Decorating A Basement On A Budget

Dark TV Area-Accessorize with affordable vintage finds.

It appears counter-intuitive to paint your basement ceiling and walls in such a darkened color, however, stylist Arren Williams maintained the space bright with mood lighting. The undermount light at the high-gloss storage components highlights our ranges, states Williams. This contemporary design has a manly sense without crying out bachelor pad.

Bright Laundry Room-Pinch pennies with MDF cupboards and add your trim.

H&H senior editor Meg Crossley turned into this unfinished basement laundry room to a laundry oasis. Improper venting supposed the washer and dryer needed to be transferred into the opposite wall, in which they're currently concealed by latching doors. Meg also added a convenient sink with a kitchen-worthy faucet, an upper shelf and lower cabinets for additional storage. A builder cut door fronts from MDF, then Meg additional Shaker trim for a personalized look. To give the basement an airy atmosphere, the space was painted white. Sico's Light Sugar (4150-11), an aged white, makes the ceilings seem higher without feeling cold or sterile. The cabinets were painted robin's egg blue for a country-inspired look.

Sewing Room-Make low ceilings appear higher with customized built-ins that maximize vertical space.

This sewing, craft and gift-wrap station was designed into a nook of a basement laundry area. The plans included built-in closets that provide a great deal of storage to organize supplies and seasonal products. Simple Ikea boxes flip the open shelves into a clean display and white paint keeps it clean and glowing. The durable slate floor is sensible and elevates the decor.

Playful Home Office - Embrace brick walls rather than drywalling over them.

A red accent wall adds the appearance of depth to the room and feels daring and cheerful compared to the basement's easy black and white scheme. The gallery wall features original drawings from designer Theresa Casey and her husband, Robert Gray.

Craft Area-Plan for multiuse corners to optimize functionality in a little basement.

This laundry room doubles as a storage space, craft area and wrap centre. Cabinetry built along the walls opposite the appliances holds lightbulbs, batteries, additional garbage bags and other household supplies. A pegboard equipped with hanging containers and tiny sticks keeps craft and wrap materials arranged while an adjoining corkboard displays inspirational photos for artwork and reno jobs. Open shelves were put high on the walls to add storage space without making the small room feel closed in; bins and baskets are used here to keep small items corralled.

Work with plumbing.

Putting this shower beside the pipes shaft left room for a freestanding sink in the little bathroom. New pipes was inserted in the laundry room, and the HVAC ducts were increased into the ceiling joists to allow for as much headroom as possible.