10 Common Basement Renovation Mistakes Homeowners Make, According to Experts

This ultra-cheap basement remodel heavily relies on IKEA furniture and Flor carpet squares to create a clean, functional space for working and for storage. It’s a remodel that quickly addresses a pressing need, yet leaves open possibilities for future fixes. Low-Cost Basement Remodel from Young House Love

10 Basement Remodels You Have to See

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years.

Basements can be daunting spaces for remodeling. Cluttered and dark, basements often convince homeowners to turn their attention to other projects in the home. But they can be remodeled and finished so that they not only integrate with the rest of the home but become beautiful and valuable assets to the property. Check out these amazing basement remodels to inspire your own project.

Before: Basement Ready for Change

This basement space was already in solid, build-ready condition when Beth, at the design blog Unskinny Boppy, decided to turn it into a home office for her husband. The first goal of any basement remodel is to decide how to finish the large surfaces: flooring, walls, and ceiling. In a completely unfinished basement, the floor may be concrete, the walls concrete block or bare studs, and the ceiling joists of the floor above. Once the major surfaces have been installed, the area can be remodeled just like any other area of the home. The challenge: Beth needed to confront the issue of the adjustable jacks that were bracing one of the home’s beams.

After: Stately Man-Office

After Beth designed this office with decidedly masculine features, she christened it a “man-office,” with its emphasis on wood features, strong colors, and sports. Leaving the ceiling open (but painted), with visible heating ductwork, pares down the budget considerably. One solution to adjustable jacks is to tuck them away behind walls. Or, run another beam to supplement the sagging beam. Basement Remodel Man-Office from Unskinny Boppy

Before: Wood Paneling Overload

The basement space was large enough and showed promise, but it had one major flaw, as far as owner Heather of the design blog The Heathered Nest was concerned: it was seriously ugly. In fact, she calls it the “worst basement you’ve ever seen.” The challenge: Strip the fake wood paneling and install drywall.

After: Basement Room For a Family

Now that this basement has been remodeled, it is a beautiful, comfortable, and bright space. The centerpiece is a spacious charcoal, tufted velvet sectional sofa that invites the family to gather, play, socialize, and relax together. The super-furry rug lends an air of fun to the room. Wood paneling is gone, replaced by drywall. Drywall offers far more design options, since it can be painted. Basement Remodel from The Heathered Nest

Before: Scary and Uninhabitable

Can anything good be said about this basement? Walls are bare, ceiling open, and flooring unfinished. Fortunately, design blogger Kat, along with husband Mitch, had enough vision to see beyond this basement’s dark, dungeon-like state. The challenge: What to do with all of that cinderblock?

After: Transformed Basement

The result is nothing short of a total basement transformation. Kat and Mitch created multiple zones for multiple needs: half for entertainment and relaxing, half for working. The work zone was even further divided into hers-and-his areas. Kat wisely added tons of light to cheer up the basement, including recessed lights and a chandelier. Cinderblock or any kind of masonry basement wall can be covered with rigid foam insulation and steel framing studs. Basement Total Remodel from Maple Leaves and Sycamore Trees

Before: Cavernous Basement Remodel

While the area was big enough and ripe for a basement remodel, it had a lot of challenging aspects, including an obtrusive crawlspace door and a looming HVAC system that was hanging down from the ceiling. An even more challenging aspect: the jack-posts, or adjustable steel columns, shoring up the floor above. These posts could not be removed since they were structurally necessary.

After: Favored Hang-Out Spot

It was the start of a year-and-a-half basement finishing project, but it was well worth all of the effort. Jamin and Ashley of the home design blog The Handmade Home began by installing drywall over the cinderblock walls, applying spray foam insulation, and enclosing the necessary but ugly supporting adjustable steel posts. Next came paint, flooring, and furniture, all fusing together to make a lovely daylight basement for work and play. Basement Remodel from The Handmade Home

Before: Incomplete

The basement provided space for kids to romp around and play. But that’s all it was: space. Home design gurus Chris and Julia decided that it was time to fill it out and give the space more utility and function. They already had a good start, as the walls, ceiling, and floor were finished.

After: Basement Room for All

With all of the kids’ play equipment banished to the backyard, Chris and Julia’s basement remodel is a prime example of how to re-purpose a largely ignored area of the home. A giant sectional sofa invites family to gather, nibble, talk, and play games. Stylish pendant lights, along with recessed lights, brighten and cheer up the space. Family Room Basement Remodel from Chris Loves Julia

Before: Bare Bones

This basement couldn’t even be used for storage because it was too damp and moldy. Design experts John and Sherry of the popular blog Young House Love first had to apply Drylok moisture-sealing paint to the cinderblock walls and regrade the exterior ground to promote drainage away from the house.

