How to upgrade our basement?

[joenali]

We have a daylight basement. For the most part it's finished. It's a little odd. There's a work area and a giant ass closet that we want to get rid of and put a tv on the wall where the work area is. The floors are cement that are painted. I would not get carpeting at all. And for now we don't really need or want to to renovate completely, but want to make the basement more functional. Here's a pic. Any ideas?

[joenali]

Nothing?

[ssmjlm]

Prime and paint the paneling. Add more lighting.

[joenali]

Nov 27, 2015 20:46:10 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

Prime and paint the paneling. Add more lighting.

I like that idea!

[aprilsails]

Definitely paint it brighter. Put down floating floor (laminate) if so inclined.

I can't wait to update our basement next year but we're knocking down walls all over the place to open it up into a great room.

[nursewife]

I used to have panelling like that. I mudded and sanded over all the grooves to make it flat. Primed and painted it. We added a cream/tan mix medium height shag carpet which is warm on the feet, especially in the winter. We have a fireplace as well. I found the light, bright colours really made it a much warmer and inviting place. I hated our rec room before, and really love it now.

[whitemerlot]

I think lighting would be a great first step. We painted the paneling in our old house and it brightened it up a lot. We hired it out because they used a very strong smelling oil based primer. It would probably be good to do it when it's warm enough to have the windows open.

[foodiemom]

I've never heard the term 'daylight basement' - what does that mean?

I would call what you have 'rough finished' - to make it more usable and friendly I would add flooring - tile or laminate if you won't do carpet. Lighten up the walls for sure and add some bright lighting so it doesn't feel like a basement.

Flooring to me is #1. That's what makes it feel usable and finished.

[joenali]

Nov 27, 2015 21:29:57 GMT -5 foodiemom said:

I've never heard the term 'daylight basement' - what does that mean?

I would call what you have 'rough finished' - to make it more usable and friendly I would add flooring - tile or laminate if you won't do carpet. Lighten up the walls for sure and add some bright lighting so it doesn't feel like a basement.

Flooring to me is #1. That's what makes it feel usable and finished.

Daylight means it's not underground.

[foodiemom]

Nov 27, 2015 21:32:20 GMT -5 joenali said:

Nov 27, 2015 21:29:57 GMT -5 foodiemom said:

I've never heard the term 'daylight basement' - what does that mean?

I would call what you have 'rough finished' - to make it more usable and friendly I would add flooring - tile or laminate if you won't do carpet. Lighten up the walls for sure and add some bright lighting so it doesn't feel like a basement.

Flooring to me is #1. That's what makes it feel usable and finished.

Daylight means it's not underground.

Thanks,  I thought that but didn't see a door or window...wait, maybe that is one to the left?

Regardless, my suggestions stand :-).

[joenali]

Nov 27, 2015 21:44:08 GMT -5 foodiemom said:

Nov 27, 2015 21:32:20 GMT -5 joenali said:

Daylight means it's not underground.

Thanks,  I thought that but didn't see a door or window...wait, maybe that is one to the left?

Regardless, my suggestions stand :-).

There's a window and it was already dark out when I took the picture.

[stephm0188]

I agree with painting the paneling.

We put down a plank vinyl floor in our last house's basement. We didn't want to deal with leveling the floor and although the basement was dry, we didn't want to worry about damage if the sump pump failed or water heater leaked. I was really happy with the flooring. It's inexpensive and really warmed the place up.

I think knocking out the closet would open the room up. The support pole is very basement-y. Can you encase it in wood and trim to make it look like a pretty column?

[joenali]

Nov 27, 2015 21:51:05 GMT -5 stephm0188 said:

I agree with painting the paneling.

We put down a plank vinyl floor in our last house's basement. We didn't want to deal with leveling the floor and although the basement was dry, we didn't want to worry about damage if the sump pump failed or water heater leaked. I was really happy with the flooring. It's inexpensive and really warmed the place up.

I think knocking out the closet would open the room up. The support pole is very basement-y. Can you encase it in wood and trim to make it look like a pretty column?

We have a sumo pump is well and worry about sump pump failure and do not want to get carpeting for that reason.

I like the ideas of encasing the pole in something.