Budget Basement Makeover

Budget Basement Makeover

Q: I just finished remodeling my kitchen and no longer have enough funds to finish the basement. Do you have tips for improving an unfinished basement without spending a lot of money?

A: There are three basic tools for making an unfinished basement more appealing: paint, lights, and rugs. To liven up the industrial gray of basement, walls, paint walls a bright color such as yellow. In addition to making the basement more cheerful, this cuts down on dust created as unsealed concrete wears away in tiny amounts over time. Use masonry paint for both walls and floors. You can even paint everything overhead, including the exposed floor joists, pipes, and ducts. (Just be sure to ask your paint store expert to recommend paint that can handle heat if you plan to paint pipes and ducts.)

New lights will also improve the space, but stay away from cheap flickering fluorescents. Instead, consider incandescent can lights that are installed between the floor joists. Hang them so the opening protrudes 1/2 inch lower than the joists to accommodate the thickness of the drywall you may add later when you get more funds. You can hang the lights yourself if you're handy, or hire an electrician.

Finally, add coziness and warmth with rugs or carpet remnants that can be lifted up and washed or replaced if your basement floods or gets wet.