After: Bargain Basement Remodel

This ultra-cheap basement remodel heavily relies on IKEA furniture and Flor carpet squares to create a clean, functional space for working and for storage. It’s a remodel that quickly addresses a pressing need, yet leaves open possibilities for future fixes. Low-Cost Basement Remodel from Young House Love

Before: Dark and Depressing Basement

This basement didn’t have much going for it. The area was too dark, gloomy, and very rough around the edges. But the homeowner had a vision for a bright, sparkling multi-purpose room.

After: Stunning Basement Remodel

Post-remodel, this basement is now very easy on the eyes and nothing short of incredible. Now, the kids can play contentedly for hours on rainy days. Plus, with the addition of a guest bedroom and full kitchen, the basement can accommodate in-laws when they come to visit. Kid-Friendly Basement Remodel from Mommy Shorts

Before: Tired and Cluttered Basement

The basement had definite potential, but it was dark and cluttered. It needed some major help before it could be transformed into the comfortable family area that the homeowners dreamed of.

After: Stylish and Cheery Basement Remodel

Out with the old and in with the new for this revamped basement. The ratty brown carpeting was ripped out and replaced with luxury vinyl plank flooring. A fresh coat of white ceiling paint dials up the light by reflecting ambient as well as the artificial light from the industrial-look ceiling fixtures. Family Room Basement Remodel from Old House to New Home

Before: Finished but Hardly Done

A finished basement is not always the same thing as a designed basement. Sometimes, the basement begins with the basics: walls, a ceiling, lights, and a floor. But that is little more than a box; you need more than that. Gwen Hefner and husband Micah wanted to turn their tiny, airless basement space into a comfortable mancave. They had the basics to start with. The next step, Gwen says, would be a true test to her design skills.

After: Basement Remodel Mancave

Because this basement space was so small, Gwen says that her main concern was creating interest and warmth. She eliminated those worries by creating wainscot-style paneling from Metrie. But the brilliant trick she employed to disguise the too-low ceiling was to paint the walls and ceiling the same color (Farrow and Ball, Elephant’s Breath). Painting the ceiling white and the walls a different color would have created a horizontal line. The eye would use this line to establish the height of the ceiling. Instead, walls and ceiling blur together, making the ceiling look higher than it really is. The ceiling fan came down, too. Ceiling fans are a tight fit in most basement remodels, where inches of vertical height are always at a premium. The 8-inch drop of a ceiling fan can render a large section of a basement unusable. Basement Mancave Remodel from The Makerista

Before: Storage Zone

As a busy Mom of three kids, wife, and a very active lifestyle blogger, Landeelu Anderson didn’t exactly have a lot of time to tend to her packed basement. But as an ardent believer in clearing the clutter from one’s home, life, and mind, she knew that it was time to act. She had her work cut out for her. The challenge: Before anything, she had to evict all of that clutter.

10 Common Basement Renovation Mistakes Homeowners Make, According to Experts

Avoid these pitfalls when you’re overhauling your home’s subterranean level.

Wendy Rose Gould is a veteran freelance lifestyle reporter based in Phoenix, Ariz. with over 10 years of experience. She covers home, wellness, beauty, and travel for outlets such as Martha Stewart, Real Simple, Insider, TODAY, Bustle, TripSavvy, The Zoe Report, and others. Whether ruminating about interior design with the influential leaders in the industry, on the ground at NYFW talking trends with beauty and fashion pros, or venturing to a new corner of the world, she’s always eager to report on the latest and greatest.

Basements can easily turn into dead space. They might serve as a catch-all area for extra stuff you don’t know what to do with—or they might be utilized as a makeshift laundry room, home office, gym, or playroom hybrid without a clear purpose or aesthetic.

Reclaiming your basement—and investing time and energy into a renovation—is worth it: It adds valuable square footage to your home. It also means that you can create a subterranean space that is as functional as it is beautiful. Beautifully finished basements can even boost your home’s value should you decide to sell in the future.

The prospects of a basement renovation are exciting, but just like any home improvement project, it’s important to go into the process with a plan. Doing so prevents you from falling into common pitfalls that can ultimately cost you time, money, and peace of mind. We spoke to interior designers and contractors about the biggest basement renovation mistakes they see homeowners make—so you can head into this project with confidence.

Going Full DIY Without the Skill Set

The question of hiring a contractor or going the DIY route will inevitably come up as you contemplate a basement renovation. Ultimately, what you decide depends on your existing skill set, personal determination, and comfort level. “This is always a tricky question, because only you know how handy you are and how much time you can realistically commit to your renovation,” says interior designer Shivani Vyas.

You may feel comfortable enough to complete a full renovation independently—or you may only feel comfortable taking on certain parts of the project, such as laying floors, painting, or installing cabinetry. “It’s best to prioritize safety and always hire a professional during the technical portions of a job, like a plumber and an electrician, and be pragmatic and honest about what you can really take on,” says Vyas.

