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Easy DIY Budget Basement Makeover Ideas & Tips

Do you have a basement that could use a refresh? Learn how you can cheaply makeover your basement to create a room in your home the whole family will love. Whether you have a big basement or a smaller one, DIY projects can help you keep your basement renovation low budget.

DIY white built-ins along basement wall under television.

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are our own. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Read our full privacy policy.

The “Before” Basement

Here are a few home improvement projects we used in our basement space. Luckily, half of our basement was “finished” but completely dated. These few DIYs and products helped us to complete a low-budget basement remodel ourselves.

Design Your Basement

Do you have separate rooms in your basement or do you have some of your space in an unfinished basement? One of the main priorities in our basement was to designate specific areas for different things.

Our basement makeover incorporated remodeling spaces that were finished, adding a creative space for our children and creating a home gym on the other side of our basement.

Easy Ways to Cheaply Makeover A Basement

  1. Redo old and dusty drop ceiling tiles
  2. Replace flooring if needed (luckily our carpet was in good enough shape)
  3. Paint or get rid of wallpaper
  4. Paint or update some of the basement molding, doors or beams. Making a few things white can really enhance a space!
  5. Add extra storage space in your basement
  6. Add extra living spaces, such as a bedroom
  7. Decorate using items you already have and enjoy your space for your family
  8. Create a home gym space
collage of budget basement DIY projects.

#1: Redo Basement Drop Ceiling

Our basement had a drop ceiling and probably the construction grade for all homes built in the 1990s. I researched all sorts of different ways to redo the drop ceiling. Here are a few of the best ways to makeover your basement ceiling.

Option 1: Remove The Drop Ceiling and Paint The Ceiling

Tear out the drop ceiling and paint all pipes and wood black or a solid color of your choice. If this painting method sounds appealing, here are a few tips from the bloggers at One Project Closer.

Pros

  • Gain extra footage in your ceiling height
  • No longer have a drop ceiling
  • Looks nice when done

Cons

  • Have to tear out the current system
  • It is best if you spray the paint (therefore requires a lot of prep work/cover current materials, extra soundproofing from tiles gone

Option 2: Paint Current Tiles

Paint the current basement drop ceiling tiles. You could prop the tile up or take them out and paint before placing them back in.

Pros

  • Pretty inexpensive
  • Can also leave them in the grids if you prop them up when painting.

Cons

  • Time-consuming
  • Still may not look the best

Option 3: Drywall The Basement Ceiling

This would also involve removing the drop ceiling grids and tiles.

Pros

  • Professional looking

Cons

  • Expensive to have someone else do
  • Have to demo the current ceiling
  • Time-consuming
  • May be unable to reach basement pipes or electrical wires easily

Option 4: Add New Ceiling Tiles

There are a variety of styles and designs to help modernize your basement ceiling.

Pros

  • Looks professional
  • Brightens up space
  • Can easily order boxes of 10 tiles at a time
  • Easy to install
  • Limited skill level needed
  • Limited mess

Cons

  • It still takes time to replace all ceiling tiles but not nearly as much as tearing the whole system out and then doing something else
  • It is not as cheap as painting the existing tiles

Easiest Way To Redo A Drop Tile Ceiling

We chose to cover the existing tiles. This drop ceiling product was absolutely awesome.

You can just take the old ones out, but we decided to keep the old drop ceiling tile and just add these covers. As you can see in the picture, it really brightens our space.

The tiles come in 2′ x 2′ covers or 2′ x 4 depending on your current grid set-up.

new drop ceiling tiles on part of ceiling with old ones in two spots in basement.

Tile Installation

The full ceiling tiles were pretty easy to install. I worked in small sections. You take the one old tile down and add the cover. You can place both back into the grid or just the new tiles. If one needs to be cut, use scissors to carefully cut a cover to match the existing tile.

Celuime Stratford Ceiling Tiles in DIY Basement Makeover.

It was amazing that just a nice pair of scissors. You do have to be careful not to cut the tile too small. It will hang down if it doesn’t fit in your current drop ceiling tracks.

I cannot say enough about how much this simple drop ceiling cover product, changed the look of our basement. Once you have a bright white ceiling, you will realize how much your old one was dated and dingy.

Other Drop Ceiling Tiles To Consider

And if you are a price comparer like myself, links to see how much you will pay for the product we used.

