When it comes to space in the home, many of us would prefer to move than to make use of wasted spaces like the basement. The dark and underground nature of these is enough to put most of us off even considering them. We associate basements with big spiders, and perhaps even serial killers. After all, this does end up as the setting for many a horror film.
In truth, though, your basement holds all manner of interior possibilities. Focusing efforts here could see you with a stunning space which meets your expansion needs. The sheer size of this area provides a variety of decor opportunities. So, it’s past time you put your prejudice aside and saw your basement for the household beauty it could be.
Of course, most basement spaces aren’t ready to go just like that. That said, the work needed here is rarely as much as you might expect. Given this is the foundation of your house, the flooring and walls are probably pretty solid. You may even find that the following steps are all you need to consider before reaching for those paintbrushes.
Waterproofing
While foundations here are pretty strong, it is worth doing a walk around for damp patches. By their nature, basements can fall foul to this trap. You would get damp, too, with all that earth around you. You especially want to focus on this before painting to avoid wasting your efforts. Damp can destroy new paint and wallpaper in a matter of weeks if you aren’t careful. Instead, then, do a proper inspection. If you do spot issues, turn to a basement waterproofing to sort them out. Then, and only then, can you start decorating.
Lighting
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Your revamped basement won’t be much use if no one can see it. As such, you also want to concentrate on getting the lighting right here. Basements which don’t get much use often have dim lighting which, as well as making it hard to see, adds to that spooky feel. To overcome this and show off your new design, turn to something like pendant lighting. This is a fantastic option here as it’s still a fairly muted choice. Still, it ensures you and everyone else can actually see the effort you’ve put into redecoration. It also ensures you can use this space once you’re finished.
Access
Speaking of using the space, you may also want to look closely at your basement access. Those rickety stairs may serve for the odd use, but they might not hold for regular trips down below. Plus, they won’t fit with your new basement aesthetic. Instead, then, this could become the most extreme job of all. Still, by replacing or at least repairing your stairs, you can complete your look here. The chances are you’ll want to stick with an open wooden staircase to finish that ‘basement appearance’. But, by placing your attention here, you can make sure you don’t risk losing a leg each time you visit your new space.
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