Here’s Your Guide to a Basement Glow-Up

A basement has a reputation, right? It’s either the “storage zone” full of half-used paint cans and holiday decorations, or it’s that slightly creepy space nobody wants to spend time in unless the washing machine is involved (seriously, there’s more than enough scary movies throughout the decades to where you want help but to feel scared when you’re in there). But it’s a nice idea to make every room feel welcoming, right? Like, this is the house that you bought, you shouldn’t have not even one space that makes you feel iffy.

So it makes total sense to not leave the basement looking like an afterthought or anything like that. Besides, nowadays more and more people are actually converting their basement into something a little nicer, be it an “apartment” like space for their adult kids, a living room, bedroom, game room, well, you name it. But what can you do, though, to make sure that none of this is a giant disaster or anything?

You Need to Start with the Basement Problems

Well, it’s tempting to jump straight to furniture and décor, but basements have a few classic issues that’ll ruin the whole plan fast if they aren’t handled. Moisture is the big one (which is probably the most obvious, too). So, if the air feels damp or the walls smell musty, it doesn’t matter how cute the sofa is; nobody’s choosing to relax down there. It just feels really gross instead. So yeah, look for any signs of water intrusion, like staining, peeling paint, a damp corner, or that persistent basement smell that somehow clings to cardboard boxes (or basically everywhere but that happens too). 

Sometimes it can be as simple as just getting a dehumidifier, honestly, everyone should be using these, but not that many people bother to. It helps to seal cracks, or you can just get a contractor to do all the work, because there might be more roadblocks than you might expect. But speaking of hiring a professional, you might need to see if you need radon mitigation or just testing altogether. It’s a pretty unique concern, and no, this isn’t something you should honestly skip out on due to health concerns. Again, it’s rare, but just because it’s rare doesn’t mean it won’t happen to your home. 

Do What You Can to Not Make it Feel Like a Cave

Which is probably a mouthful, but as you know, they’re cold, dark, and damp. Even when finished, they’re still cold and dark. If you can add windows, that would be great, even small ones can help a lot. It helps to add a lot of lighting too, like lamps and sconces rather than just overhead light fixtures. Some people add carpeting and rugs for warmth, but it could help to have your HVAC reach the basement, too. 

What’s Your Useful Layout?

A basement living space works best when it has a purpose. Rather than a vague “extra room,” but a real plan. So, what should the layout be? The whole point is for it to get used often, considering transforming a basement into something like any other room can get expensive. So make sure it’s cut out for your way of life.