Rare Basement Pictures and Current Makeover Plans

It's finally time.  I'm sharing a rare glimpse into the current status of our basement.  I'm pulling back the curtains and things are about to get real.  If you ever thought bloggers homes are always perfectly decorated and staged, I'm here to tell you they aren't.  Our basement is a space that has become a hodgepodge of hand-me-down furniture and leftover decor.  It's the one space in our home that doesn't get shared much on the blog, for good reason.  If you have been a long time reader you probably know that I accidentally flooded our basement about a year ago. (yeah, not my finest moment.) We ended up tearing up our four year old carpet and removing half the padding. At the time we weren't ready to replace the carpet, so we dried it out and laid it back down.

Yeah, see how gross that carpet is?

Let me tell you, it's NASTY and starts to smell on hot and humid days.  I've wanted to replace it for awhile now, but it just wasn't in our budget.  About a month ago we had a major financial house repair (a new septic and drain field is not cheap!) that pretty much wiped out our home improvement budget.   We haven't replaced that money, but I'm so fed up with the current status of our basement that I can't wait any longer.  It didn't help that just a few weeks ago our cat felt the need to pee in the corner, forcing us to cut out a piece of carpet and padding.  That was the final straw that pushed me over the edge.  The carpet has to go.

I already removed the gallery wall  in preparation for the new plank wall.  My plan is to plank the entire back wall of the basement using the same method I used in our entryway.  The rest of the walls will get a fresh coat of paint to brighten things up a bit.

   

Affiliate links have been used. 

Why yes, that is a mattress smack dab in the middle of our basement.

My husband and I like to call it a "custom trampoline."  It's been in our basement close to a year and probably will remain.  (I told you this is a real life post!)  My daughter is obsessed with gymnastics and is down in our basement every night doing all sorts of flips and tumbles on the "mat."  We take her twice a week to gymnastics, but this girl just can't get enough.

I'd like to move the large IKEA bookcase to our garage and replace it with a large set of lockers.   I'm hoping to put all the toys inside the lockers to make them accessible enough for them, but concealed for me.  Goodbye toy clutter!

The kids art table will remain since it's been a great place for my kids to be creative.

The blue Goodwill dresser will also remain, but will more than likely be painted a neutral color. The carpet will be removed from the stairs and I'll be staining the treads and painting the risers white. I'm also hoping to do a board and batten treatment on the wall coming down the stairs (like this.) and finally add a railing.

The bar area isn't changing much, except for the addition of a subway tile or wood plank backsplash.

I'd LOVE to get a new sofa and replace this hand-me-down one that we were fortunate enough to receive.  It's been great for the past 8 year's, but I think it's finally time we bite the bullet and get a new sofa.

I'm hoping (fingers crossed!) the kids will allow me to donate their kitchen and replace it with the MCM dresser I just updated.  The zebra chair will more than likely be reupholstered (or painted) if I'm feeling brave.

(The doors lead to my husband's office)

I'm 99% sure we are going with Allure Ultra Resilient interlocking planks in Sawcut Dakota.  It's the perfect medium dark floor and the rustic texture is perfect for disguising scratches.  I'd love to go a bit darker with the floors, but let's be honest....there's no way I am swiffering and cleaning the basement everyday.  #whohastimeforthat


Here's what I'm envisioning...

Clock / Sofa / Coffee Table / Rug / Pouf

Our basement has come a long way since we bought our home 9 years ago, but there is still so much to be done.

I can't wait to get started and turn this space into a place where we actually want to hang out and spend time.  

FACEBOOK / PINTEREST / INSTAGRAM / TWITTER 

Love what you see? Subscribe to Little House of Four here!

* indicates required

Email Address *