Amazon

Home Depot

Lowe’s

I never thought I would LOVE vinyl drop ceiling tiles so much! The best part about our ceiling makeover is that I was able to do a large area all by myself with limited tools. Just take your time and work in sections and you can get a new modern look.

basement drop ceiling with white vinyl drop ceiling tiles in most parts.

Grid Covers

You can also purchase this product by Ceilume to help cover up your drop ceiling grids. One day we might do it. It does look super nice, but right now it is not high on our priority list.

#2 Basement Wall Makeover

Our basement had ugly ’90s wallpaper throughout the living space. One of my friends said that it looked like it came out of the TV show, Full House (not Fuller House). I had to update it, but when I tried to take a little off using traditional methods, it just didn’t seem to work. 

Use A Wallpaper Sealer

Obviously, the most ideal situation is to fully remove your wallpaper. However, it was impossible in our basement without completely tearing up the drywall underneath.

We had to research what to do with wallpaper and found an oil-based sealer would work.

Man using wallpaper sealer on top of old wallpaper before painting.

Recommended Sealers

  • This sealer would work just as well. It is the counterpart to the SW brand that we used.
  • We found our wallpaper sealer at Sherwin Williams. If you go and ask them about what product they recommend, they will guide you to it. Just make sure you work in a well-ventilated area or that you take a lot of breaks when using the product.
partially painted basement wall with grayish paint.

How To Use The Sealer

Before beginning to use the sealer, you want to sand the wallpaper seams. Then you simply roll it out like you would with regular paint.

For a basement, I think it was a perfect solution for our living space. It was a much better solution than trying to take all the wallpaper down and having to patch all the basement walls. 

Gray walls painted after wallpaper sealer with chair in basement

After it was done, we used a nice neutral, but cool gray.  As you can see in the above picture, you really can’t tell that there is wallpaper under the layer of gray paint.

If your basement does not get a lot of natural light, then you want to probably want to consider using a light color.

#3 Update Some Wood Molding & Doors

In this house, we had OAK molding and doors everywhere! It is very time consuming and a little messy to add a fresh coat of paint to all the molding when you have the carpet already there. I really did not want to have to paint all the molding for this basement makeover.

We chose to paint only the columns and doors instead of all the molding. I am happy with that decision and like to have some warmth in the wood in our basement.

How To Paint Oak Molding

  1. Use a deglossing agent to wipe down boards
  2. Apply a bonding primer with a brush
  3. Use a white enamel paint in 2 coats (at least)

Not only does it take time to carefully do this, but you have to wait for each layer of paint to dry before you can do the next step.

Instead of painting everything white, I decided to follow the steps listed above to make my doors and columns white and leave the molding. This simple painting home improvement project really updated the space while saving us time.

White bonding primer applied to wooden posts and doors for diy bathroom makeover.

For the doors and columns, the only difference was that I used a small foam roller to apply the primer and enamel paint. I did have to trim around the columns so that I can leave the top and bottom of the molding the wood color.

My days of getting rid of oak molding may be coming to an end after doing every single piece in two houses recently.

White column with oak molding in DIY basement remodel.

#4: Create Budget Built-in Storage

Again, I looked all over Pinterest and Google to find inexpensive ways to add extra space for storage to our basement. There are IKEA hacks I considered and different ways to create more storage. We decided that we wanted a more custom look than just taking a piece of Ikea furniture and redoing it.

Upper Cabinets used for DIY built-in cabinets

An affordable way to create DIY built-in cabinets is by using stock upper kitchen cabinets as base cabinets. Before my husband could install the cabinets, he had to create a base using 2’ x 4s, so that the cabinets would be off the ground and at the proper height.

doors on of white cabinets resting on floor in basement entertainment center.

Stock upper cabinets purchase options

*We also used unprimed stock wood cabinets to add laundry room storage and shelving

Before You Order

Before you order cabinets (they will even ship to you for free from most places), you will need to figure out the size of the cabinets that you want.

Because you are using standard sizes, you have to consider how many cabinets you can fit along your wall. You may have to add extra wood in the edges to make it work for your space.

Our DIY built-in design had one large cabinet that opened from the middle to store a variety of toys and things. We then added smaller single cabinets to the sides to complete our basement storage.

Get Your Cabinets Level

The biggest challenge with installing any cabinets is to make sure they are level before securing them to the wall. You may have to use shims (or small wooden chips to make sure the first one is level before instilling more). 

