A basement can serve numerous purposes, you could turn it into an extra kitchen, a laundry room, children’s entertainment area and so much more. Homes that have basements are blessed with extra space, but before you can decide what to do with that space, you need to think of how much you are willing to spend on that project. Budget-friendly basement Ideas make it possible to have functional as well as beautiful space without breaking the bank.
Most homeowners may be unsure of what to do with that space so it turns into an abandoned area of the house with a lot of unused stuff and in some cases, it is a place to fear. You, however, could pick a few of the ideas below that can fit into your basement remodel budget and you will be able to enjoy the extra space.
Often the ideas may seem pricey especially if you add up the cost of finishing, additional decoration, and furniture. There are ways however to work around this and this is what inspires the first idea:
#1 – Unfinished Basement Concept
Finishing is one of the things that will take up a lot of your money. Luckily modern construction has come up with the idea of unfinished spaces. No, it does not mean you will be left with an ugly space with cement dust flying around. It is possible to borrow some budget-friendly basement ideas that incorporate partially finished spaces. You can, for example, leave out the tiling and have a concrete floor. If you have pipes for plumbing, you can choose not to have them in the wall, but instead, let them be exposed and maybe furniture may cover them. It will, however, take a lot of creativity to pull this off and end up with a cozy living space.
#2 – Old Furniture
Furniture will be a big part of the budget for a remodeled basement but you can save money by using old furniture. It could be an old couch, shelves, or even beds. Instead of having those thrown away, they could be given a fresh look and used to furnish the basement. A good sanding and a fresh coat of varnish can make wooden furniture look like new. A couch could be given new covers and loose screws and bolts can be tightened. If you do not have old furniture of your own, look around for local yard sales, there are usually some great items you could buy at a lower cost.
#3 – Shop for Ideas
By reading an article like this, you have already made a big step towards getting budget-friendly basement ideas. You may have a particular area of a basement that you need unique ideas for, looking at pictures of what other people have done with their small spaces and not particularly the basement, could inspire you to do something similar in your small basement. For example, you may want to see what storage space ideas you can incorporate under the stairs and you will be amazed by the different options you would find.
#4 – Choose a Single Color
Paint is usually a great way to breathe new life into an old space but if you end up with a lot of colors, you will spend more. It is best to have a single color that sets the entire mood for the area. This though works best if you are not trying to create a play area for children. But even still, for children, you can have a single happy color like yellow and then use mats or pictures to provide added color in different areas of the basement.
#5 – DIY
This is a great idea if you are handy with tools and have experience remodeling basements. Doing it yourself will give you the chance to be creative and do things exactly as you would want them to be. The most important thing about DIY is that you are saving on the cost of hiring someone to do it for you. BUT, you should be sure you know what you are doing because if you do not you could end up spending more if things go wrong and you have to hire a professional to redo what you had started.
#6 – Have Some Plants
Potted plants can be used as part of the décor in the basement. There are particular plants that will serve both as décor as well as ventilators. Some plants are known to produce high amounts of oxygen and these can help substitute the use of air conditioning in a basement that has little or no ventilation. Look for plants that do not need a lot of care. With this idea though, you will need to take the plants out into the sun once in a while because plants do need sunlight.
#7 – Extra Storage
A small basement can still provide storage for the things that you may need to keep away until they are needed. For example, your fishing rod, snow boots, or even old children’s toys. Designing storage sections specifically for the things you know you have can effectively utilize the small available space. Shelves and chairs with storage space inside can be ideas to explore. Spaces under the staircase are also good for storage since you may not really be able to use it for other activities.
In Conclusion
A basement remodel job does not have to cost you an arm and leg. With the right planning and creativity, you can find ways to substitute costly materials with reasonably priced ones. You also should not rush into starting off the project, first seek ideas from creative people as well. It is also important that if the space is small, do not store things you hardly use. Get rid of clutter and remain with only what you need to make that space comfortable and functional. Also, keep your budget realistic on both sides of the scale — not too expensive and not too cheap!