10 DIY Projects To Enhance Your Basement
If your basement is unfinished, it can be difficult to envision it enhanced. However, with a little bit of advice and some professional help, you can build your basement into a usable room. One that is not just a place where you dump your extra stuff into.
1. Painting Finished or Unfinished Basements – The paint-job depends on the area of your basement. An unfinished basement requires a lot of work. You have to find out if it has been painted before because that will determine the number of paint coats. Even with a finished basement, there is a problem of paint penetrating into the wall.
2. Painting Basement With Wall Panels – If your basement walls have wood panels, it is recommended that you hire a professional to finish the paint job. This is because your regular primers won’t work and caulking is necessary. Also, the finish – especially matte finish – is difficult to achieve unless you know what you are doing.
3. Installing Peel and Stick Flooring Tiles – Installing some peel and stick floor tiles is relatively easy, but to ensure that they stay put for a long time, you need to prepare the floors properly. Ensure that you are using the correct and top quality primer, and any condensation issues should be dealt in advance.
4. Using Laminate Basement Flooring – Laminate is perfect for concrete floors if you want your basement to look plush. For even better comfort, it is preferable to add padding under your laminate flooring. The most crucial part is cutting the laminate material correctly, take your time and if you’re not sure call in some help.
5. Adding a Dehumidifier – Even if you undertake any or all of the above projects, you will still have to find a way of getting rid of the infamous ‘basement smell’. This can be done by buying a dehumidifier. Consult a professional to find out the best dehumidifier for the size of your basement.
6. Creating a Basement Garden – A basement garden can be a perfect way of adding some decorations to your basement and getting some fresh produce in return for all your hard work. You can either choose to invest in a hydroponics system or plant your seeds in actual soil. Ask an expert for the best system and lighting source.
7. Installing Fancy Faucets – Installing new faucets can change the look of your basement bathroom. New fixtures, tied in with the proper lighting, can really change the feel of your bathroom. You might want to leave the installation process to professionals because it involves removing the original faucet, handling supply lines, sealing, attaching cold and hot connections and possibly a lot more.
8. Getting New Door Knobs – You can get themed door knobs for a basement so that you can maintain a common look and feel. If you have various rooms and closet doors the themed look adds a nice touch to your basement and brings it all together.
9. Installing Lighting and Dimmer Switches – Changing basement lighting requires keeping a close eye on your budget. That said, even with a small budget, you can add some nice light fixtures and dimmer switches to add some ambiance and a warm feeling to what was a cold damp room. The key here is to go over your options carefully and shop around for the great prices that are out there.
10. Build a Bookshelf – Building a bookshelf can be a very simple project, for some. You need to have a diagram, the wood and the tools to cut the wood and stain, paint and screws to fasten it all together. If you don’t have the right tools or know how you can get lesser quality bookshelves at a low price.
If you are serious about renovating your basement, there are many jobs you can do yourself. There are also a lot of jobs that you will need to consult with a professional or expert about what is best for your basement. Even a fresh coat of paint done by professionals can transform your basement into something wonderfully different. If you really want to make a change maybe it’s time for adding that home theater you always wanted, if so check out our tips for adding a home theater.