Wood being stained for tops of DIY built-in cabinets

Add A Top To The Cabinets

We then stained to 2 1’ thick, 8″ wide, and 10 ft. long poplar boards to create the top of our DIY built-in entertainment and toy storage center. Once the cabinets were installed, we used wood glue and a few finishing nails to secure the top of the cabinets.

Cabinet Finishing Touches

  • Add quarter-round to cover any gaps due to our basement wall not being completely square. And let’s face it, no wall is!
  • Add hardware (we used) and you have your own DIY built-in storage to help keep your basement organized.
DIY built-in storage cabinet in a budget basement makeover.

#5: Organize Your Storage Area

My husband and I were going to add other shelving on top but then decided we really didn’t need it. It was a great way to add a more built-in look on a budget.

I have even made some of my own storage containers out of boxes to add another touch of inexpensive DIY solutions for inside the cabinets. 

DIY Basement Makeover using white cabinets to create DIY built-ins below tv.

#6: Create A Craft Area For Kids

Before our budget-friendly basement makeover, we knew we had to figure out what to do with an ugly room right off the main basement area. This basement room used to be an old office with green golf wallpaper.

Therefore, we sealed the wallpaper using the steps above and drop ceiling covers to modernize this basement space. We then worked to create a fun craft room for our children.

basement kid craft room with blue accent wall, painted chairs and l-shaped desk.

#7: Work With Existing Features

This basement also has a bathroom that was in need of a low cost remodel. You can read all about the DIY projects we were able to take on. By working with the existing cabinet and light fixture we were able to renovate this space for under $300.

blue painted cabinets with green wall and carpet with before and arrow pointing to remodeled black and white bathroom.

#8: Create A Home Gym

Adding carpet tiles to the concrete floor on the unfinished side of our basement created a workout space to add our gym equipment. This easy DIY project was a good idea because you can always replace individual carpet squares if needed.

basement home gym with carpet squares.

#9: Decorate For A Finished Look

Add Artwork

There are so many fun DIY projects that we did to change this room. From our large string art to using these record cover frames to add DIY artwork to the walls.

Add Areas Rugs

Sometimes you can’t replace your basement flooring. While we would love brand-new flooring, it just wasn’t in the budget. Adding area rugs in your large basement will help break up the space and create different zones. For example, this rug was placed with a sectional to create a family room vibe.

Sectional couch with painted column in a DIY basement makeover on a budget.

Follow us on Pinterest, Youtube or Facebook for more DIY inspiration!

Basement Makeover FAQs

How can I make the basement feel brighter and more spacious without adding windows?

Using light colors on your walls, ceiling, and even in your decor can help to make a basement feel brighter and more spacious without adding windows. You can also install ample lighting fixtures, use mirrors & artwork strategically, and declutter the space to maximize openness.

How can I make my old basement look nice while staying on budget?

Do-it-yourself projects such as painting, adding extra storage, decorating, and adding new light fixtures can really make an impact in your old basement. Updating your ceiling or flooring with budget-friendly materials can help to cheaply makeover your space. Lastly, create functional zones within the basement, designating areas for different activities like a TV or entertainment zone, a reading nook, or a mini home office to fully utilize all the available space.

Related DIYs

What is your favorite DIY home makeover project? I always get a thrill when I am able to transform something in our home so cheaply. Our DIY budget basement makeover really gave us more space to create a kid’s area, home gym and living area that we needed!

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38 Comments

  1. I love this. You guys did a great job. I love the tips to keep it in budget!

    1. Thanks, Amy. I love when DIY projects are pretty inexpensive!

  2. Great tips for anyone looking to remodel their basement! Thank you!

    1. Thanks, Lissa. I am always looking for inexpensive and DIY ways to update any room in our house!

    2. Andrea Voros says:

      It looks so cozy and welcoming. Very nice makeover. You can even rent it out. 🙂

      1. Thanks, Andrea. We love that we were able to make extra space for our family to use in our basement.

  3. We redid our outdated-but-finished basement recently too! I had never even heard of drop ceiling covers. They look great! We went with removing the drop ceiling and painting black (a lot of work) and we didn’t have wall paper but we had chair rail that we removed. We also installed cheap LVP from Floor and Decor. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Awesome work! Yes, I think since our system was still in place, the new tiles were the easiest thing for us. I did not want to have to paint and create a large mess since we were keeping the carpet that was there.

  4. Jenn Summers says:

    I love the vinyl ceiling tiles they look so expensive! And that storage is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had a basement this space is so family functional. Great job, Erin!

