Low-Cost Finished Basement Makeover Tips

For many homeowners, and buyers one of the items on their "must-have" list is a finished basement. However, it's also one of the areas in the home that can often benefit from an update. If you live in an older home built in the '80s or '90s or looking to purchase a home from this period, the basement is often finished, but it probably hasn't been updated since it was built.

View Finished Basement Projects Built For Greater Madison Homeowners

Today the way we live and use our finished basement is very different. In the past, a finished basement was often set up and used as an all-purpose family room, playroom for the kids, or game room. Today families often upgrade the basement into a home theatre or media room, complete with video gaming technology. In this man cave, friends gather to watch the big game or a functional home office. The trend toward multigenerational living finds many homeowners converting the finished basement into an in-law apartment complete with a kitchen and full bathroom.

If you're looking to upgrade your living space, here are some affordable ideas for updating or renovating an outdated finished basement to better meet the needs of today's lifestyle.

Freshen Up With New Paint

Sometimes upgrading can be as simple as choosing a modern color palette, painting the walls, trim, and doors to give the room update. If you have old school wood paneling, giving it a coat of bright white paint can take your space from dark and dank, to open an airy over a weekend.

Lighter colors can make the room feel more substantial, but it doesn't have to be bland and beige! Consider neutral tones like grays or white and highlight your design with bright artwork that pops. Try creating an interior design that features furniture pieces that add visual excitement like may a turquoise colored couch, or hot pink bar stools and a matching rug.

Remember, you can paint over anything, even concrete, so you can update those walls or barren floors with exciting new colors. Get creative!

Before

After

Give the Ceiling A Modern Loft Look!

Today, many homeowners love the "industrial" look, as evidenced by the many loft conversions being built and sold. You can get a modern look in your basement, and best of all, it's affordable and aesthetically beautiful.

If your basement has a low ceiling, painting the exposed joists, ductwork, electrical wires and conduits white can give the impression of extra ceiling height. By the same token, if you have plenty of height in the basement, painting the same joists and utilities black can make the ceiling "disappear."

A monochromatic ceiling disguises the pipes and ductwork and is one of the fastest, easiest, and most cost-effective ways to finish a basement ceiling. It's a popular technique in urban spaces like lofts, restaurants, coffee houses, and shops.

Upgrade Lighting

Unless you have plenty of windows, for example, if you live in a garrison colonial, or split level, lighting is the key to brightening up an underground space. Make sure any windows you do have are clean and unobstructed to allow in the maximum amount of natural light.

Before

After

Your basement lighting is like any other lighting in your home. Create a lighting design that incorporates task, ambient, and accent lighting. Just understand that you may need more if your basement doesn't get a lot of natural light.

Recessed and under-cabinet lighting works great in areas where you enjoy food and drinks, like the wet bar or kitchen area. A pendant or chandelier hanging over a table is not only functional; it's attractive. Use dimmable lighting around the TV or if you're creating a media room. Consider adding accent lighting like a strand of bare-bulb light for some extra sparkle!

Improve Flooring

Flooring can have a tremendous impact when improving your basement space. The goal is to reflect light to brighten the area, and luckily you have plenty of options to accomplish that goal. Choose a polished hardwood, high-quality engineered wood, porcelain, stone, or ceramic tile, or if you have concrete floors, consider using a treatment like acid washing or polishing the floor to create a sophisticated and reflective surface.

In the past, carpeting was traditionally the floor covering of choice for a chilly basement. Today, if you have the budget, you can keep the basement cozy by installing radiant floor heat. You can use radiant systems with tile, stone, hardwood, or cork flooring.

Before

After

Upgrade Finished Basement Amenities

Finally, another way to upgrade your finished basement is to install new appliances and amenities. For example, swapping the old, outdated vanity for a new modern one. Upgrading from laminate countertops to quartz or natural stone in the kitchenette, or replacing the old kitchen appliances with updated energy-efficient models.

Updating or renovating your old, finished basement can give you the extra space you need to meet today's lifestyle. Whether you're creating an in-law apartment, adding a media room, or refinishing the space to build your dream man cave, a finished basement is an affordable upgrade that will add value to your home and provide years of enjoyment for the entire family!

About Degnan Design-Build-Remodel

If you're planning a finished basement upgrade, why not give the expert design team at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel a call at (608) 846-5963. Let our designers work with you to help you define your needs, and then create the perfect finished basement to meet your family's unique lifestyle. Click here to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting.