Hello friends and welcome back for another post in my Home Ownership 101 Series. Today I am sharing some ideas for creating usable space in the basement. Our basement waspartially useable, until the ice storms and extra snow and rain this past winter resulted in a leak. We have had to rip up all the laminate flooring in the teen bonus room and since then the basement has been nothing but a big mess. After the leak, we really started thinking of ways to improve the basement to make sure it stays safe and dry. Here are some plans and ideas we have for creating more useable space in the basement.

Preventing Mold

First and foremost, it is important to have clean air in the basement. Molds and mildews are a problem in most basements, even if you can’t see them. Luckily we caught our leak fast and got rid of the wet flooring the very first day, but any kind of moisture can cause potential issues. Since the leak we have decided to waterlox and seal all the walls with a mold barrier primer and paint. Running a dehumider constantly and using an air purifyer helps to prevent mold forming conditions too. Instead of putting down new (waterproof) laminate or tile, we are going to paint the basement floor instead, just to be on the safe side.

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Instead of putting down new (waterproof) laminate or tile, we are going to paint the basement floor instead, just to be on the safe side. We are looking into products create a granite or stone look. We don’t typically have leaks or water problems in the basement, so we can use indoor/outdoor rugs to soften up any areas we want to soften up.

New Windows and Insulation

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Our 100 year old basement windows definitely need to be replaced! They don’t leak, but they are drafty and buggy! I love the idea of having nice basement windows with blinds for privacy. Of course new basement windows will be more energy efficient. In addition to new windows, there are options from www.insofast.com for both interior and exterior insulation panels that could really help make things cozier in the winter and cooler in the summer. These are the types of panels that are also used for insulating shipping containers so they are perfect for making sure things stay safe and dry as well.

Organizing Storage Space

Currently there is abundant storage space in our basement that is not being utilized. There are tons of unorganized totes, old furniture and home decor items lying around. The whole family definitely needs to jump in and declutter toys, sports equipment, holiday decor, etc. in order to have a huge yard sale or donate unused items. After getting rid of the excess, we are looking into building more shelves and purchasing metal shelving units. 

DIY Basement Shelves ~ Remodelando la Casa

Getting things completely dry, cleaned and organized should really be a top priority on the home goals list for the next few months! I have been working little by little to get things ready for a big summer yard sale, so at least it’s a start. As we make progress on the basement, I will share some posts with updates.

Is your basement organized and useable, or is it a creepy dungeon you try to avoid? Let me know in the comments. I love hearing from you!

Thanks for visiting today!