18 Stunning TikTok DIY Projects To Make Your Basement More Livable

If you have an unused basement, you're losing out on a lot of extra space. We understand that underground rooms don't always feel nice enough to spend time in. They can be cold and dim, so they tend to default to a catch-all space for your extra household supplies and off-season gear. But finished or unfinished, big or small, there's more potential for your basement. There are plenty of easy upgrade projects that can make this space more livable.

With the right know-how, you can create an entertaining room, an extra bedroom, a workout space, a basement storage system, or even move your living room underground. Some of these ideas call for a basement renovation, but that's not always in the budget. There are a few ways to make an unfinished basement more welcoming. Whether you're saving up for a basement renovation or you're just happy with a more affordable DIY upgrade, we've rounded up some DYI ideas to improve your basement's space and make it feel cozier.

Want to section off a part of your basement but don't want to build a permanent wall? Shower curtains are an affordable solution. Using shower curtains as dividers in your basement can make the space feel less cavernous and conceal some of the uglier areas. You can install them to ceiling joists with nails or eye hooks. Command hooks work well for a damage-free solution, too. Shower curtains are lightweight, so they'll be easy to install and take down to move around with your needs. Try to find curtains that reach the floor (or as close to it as possible), and consider adding curtain weights to the bottom to prevent them from blowing around.

You can use fabric to cover up unfinished basement ceilings. Before installing the fabric, map out any fixtures you need to make room for, like lights, protruding wires, or pipes. You may need to cut some holes to make space for these items, so choose a fabric that doesn't fray. If you have old incandescent bulbs or heating pipes that get hot, opt for a heat-resistant fabric and cut your holes with extra space around these fixtures so they don't touch the fabric. You can use a heavy-duty staple gun to install and attach the fabric to the ceiling joists.

Basement support poles: They're necessary, but they sure are unsightly. Cover them up to improve their appearance. An affordable option is a decorative rope. It's flexible enough to wrap around any pole, and hot glue keeps it in place. You can upgrade to a heavier-duty adhesive for a better stick, for example, Gorilla Heavy Duty Construction Adhesive, which costs $9.77 on Amazon. Another attractive alternative is Pole-Wrap, a dedicated product for dressing up support poles. It's a flexible sheet of wood columns perfect for wrapping around poles of all sizes. Shop Pole-Wrap from The Home Depot starting at $58.88.

Window film is easy to add to your windows to dress them up. Many products are removable, too, so this project is also suitable for rental homes. Basement windows are visible from the street level, so window film is a great alternative to curtains. Or you can open the curtains during the day without worrying about people peeking in. Window film comes in a few designs, too. This rainbow Haton Window Privacy Film ($8.99 from Amazon) is pretty and whimsical. While the Frosted Glass window film from the same brand has a more minimalist look ($9.99 from Amazon). Stained glass-inspired patterns, like the Artscape Magnolia Window Film, are also available for $17.99 from Amazon.

Want to make a basement space dedicated to the kids? A rough-and-tumble play area will be something they'll remember for a lifetime. This DIY creates a mini basement football field, but you can take the same idea (sans stencil and line markings) to make a padded play space. Depending on how rough your little ones play, lining foam against the walls is optional. We do recommend the faux grass, though: It really adds to the playful ambiance and makes it the perfect spot for kids on rainy days (and sunny days when they want to stay inside).

Wall stencils are a fabulous alternative to wallpaper, but did you know you can apply the same concept to floors, too? Using stencils and paint is a great way to get a neat, patterned floor that adds character to a basement. You can buy wall stencils and use them on the floor instead. For a similar honeycomb look, try the Cutting Edge Honeycomb Allover Wall Stencil ($47.95 on Amazon). Various other stencil designs are available, from classic damask and floral patterns to modern geometric shapes. The stencil is just one-half of the equation; you also want to choose a good paint. Since most basements have concrete floors, garage floor paint is a durable option.

Basement windows are so important — they let the light in! But if your windows are unfinished around the edges, it makes the whole area look a bit dingy. A few strategically placed pieces of plywood construct a faux frame that makes this window look more finished like it belongs in a home, not a drafty basement. You can use scrap wood for this project; it doesn't need to look perfect. It's possible to seal any little holes and gaps with wood filler, and then a fresh coat of paint will make your frame look as good as new.

There's also a way to hack wooden furniture — with paint, of course! It's completely reasonable to keep your basement as a storage space rather than a living area, but that doesn't mean you can't make it look a bit nicer. A fresh coat of paint does wonders. Try a two-toned pattern, painting the framing and shelves with two different colors to add visual interest. This project idea applies to other wood basement furniture, too, and you can consider adding paint to a wooden table, chairs, or bookcase for a new look.