your basement will be, be sure you’re aware of your budget and what furniture you can afford.

Next, Think About the Walls

If you’re handy, putting up new walls can also be a job you can do yourself with the help of another family member or friend. You can choose between concrete, drywall, or wooden walls. You’ll want to be sure the materials you buy are moisture and rot-resistant. Once the walls are installed, you can paint them the color of your choice. For a playroom, a rainbow or sun mural may be perfect. A bar could be a neutral grey, and a darker paint shade for a movie room may add to the ambiance of the chosen theme.

Finally, Find Low-Cost Decorations

Updating your basement can be a costly effort, but it can also be done rather cheaply if you budget accordingly. Spending more money on the structure, such as the inspection, flooring, walls, is most important. Furniture and decorations can come at a lower cost by shopping at a second-hand store or one of the 28 million small businesses in the United States near you. Right now, shopping from small businesses is important. Help keep local businesses in your area afloat. Second-hand stores may be hurting for business, too. These options have low-cost pieces of furniture and decorations you can use in your updated basement, such as customized wall decor, lamps, coffee tables, and vases.

Your basement can become a space enjoyed by you and your family for years to come. There are several DIY and low-cost options available to you if you take the time to find and utilize sources online and in your community. Many renovations can certainly be done yourself, so consider taking on these larger projects with your budget in mind. Be aware that this project will take time if you take it on yourself, too. Shop small and second-hand, and perhaps find decorations and other items in storage that can be repurposed or utilized in your updated basement. Even on a budget, this project can be both fun and fulfilling to complete!