How to Decorate a Basement Apartment

Basement apartments don’t have to be dark, secluded spaces! There are plenty of colors, decorations, and other fun ways to liven up your living space without breaking the bank. With the right decor and color schemes, you can personalize your space and make it a comfy, cozy place to live.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Colors, Patterns, and Designs

1. Brighten up your living space with white. Don’t just pick a generic shade of white—instead, look through different white- or cream-toned paint and wallpaper samples to see what fits best with your living space. White walls and wall decor can really brighten up the room, especially if your apartment doesn’t get a lot of natural light on its own.^[1]
   
   • For example, you might pick out a textured white wallpaper to add a little depth to your apartment.
   • You could also put up white shiplap siding around your apartment instead of using wallpaper or paint.
   • Hold your paint or wallpaper samples against different parts of the wall. This way, you can see how they’ll look in different types of lighting.
2. Choose muted colors if your apartment doesn’t have great lighting. Let’s face it—basement apartments have a lot of perks, but abundant lighting isn’t usually one of them. That’s okay! Take advantage of whatever lighting you have by painting your basement apartment in a dusty, muted color, like pastel green or dusty pink. This way, your living space will still feel warm and cozy regardless of your lighting situation.^[2]
   
   • If you aren’t in the mood for paint, look for a colored wallpaper instead.
   • Deep blues and reds, along with dusty pinks are great colors to use in your apartment.^[3]
3. Paint an accent wall a rich color to add some depth. Pick out a wall that makes your apartment feel smaller. Choose a deep, rich color for your accent wall, which will help it meld into the rest of your apartment while also adding some color.^[4]
   
   • In a small bathroom, choose an accent wall opposite the main door.
   • For example, you could pick a deep, rich red as your accent wall color instead of a bright, tomato red.
4. Make your ceilings appear higher by painting them a dark color. If your apartment has lower ceilings, there’s not much you can do structurally. Don’t worry—a fresh coat of black or dark paint can make your ceiling feel a lot higher, which helps open up your space a bit.^[5]
   
   • This is a great option if you have low ceilings in your apartment.
5. Give your home a calm, earthy feel with neutral paint and accents. Keep your walls a neutral, white, or cream color. You can also add a natural accent to your home with wooden cabinets and furniture. Even exposed beams can add a nice touch to your living space!^[6]
   
   • You can always jazz up your neutral tones with a bright accent color, like olive green or deep red.
6. Pick out cool, light-colored paint to make your apartment feel bigger. Chances are, your apartment might not have a lot of windows, which can limit your lighting possibilities. Make the most of this by picking out light, cool colors that really expand and open up the space.^[7]
   
   • For instance, light blue and gray paints are great to consider for your apartment.
   • Colors like lavender and aqua work really well together.^[8]
7. Create a dynamic, eye-catching space with more than 1 pattern. Add different decorative elements to your living space, like area rugs, throw pillows, and wall decals. These don’t have to be matching—instead, you can liven up your living space by choosing different patterns for all of your decor.^[9]
   
   • For example, your area rug might have a tribal pattern, while your wall decal is more geometric. Your throw pillows can sport animal prints and fun shapes, too!
8. Add different textures to your apartment to give it some depth. Play around with different materials, like tile, wood, stone, leather, and other fabrics. Try to incorporate a variety of different textures into your living space—this will make your home really dynamic and appealing.^[10]
   
   • For instance, you can contrast a leather sofa with a shaggy area rug.
   • You might have wooden countertops along with stone or brick walls in your home.
9. Pick out a uniform theme or idea that ties your living space together. This can be just about anything—you can revolve your room around a hobby, a color, or a personal aesthetic you really like. Choose decor that matches this theme, and helps bring your apartment together.^[11]
   
   • For example, you could create a nautical theme with lots of wooden furniture, decorative throw pillows, and striped wallpaper or wall paint.

[Edit]Room Arrangement

1. Choose furniture that matches your personal aesthetic. Are you a fan of posh, elegant furniture, or do you prefer to break the mold a little bit? Pick out sofas, armchairs, coffee tables, and other pieces of furniture that really mesh with this design scheme.^[12]
   
   • If you’re a fan of a natural, relaxed style, then you might enjoy a farmhouse-, rustic-, coastal-, or Bohemian-style apartment.
   • If you’re a fan of bright, fun colors, you might like an eclectic-, maximalist-, contemporary-, or art deco-style space.
   • If you’d like something a bit more simple, you might prefer an industrial-, minimalist-, modern-, or transitional-style home.
2. Pick up antique pieces of furniture since they fit well in small spaces. Basement apartments come in all shapes and sizes, and might not fit the mold of other living spaces. Stop by thrift shops or other furniture shops and browse for any vintage, antique pieces that could fit well in your home. A lot of old-school pieces are designed to be disassembled and reassembled, which works out well for a smaller basement living space.^[13]
   
