Decorating A Basement On A Budget

High-Low Laundry Room-Dress up basic basement closets with classic drawer pulls.

Designer Theresa Casey renovated her 600-square-foot cellar to add an office, guest bedroom plus luxe laundry area. She saved on cheap white cabinetry but added classic grips, a marble counter tops, a gallery wall and a vintage ladder to generate the utilitarian space look special, look more to homesolutionstulsa.com.

Craft Area-Plan for multiuse corners to maximize functionality in a small basement.

This laundry area doubles as a storage space, craft area and wrap centre. Cabinetry built along the walls opposite the appliances retains lightbulbs, batteries, extra garbage bags and other household materials. A pegboard equipped with dangling containers and small rods keeps craft and wrap materials arranged while an adjoining corkboard exhibits inspirational photographs for artwork and reno jobs. Open shelves were placed high on the walls to add storage space without creating the small room feel closed ; bins and baskets are used here in order to store modest things corralled.

Dark TV Area-Accessorize with cheap vintage finds.

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

Repurpose old furniture instead of buying new.

Gardener and designer Barbara Purdy transformed a wood-burning fireplace to gasoline to create a cosy focus within this room. I couldn't find myself hauling logs down the stairs, she says. Radiant heating installed under the wood-look porcelain-tile flooring adds much more heat. The sofa, a hand-me-down from her parents, was regained and layered with pillows. Tour this basement on Online TV, plus find more inspiration from our photo galleries of Barbara Purdy Designs, Budget Basement Decorating Tips and Suzanne Dimma's Favourite Dreamy Retreats.

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

H&H senior editor Meg Crossley turned this unfinished basement laundry room to a laundry oasis. Improper venting supposed the washer and dryer needed to be moved to the opposite wall, where they're now concealed by latching doors. Meg also included a convenient sink using a kitchen-worthy faucet, an upper shelf and lower closets for extra storage. A builder cut door fronts out of MDF, and then Meg additional Shaker trim for a custom look. To provide the basement an airy feeling, the area had been painted white. Sico's Light Sugar (4150-11), an obsolete white, makes the ceilings look higher without feeling cold or sterile. The cabinets were painted robin's egg blue for a country-inspired appearance.

Lower-Level Guest Bedroom-Wallpaper a wall instead of four.

From the 2009 Princess Margaret Showhome, the reduced level was completed with style. A focal wall has been coated in a textured background while the others were painted a creamy white to optimize light. A chandelier and table lamps make it possible for guests to choose their preferred lighting.