7 basem*nt ideas on a budget: chic convenience for the home | homify (2024)

Be it forextra storage, an additional living room, a gourmet kitchen or an addedworkspace, more space is always welcome at home. Oftentimes, spaces like attic&basem*nt offer valuable extra space. Lots of homes have theluxury of a built-in basem*nt. However, very few homeowners actually utilize thespace efficiently. Some of the homeowners may consider the basem*nt simply a storagearea for old junk & a dump for disusedhousehold items. Then there are many of us who don’t know what to do toemploy the space usefully. Moreover, fullydeveloping these spaces could be expensive. Adding up the costs of flooring, framing,drywall, electrical fixtures & finishescan easily make theproject incur a huge expenditure. And if you intend to introduce new decor, itwill be even pricier.

But there are plenty of ways to pimp up & enjoy that below-grade basem*nt space while avoiding a costly full remodeling. Of late, paucity of space has led to a revolution in creativity for home inspiration & basem*nt ideas on a budget are no different. And that iswhy an unfinished basem*nt is a really practical idea endorsed byexperts aswell. Sounds interesting? Read on to have a detailed insight… …

Before contemplating a basem*nt remodel to render it useful & contacting contractors to estimate the costs, it is important to look carefully at the big picture. All of us want that extra space to suit our convenience & comfort and add to the dwelling functionally while respecting the budget constraints. Therefore, it is essential to think if a total basem*nt remodel is AT ALL required.

Partially finishing the basem*nt can offer the desired extra space full of style, warmth & comfort,saving on a total rejig too. Anunfinished basem*nt with its exposed joists & concrete flooring may seem cold, uninviting and dreary. But in reality it is nothing less than a huge blank canvas waiting forsome innovative, inspired ideas & artistic vision. Lots of unfinished basem*nt ideas are there to ensure that it is not reduced to just storing the utilities/ storage boxes. Using these creative ideas& some sincere effort a dingy basem*nt can be converted into a wonderful home space. The small basem*nt living area in this image boasts of restrained furnishings & creative lighting to make it a cozy relaxing space. Old, disused sofas, couches, coffee tables, rugs & lamps can also do the trick.

Whether it is for a private dining room or a private lounge-cum-mudroom, inexpensive basem*nt finishing ideas can help create a personal sanctum.A clean coat of paint is, more often than not, the least expensive & the quickest way to freshen and update any room. If you must use drywall,its limited use can efficiently demarcate spaces, add style & keep costs low.

Another key aspect is the smart use of the color white.This basem*nt living area gets a lot of natural light with the brightness further being amplified by the neutral palette mainly dominated by whites & pastels.

Utilizing that dark basem*nt to make it into a kitchen seems somewhat challenging. But it is a smashing idea to have a gourmet kitchen in the basem*nt, one that plays host to the family get-togethers. Painting the concrete floor in a muted tone, using old chandeliers & disused vintage utensils for a classic touch, installing wooden cabinetry, and adding those unused wrought iron stools, you could save a lot on kitchen accessories. Leaving the ceilings exposed will make for a sumptuous complement.

Using a small nook of this kitchen to have a mini bar, you can add to this inexpensive basem*nt space. Here, you can employ an old coat rack & couple of wall hooks to store the coats & hats. A salvaged wooden pallet box is great idea to hold the empty bottles to be recycled/ reused.

Accommodating kids' stuff could be tricky. From toys to books & crafts, all belongings of your little ones deserve proper storage. A neat little work area in the basem*nt is the ideal spot to organize it all. Creating a focal point is very important; everything can be accordingly arranged tastefully. Here, the focus is the white worktable with those bright bean bag chairs. The walls painted in light tones like whites & pastel hues can ring in a soft suggestion.

Against the white ceiling & walls and white colored shelves of the bookcase, the books & toys inject bold pops of color to make it a trendy space. Using the colorful old area rugs kept unused in the almirah since long, the floor can be creatively covered to give it a stylish touch. Here, the blue & green rugs garb the old yet shiny wooden floor, also taking care of the possible slippery surface of the flooring. Any colorful piece of furniture for which you cannot think of a suitable place to put, can be conveniently employed for this new kids's room in the basem*nt.

If your basem*nt has exposed ceiling joists, they can be painteda deep charcoal, and the modest concrete floor a fun red. Adding interest & utility with wood shelving & quirky or eclectic furniture goes a long way to pep up the space without pricey options.For reclaimed wood board flooring, throw rugs add warmth making itcozy & inviting as well as practical. Additional cabinetry can be installed for the never ending accessories that catch your tot's fancy.

Functional and bringing a lot of value to the home, bathroom is another great option to fill up that basem*nt with a partial finish. Oftentimes basem*nt bathroom additions prove costly, particularly if you don’t already have the plumbing & drainage in place. If you’re lucky enough to have this option, finishing the bathroom on a budget is worthwhile.

The key is to just stick to the basics. Creatively utilizing wood planks, old concrete slabs, glass panes and paint, you can easily have a beautiful & practical bathroom which is warm & functional without high-end finishings. Old lighting fixtures, mirrors & metallic handles can be handy here too!If you are game, adding stock cabinetry for requisite storage, framing the mirror with some antique accessories, and budget lighting can provide modish glitz.

Another unconventional alternative for basem*nt wall material is engineered lumber like oriented strand board (OSB). It is typically employed for subfloors or sheathing in construction. If you want living areas in the unfinished basem*nt and are looking for pocket-friendly ideas, OSB is anunexpectedly low-cost &creative way to cover those simplistic concrete walls and divide your living areas. The key to using a material like OSB is to apply it to a large area, making it clearly obvious as an intentional design choice.

The above ideas show that a partially finished funtional space in the basem*nt, using old, reclaimed, recycled and inexpensive finishing & decoating materials, is a pocket-friendly AND voguish idea provided the right materials & apt creativity are employed to make the space feel adequately homey. This well-equipped gym-cum-recreation room is spacious, bright and inexpensively furnished with salvaged & recycled materials.

Now, beforeyou embark on jazzing up your own basem*nt, take a peek at thesecool basem*nt ideas. And for some more professional guidance, check out our free consultationhere.