   • Antique furniture pieces were typically designed for smaller living spaces, which makes them ideal for basement apartments.
   • If you aren’t a fan of the vintage look, repaint the furniture so it looks a little more fresh and modern.
3. Change the perspective of your apartment by displaying things at different heights. Hang up some of your decor at eye-level, but don’t stop there! Place some decorations higher up along the wall, as well as closer to the floor. Playing around with height can make your living space feel even more dynamic.^[14]
   
   • For instance, you can hang up a shelving unit close to the ceiling, or display a mirror slightly below eye level.
4. Section off your space with furniture if it doesn't have separate rooms. Basement apartments don’t always offer as much wiggle room when it comes to separated, sectioned-off living space. Arrange your sofas, armchairs, and other comfy furniture into groups near your eating area or bedrooms—this helps your home feel cozy while still creating separate spaces for eating, sleeping, and lounging around.^[15]
   
   • For example, your kitchen cabinets and appliances might be against 1 wall of the apartment, while your sofa leans against the opposite wall.
   • You might place your bed in 1 corner of the apartment, and arrange your sofa or armchair a few yards or meters away.

[Edit]Accessories

1. Set up your mirrors in spaces where they’ll pick up a lot of light.^[16] There may not be a lot of natural light in your home, but mirrors can make the best use of whatever light you have on hand. Hang up mirrors on different walls of your home—they’ll bounce the light around your home a bit, which can really brighten up the space.^[17]
   
   • Play around with floor-length mirrors, too! These can make your living space feel a lot bigger.
2. Feature 1 large piece of art to expand your space. Small artwork can be beautiful, but it’s ultimately not a super effective way to make the most of your apartment. Hang up a large print or painting, or pick out a big tapestry to go front and center on your wall. Place this art in a prominent spot where you and your guests can see it, which will help open up the area.^[18]
   
   • For instance, you might hang up a huge map or tapestry on the wall, or display a large art print.
   • Lots of small decorations end up feeling distracting and don’t really add as much to your apartment. Instead, pick out a larger piece of decor that really fits into your personal aesthetic.
3. Cover up any ground-level windows with drapes or blinds. Pick out special types of coverings, like privacy blinds or solar shades, which keep your home well-lit without your windows being totally exposed. Look for window coverings that block out sound if you live in a busy area.^[19]
   
   • Long drapes can also make your home feel larger, especially if you hang them from the floor to the ceiling.
4. Give your air quality a boost with a few houseplants. Basement apartments can get a little stuffy, but there are ways to work around this. Place a few plants around your living space—they’ll add a touch of color, and they’ll help clean your air up a little bit.^[20]
   
   • Some designers recommend plants like the mother-in-law’s tongue or the snake plant.
5. Add some light with a variety of lamps. Basement lighting isn’t always ideal and can leave your home feeling a little secluded and dark. Brighten things up with table lamps, which you can arrange and plug in just about anywhere.^[21]
   
   • For example, you can place 2 table lamps on both sides of your couch, or set a lamp next to your bed.
   • Lamps at eye-level usually produce the most inviting light.^[22]

[Edit]Tips

• Simple decorations can go a long way! Play around with wall decals, or throw pillows with special messages printed on them.^[23]
• Don’t be discouraged by low ceilings! They can make your home really cozy, like a comfortable retreat.^[24]
• Optimize your space with multipurpose furniture, like a pull-out bed or a table with shelving built-in.^[25]

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/08/12/5-tips-for-making-a-basement-apartment-less-drab-and-more-inviting/
2. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
3. ↑ https://www.decorist.com/blog/paint-colors-for-fall/
4. ↑ https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/08/12/5-tips-for-making-a-basement-apartment-less-drab-and-more-inviting/
5. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
6. ↑ https://www.decoist.com/2013-11-22/basement-apartment-ideas/?ios=1&chrome=1
7. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
8. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-tips-for-a-cozy-basement-bedroom-50866/#5
9. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-tips-for-a-cozy-basement-bedroom-50866/#7
10. ↑ https://www.decoist.com/2013-11-22/basement-apartment-ideas/?ios=1&chrome=1
11. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-tips-for-a-cozy-basement-bedroom-50866
12. ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/interior-design-styles-267905
13. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
14. ↑ https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/08/12/5-tips-for-making-a-basement-apartment-less-drab-and-more-inviting/
15. ↑ https://www.decoist.com/2013-11-22/basement-apartment-ideas/?ios=1&chrome=1
16. ↑ [v161632_b01]. 29 October 2020.
17. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
18. ↑ https://www.washingtonian.com/2015/08/12/5-tips-for-making-a-basement-apartment-less-drab-and-more-inviting/
19. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
20. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
21. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html
22. ↑ [v161632_b01]. 29 October 2020.
23. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-tips-for-a-cozy-basement-bedroom-50866
24. ↑ https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/14-tips-for-a-cozy-basement-bedroom-50866/#6
25. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/8-ways-to-make-the-most-of-a-basement-apartment/2017/08/29/2926ce46-7eb1-11e7-a669-b400c5c7e1cc_story.html