    1. Hi Jenn. One of the reasons we bought this house was because it had such a large basement. We just needed to update it and make it work for our family!

      1. Jenn Summers says:

        That is smart thinking! Definitely, something we will look for if and when we decide to move from our home. Our town actually does not have a lot of basements because of flooding. We have a dirt basement that is just gross. I often think of filling it in and moving the gas and water into the stairwell. But that’s a huge cost haha.

        1. Hi Jenn! We were lucky that this basement was “finished” and just needed updating. I don’t have any experience with dirt basements. Our old house was a on a crawl space, but the ground was still concrete.

  5. Those drop ceiling tiles look amazing! Such a great change on a budget and they sound really easy to install. Where did you get your artwork from? Or did you DIY it?

    1. Hi Rachel! I am an artist/teacher from a family of artists! So the paintings in this post that you see are some of my dad’s that he did in college. I love using all our artwork in our home decor!

  6. Love this!!!!!!! Definitely subscribing to your site for some DIY inspiration 🙂

    1. Hi Monica! Thanks for the kind words! I do love sharing DIY ideas that do not break the bank!

  7. Christine says:

    Love these ideas – super practical and informative article! Now I want to go redo everything!! Definitely will be checking out your blog for more DIY how-to posts!

    1. Hi Christine! Thanks for the kind words. I love sharing practical DIY ideas that are pretty inexpensive.

  8. Beautiful space! What a great spot for your family to enjoy time together. You’ve encouraged me to finish our basement sooner than later!

    1. Hi Melissa! Thanks for the kind words. We do hope this basement space will be able to grow with us throughout the years. I am sure more DIY projects will be added a little by little to make it exactly what we want!

  9. Fantastic stuff! I wouldn’t have thought it was a basement at all. We have a lot of building and decorating to do in our house and I’m definitely going to keep your tips in mind.

    1. Hi Eliza! I am so happy you didn’t think this was a basement as that was the whole point of doing all these DIY projects! We love having one more space that we can use as a family!

  10. Great tips! I wasn’t sure if you could paint ceiling tiles or not, but we have a few tiles that have been cut to fit specific shapes that need something done with them. I may try that rather than buying new ones and having to cut them exact. At least if it doesn’t work, I won’t be out a lot of money.

    1. Hi Sherry! The covers I mentioned are able to be cut with scissors. You can just take your existing tiles down and lay on top of the covers as a template to make sure you get the right size. Good luck with painting or redoing your drop ceiling however you choose!

  11. Mallie Miller says:

    You did a great job in renovating the basement! All in a budget too! Really interested now in that drop ceiling tiles! Well done!

    1. Hi Mallie! Feel free to ask me any questions about the drop ceiling tiles. I did a lot of research before I finally went with the new drop ceiling tiles that covered my old and gross ones! We love that people love our DIY basement makeover that didn’t break the bank!

  12. Oh man it looks so good!! I wish I had a basement.

    1. Hi Sydney. Thanks for the nice comment. I am so happy we bought a house with a basement, even if we had to do a little DIY basement makeover!

  13. Brenda Bunney says:

    Hi,

    We’ve done several DYI home projects. Always seems to be a combined effort of hiring some pros and us 🙂 I wish I’d know about that wall covering for existing wallpaper several years ago! It’s all gone now! Thank heaven’s and I feel your pain. Man we needed it! And your ceilings look great. I’d never thought of that! Awesome job.

    1. Hi Brenda! Some DIY projects are worth asking for help. We for sure have experienced that is all of our home projects. Thanks for the kind words. I really couldn’t get over how a drop ceiling makeover changed our basement.

  14. I love this, it looks stunning. Thank you for sharing.

    1. Thanks, Renicia. I am glad that you loved our DIY basement makeover!

  15. Lisa Alioto says:

    Love your ideas – they all seem so doable by the average person. I love that – it gives me hope!

    1. Hi Lisa! Yes, I would say all of these DIY basement makeover tips are very doable!

  16. Gina Abernathy/ homeatcedarspringsfarm.com says:

    Looks great! My basement is also on my list of things to do. Right now, it is a catch all for everything. 🙂

    1. Hi Gina! I know how difficult it is to keep things organized. We just really needed space in our basement for our kids to go! It is nice that we were able to do that pretty cheaply!

    1. Hi! I am so glad you approve of our DIY basement makeover!