20 Clever Basement Wall Ideas & Design Tips (with Pictures)

Does your home have a basement? If you’re like most homeowners, you probably spend a lot of time wondering exactly what to do with that space.

Fortunately, it doesn’t take much to completely transform a drab old basement into an exciting new part of your home. Don’t believe us? Keep reading to discover our favorite basement wall ideas and design tips!

1. Statement Staircase

A statement piece often helps to bring a room together. In the basement, the staircase can be the most prominent attraction, so why not opt for a statement staircase that will really keep your guests talking?

2. Fake Fireplace

For practical reasons, most basements can’t support a real fireplace. But an attractive faux fireplace can give the whole room a really relaxing vibe. And if the faux fireplace serves as an actual heater, it can also make the basement warm and cozy.

3. Private Workspace

4. Add More Seating

Basements usually don’t have a lot of room. But you can add some extra seating behind your couch or along the walls in order to make it easier to hang out there with your friends and family members.

5. Family Photos

When it comes to basement decoration ideas, you don’t have to overthink things. One of our favorite decorations is family photos in nice frames along the wall. It helps to bring warmth and love to an otherwise isolated basement.

6. Get Crafty

If you have a “crafty” hobby, basements are the perfect places to work on your projects. By adding craft tables and material storage sections along the walls, you’ll have everything you need to bring your dream projects to life.

7. Game Room

One of our favorite uses for a basement is to turn it into a game room. Things like pool tables make for a great statement piece in the room, and you can line the walls with vintage prints of your favorite games.

8. Shiplap Walls

Shiplap walls are a great way to make your basement feel like a cabin in your very own ship. And combined with clean colors (we recommend shades of white), a shiplap design can make the whole space feel very warm and inviting.

9. Chalkboard Accent Wall

Are you and your family fairly creative? If so, a chalkboard accent wall is one of the best additions to any basement. It’s quirky and stylish, and you can use the chalkboard to play games, create works of art, or even make your grocery list.

10. Movie Room

Basements are typically very dark and isolated, and you can use this to your advantage by turning your basement into a movie room. You’ll need a good projector and a movie screen. For added ambiance, we recommend adding some movie posters and a popcorn machine.

11. Bunk Beds

Sometimes, basement design ideas can be just as functional as they are stylish. For example, adding adult-friendly bunk beds along the wall can turn your basement into a spare guest bedroom. And if you use it for anything else (like crafts or hobbies), you might like having a spare bed when you need to crash.

12. Recessed Lighting

One of the more annoying things about basements is the relatively low ceilings. If this is bothering you, try adding recessed lighting. Not only is it modern and stylish, but it will make your ceilings look like they are higher.

13. Laundry Room

If you like the idea of a “functional” basement, we recommend turning it into a laundry room. You can settle for putting laundry appliances into a spare corner or dedicating the entire room to your different laundry needs.

14. Retro Patterns

Walking down into a basement often feels like walking into another world. You can really go with that sensation by adding retro (think 70’s or 80’s 80-inspired) patterns to your walls. When guests open the door for the first time, they’ll feel like they truly stepped back in time!

15. Barn Doors

Typically, a basement is simply one open space. However, you can add barn doors as a clever way to break up the space. Not only will this make the basement feel bigger, but the barn doors also give the area a real rustic charm.

16. Storage Shelves

Here’s another tip for a functional basement: line the walls and corners with shelves, bins, and other storage solutions. You can use these to store one specific kind of item or simply use the basement as a “catch-all” for storing things that would otherwise clutter your home.

17. Your Own Bar

Want your basement to be a place of fun and entertainment? One of the best things you can do is transform it into a bar! You can buy or build a bar to match the space you have. Meanwhile, you can line the walls with vintage bar advertisements, liquor cabinets, and a reliable refrigerator.

18. Spare Kitchen

Believe it or not, one of the most popular uses for a basement is to turn it into a spare kitchen! You can go “big” or “small” with this: the basement can either help you whip together some easy snacks or even craft huge meals. And if you have family or roommates, a spare kitchen is great for preparing extra food for large parties.

19. String Lights

Sometimes, the simplest decorating tips are the best. For example, all it takes is a few string lights in your basement to make the whole area feel comfortable and cozy, especially with the other lights turned off!

20. Statement Ceiling

Earlier, we talked about adding a statement staircase to your basement. The other obvious “statement” option would be to add a statement ceiling. And because the ceiling takes up so much space, this is one of the easiest ways to change how the basement looks and feels to your guests.

See Also: 

• Recessed Lighting Installation Costs
• 23 DIY Basement Stair Ideas & Design Tips (with Pictures)
• 15 Unfinished Basement Ideas & Design Tips (with Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Berg Dmitry, Shutterstock