Hiring an Unqualified Contractor

For aspects of the project where you do hire a professional, get at least three bids from local contractors and only hire someone you trust. While you hope that your project will go off without a hitch, the reality is that hiccups are inevitable with any remodel. “It’s important to have a professional who will respectfully communicate with you on the job, and where you can rely on their expertise,” Vyas says. “You may also risk jeopardizing the quality of your renovation if you hire an inexperienced or low-quality contractor.”

Hiring a reliable and reputable contractor—even if it’s more expensive—can ultimately save you money and stress in the long run.

Cutting Corners

One of the biggest basement renovation mistakes people make is viewing the space as an afterthought and skimping on the budget. This leads to cut corners on materials, furnishings, and contractors. “I see a huge disconnect between the more high-end, public spaces in other areas of the home and the basement,” says Jade Joyner, the co-founder and principal designer for Metal + Petal. “[It becomes] a makeshift place with worn-out furniture, which is less than ideal and takes away from the overall vibe of the basement design as a whole.”

Instead, Joyner urges homeowners to make their basement feel like an extension of their house and design style, so that the area feels purposeful, functional, and cohesive.

Not Getting Proper Permits

Every city in the United States requires a permit for a basement renovation. Failing to get one is not only illegal, but potentially dangerous. “Permits are required for a reason—to ensure a job is done to code and that the work is safe,” says Kat Christie, a licensed contractor and founder of She Fixed That, LLC. “Call your local municipality and see what is required for the type of work you want to do. Board inspectors will come in and check the work to ensure it’s up to snuff—and if it isn’t, they’ll require you fix it before going on to the next phase of construction.” As for who handles the paperwork? Either you or your contractor will pull the permits.

Forgetting to Install an Egress Window

You need an exit strategy for the primary and upper levels of your home—and the same is true for your basement. It’s important to have an emergency exit for your lowest floor via an egress window. Hopefully there’s no need to use it, says Christie, but you’ll still want to have it there for safety purposes. She says you can check with your local municipality for the necessary requirements.

Forgetting to Waterproof Walls and Floors

Basements are prone to leaks and moisture. In fact, there’s a good chance you know of at least one person who has dealt with a gnarly case of water damage because of this very issue. Forgetting to waterproof your walls and floors can potentially lead to damaged structure and personal belongings, says Natalie Rebuck, the principal designer at Re: Design Architects. It can also make the space more susceptible to mildew and mold. “Fortunately, there are things that you can do outside your home, such as adding dry wells and French drains to pull the water away from the home,” Rebuck says.

She also strongly advises filling cracks and holes with concrete foundation, and to make sure all your walls are sealed with hyaluronic cement. Also, seal your floors, stick to flooring materials that are forgiving of water, and avoid wood and carpet during your basement renovation.

Poor Lighting Strategy

Basements are notoriously dark, which makes any space feel instantly uninviting. Make excellent lighting part of your basement renovation plan and the room will turn into a beautiful, functional destination in your home. “Don’t just pop in recessed lighting and call it a day; that will not provide the warmth you need in the space,” Joyner says. “You need ambient, accent, and task lighting, as well as a laid-out electrical and lighting plan that addresses the whole space and a well-planned layout.”

When possible, incorporate as much natural light as you can (an egress window will help with that!). Painting the walls a light color and incorporating lots of overhead and recessed lights can help quite a bit, as well, says Andi Morse, an interior designer and founder of Morse Design.

Keeping Low Ceilings

Along with being a naturally dark space, basements also tend to have low ceilings that can make the room feel confined and unwelcoming. The whole point of renovating is to create a more usable space, notes Morse, so create a game plan to lift very low ceilings. This adjustment will add to your budget, but the impact is worth the spend.

Neglecting the Stairs

Basement steps are often narrow and higher compared to typical steps, which can make it feel awkward to use them. “Review the space with an expert to determine what needs to be done, as well as what is possible,” says Rebuck. For example, the stairway opening might need to be enlarged if you want to rebuild the stairs—or there might be a way to shift the stair spacing.

Failing to Refine Your Focus

You’re feeling excited about the potential of your new basement. Embrace that energy, but remember to refine your focus. Joyner says that many of her clients want “too much” from their basement remodel, which ultimately works agains the design. “They want it to be a bar, a game room, a guest suite, a movie room, a home office, and a playroom,” she says. “This can often create small and closed-off spaces. Failing to create a thoughtfully planned, purposeful space becomes apparent quickly.”

Instead, prioritize what’s important to you and your family and move forward with that edited vision. Less is often more for basements—this space benefits from an open floor plan versus a series of closed rooms, says Joyner.