Basements are arguably the most versatile room in the house. It can be used for so many different purposes, depending on your needs. In the eleventh edition of our Head-to-Toe Home Reno series, we will provide some upgrade inspiration for all types of basements.

Finished Basement: Basements provide tons of extra living and storage space so make sure you are maximizing its potential. If your basement is unfinished, consider saving up and taking the steps to have it finished. Finished basements provide the perfect location for a variety of rooms, like a mancave, game room, guest room, craft area, music studio and so much more! Pinterest has tons of ideas of what to do with your extra space and how to decorate it perfectly.

Built-Ins: If you’re in the process of finishing or are now considering finishing your basement, think about adding some built-ins to the layout. These provide great storage for tubs of old clothes, holiday decorations, extra blankets and more! You can even have the built-ins customized to the dimensions of the storage tubs you are using. For ideas on different layouts and sizing, head on over to Pinterest and find the style that works best for you.

Downstairs Pantry: Everyone loves a nice, large pantry, right? Well, those of us with smaller kitchens have to find other ways of storing our goods. Basements provide great space to create a pantry-like food storage area. There are a lot of ways to make a pantry so think about what kind of food you are going to be storing in the basement and go from there. Canned goods are fine on open shelving, but bags of flour and sugar might be better off in a cabinet. Storage cabinets with doors can be found at stores like Home Depot and Target, while freestanding shelves are sold on Amazon and in-store at Lowes. If you would like to build your own shelves, you can do so with these directions.

Under the Stairs Storage: Most people don’t think to utilize the space underneath the stairs, but you can actually do some pretty creative things here. This spot would be a great place to create a storage cupboard, reading nook or play area. You can also add a countertop and small cupboard to create a snack station. Whether your basement is used for storage, as the kids’ play room or the mancave, there’s a way to customize it to your needs.

Utilize Paint: An easy way to stylize your basement is to paint the beams and trim a different, darker color than the walls. Doing this adds drama and dimension to your otherwise plain basement. The degree of contrast is completely up to you. The trim and beam paint can be subtle, just a few shades darker than the walls, or you can make it a complete contrast. Scroll through Pinterest before you head to the paint store so you have an idea of what you are looking for.

Fun Furniture: Create a theme for whatever you are using your basement for and decorate with some fun furniture and décor. Throw down some large bean bag chairs and oversized pillows for gaming tournaments, sleepovers or relaxation in a kids rec room. Drape the walls in your team’s colors and grab some sports themed lamps and other décor to ramp up the team spirit in the mancave. For a guest bedroom, put in some fake plants, extra lamps and framed pictures to make them feel right at home.

Come back next week for the FINAL edition of our Head-to-Toe Home Reno series and we’ll explore renovation and storage ideas for your garage. See you then!