How to Renovate a Finished Basement on a Budget
Most homeowners will tell you that it’s easier to build a basement than to remodel an existing one. It’s understandable considering that you are more budget-conscious when fixing something than when building it from scratch. Well, you don’t have to be scared of the budget if you want to renovate your finished basement. The secret is to find ways to reduce the costs without compromising the structural integrity and aesthetic of your basement. Having said that, here’s a quick guide to use:
A Ceiling on a Budget
The ceiling has to look exquisite—there’s no doubt about it. However, it doesn’t have to be costly. You can invest in low-cost supplies and still achieve a great basement ceiling. Your cheap options include:
- Solid color painting: There are inexpensive paints in your local stores that you can use to transform your basement ceiling into a masterpiece. It’s more cost-effective if compared to fitting drywall.
- Drop Ceiling installation: Though fitting a drop ceiling requires the help of an expert, it’s cheaper than installing drywall. Besides, you can do the installation yourself if you are handy.
Flooring on a Budget
Investing in floor carpeting can be expensive as carpet tiles don’t come cheap. Nonetheless, you don’t have to do it just because you want an aesthetic flooring solution. There are equally aesthetic and affordable alternatives. Here are your options:
- Vinyl flooring: Vinyl flooring is reasonably durable, water-resistant, and aesthetic. More importantly, it’s an inexpensive flooring solution that you can invest in. So, you can consider it over carpet tiles.
- Washable rags: If you are afraid that your floor is extremely cold, you can lay washable rags. Other than being cheap, the solution is also a flexible one since you can wash the rags whenever you want.
- Laminate flooring: Like vinyl flooring, laminate flooring is cheap and practical. It can withstand scratches and moisture damage. It’s also an aesthetic option that will improve the style of your basement.
Walls on a Budget
Like the ceiling, the walls are another area of the basement where so much money can be spent if you are not careful. The good news is that there are ways to remodel the areas cheaply. Your options include:
- Painting: If you decide to paint the ceiling, then you can as well paint the walls. It’s a DIY project that can save you some reasonable amount of cash. It’s generally advisable to use the same color as that of the ceiling.
- Selective drywall installation: On average, it cost $1.50/square foot to install drywall while it cost $1.00/square foot to paint the wall. So, you can reduce the drywall cost if you paint some parts of the wall instead of installing drywall everywhere.
- Room dividers: If you want something similar to drywall panels on your walls, you should consider room dividers. They are easy to fit, so you can do the installation yourself.
- Wooden shutters: Wooden shutters are not just cheap but also practical for the walls. You can fit them on your basement walls and paint them however you want.
Generally, renovating a finished basement doesn’t have to be expensive. You don’t have to go broke over it. As seen in the above guide, you can do it on a budget and still create a better-looking and practical basement.
