21 Cheap Basement Makeover Ideas: DIY your Space on a Budget

Check out these 21 cheap basement makeover ideas to help inspire you to recreate the space in your unfinished basement too! 

Check out how we turned our creepy basement into our favorite place to spend time together with this comprehensive list of cheap basement makeover ideas.

Our basement remodel started as soon as we found out we were expecting our 2nd son. With our growing family, we needed a versatile space where the boys could play safely and a new area to store our belongings, as our spare room (now the nursery) was used as our dumping ground.  

Our vision was to create a multifunctional basement that includes a cozy living area, play area, guest bedroom, home office, designated storage room and home gym (eventually)—all while keeping the project as cheap as possible.

Determined to achieve a beautiful and functional transformation without breaking the bank, we set out to design a space that meets our family’s needs and stays within our budget.

Like most home improvement projects go, we learned a lot and are excited to share it.

This post is all about cheap basement makeover ideas! Transform your Unfinished Basement into your dream family hangout spot! 

Unfinished Basement Flooring Solutions

1. Concrete Floor Finish

To save money, we decided not to cover our concrete floor with carpet tiles or laminate flooring. Since our basement has flooded before, we wanted to avoid the hassle of ripping it up in the future. Instead, we rented a concrete sander, sanded the flooring, and then applied an acid wash stain. This not only protected the concrete floor but also gave it a finished look.

2. Area Rugs

For added comfort, we invested in a really nice area rug for the couch area. I highly recommend shopping at your local furniture stores for rugs—you can find high-quality options at better prices! I also plan to replace some of my area rugs upstairs and move the old ones to the basement in areas like the guest bedroom and home gym.  Area rugs are a great way to separate the different areas of the basement. 

3. Large Carpet Remnant

As mentioned earlier, we didn’t want to install any permanent flooring, so we bought an extra-large carpet remnant for the play area from a local discounted hardware store. It was a great way to add softness and warmth without a big investment.

4. Foam Padding

We made sure to add extra padding in the play area and living space to keep our wild boys from hurting themselves when they’re horsing around. This adds a literal extra layer of comfort to the space, making it safer and more enjoyable for everyone.

Wall Treatments

5. Paint the Concrete Basement Walls

Instead of insulating the entire basement, we painted the exterior concrete walls to match the color of the insulated interior walls. This was an inexpensive way to make a huge difference. A fresh coat of paint really does wonders, doesn’t it? 

6. Don’t Be Afraid to Go Dark!

We decided to paint the ceiling and fireplace flat black, while choosing SW Urbane Bronze for the remaining walls. At first, I considered using a light color or even white paint to brighten up the space. However, I’m so glad we opted for a moody industrial vibe instead—it makes the basement feel incredibly cozy and inviting.

7. Create a Feature Wall

Who needs a home theater when you have a 70” TV on black shiplap? I love this feature wall in the living room. It helps balance the fact that we didn’t fully finish the entire basement and adds the wow factor the space needed.

Ceiling Enhancements

8. Sprayed Ceiling

Instead of installing a drop ceiling, we chose to spray the ceiling with flat black paint. When doing this, make sure to use dry-fall paint to avoid drips and mess. I love the industrial vibe it gives the whole basement space!

Lighting Improvements

9. Install Inexpensive Light Fixtures

We saved a ton on lighting by ordering a value pack of 12 ultra-thin recessed lights from Amazon. The new lights look great and were super affordable! We might upgrade a few of the existing bulbs later, but for now, they do the job perfectly.

10. Reused Lighting We Already Have

To brighten up some of the darker spots, we reused a few floor lamps we already had. They added just the right amount of extra light without any extra cost.

Furniture and Decor

11. Shop Around for Discounted Furniture

Since we needed a couch for our basement remodel, we didn’t want to spend too much but still wanted something big and comfy. After visiting several stores, we finally found  big blue. Initially, I was unsure about the color, but when I realized we could buy two for the same price as all the other couches we were considering, I was sold. We combined them into a giant U-shaped couch, which has become my favorite place to hang out.

12. Reuse Old Furniture

To save money, we reused some of our older pieces, such as an old mattress for the spare room, an old desk and bookshelf for the home office area, and old rugs as well. This not only cut costs but also gave new life to our existing furniture.

13. Inexpensive Window Treatments

Our basement windows don’t offer the best view, so we covered them with light, flowy fabric to maximize natural light. For the smaller windows, we bought one set of curtains and cut and sewed them into three sections to achieve the desired length, as most were either too short or too long.

14. Wait to Buy Your TV

We researched the best times to purchase TVs and waited until we found a large one on sale. I’m glad we waited because this TV really makes our basement living room feel like a home theater.

Cheap Storage Space Solutions

15. Cube Shelving

We quickly needed some immediate storage solutions, so I purchased two cube shelves for the play area to hide  behind one side of the couch, effectively hiding a bunch of toys. Cube shelves are my favorite toy storage solution because a variety of bins and baskets fit perfectly in them, keeping all our toys sorted and organized.

16. Tote Wall

The tote wall was the first project in our basement conversion. My goal was to store 90% of our items in this space, and I’ve come very close. It also helped us purge a lot of unnecessary junk, making the area much more manageable.

17. Build DIY Storage Solutions

Instead of hiring someone to install custom storage, we saved a lot of money by building our own tote wall. We also plan to add a shelving system in the play area, continuing our DIY approach to keep costs low and storage efficient. I love this idea I found on Katie Maynard’s IG.

Other Ways We Saved

18. Phasing Out the Basement Remodel

We approached the basement renovation in phases rather than tackling the entire basement all at once. This strategy allowed us to spread out expenses and manage the project more effectively over a lot of time.

19. DIY’ed Everything

To cut down on labor cost, we decided to handle the entire renovation ourselves without hiring any professionals. While this made the project take longer (we’re still not completely finished), it saved us a significant amount of money!

Future Ideas

20. Home Gym… Kind of

We ran out of space to create a full home gym in the basement, so I’m planning to set up a workout area in the spare room using my workout cart for now. It stores our weights, shoes, mats, and resistance bands. Eventually, I’d like to add a treadmill, but I’ll need to find one that folds up for easier storage.

21. Add a DIY Bar Area

In our next phase, we plan to build a small DIY bar area. Our basement has an odd concrete tip-out sticking out, and instead of letting it feel awkward, we intend to repurpose it to designate the bar space. This will make the area both functional and visually appealing.

22. Create a Play Area that Grows with the Kids

Currently, our play area is perfectly set up for toddlers, but we kept the space fairly open so we can easily transition and change things as our boys grow older. I envision transforming it into a future game room that includes a pool table and ping pong table. By maintaining a flexible layout now, we can adapt the space to meet our kids’ evolving interests and needs without major renovations down the line.

Share your Cheap Basement Makeover Ideas

Transforming an unfinished basement into a cozy and functional space is entirely achievable without breaking the bank. With these 21 cheap basement makeover ideas, you can create a versatile area that perfectly fits your family’s needs and lifestyle. From innovative flooring and wall treatments to smart storage solutions and DIY projects, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to personalize your basement.

Just like we turned our once creepy basement into our favorite family hangout spot, you too can achieve a beautiful and practical basement remodel by planning carefully, being resourceful, and taking it one step at a time. Embrace the process, get creative, and enjoy the satisfaction of making your basement a welcoming extension of your home. Happy DIY-ing!

As always, thank you for following along with me in my creative journey. Be sure to tag me and use #meagannicholedotcom when sharing your DIY! Thanks for stopping by MeaganNichole.com

DISCLAIMER: Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! Thank you for supporting, so I can continue to provide you with free content each week!