Oftentimes, the basements in people’s properties don’t get used much because they’re dank, dark, cluttered and otherwise not particularly nice to spend time in. However, basements can be large, handy rooms which should be utilized more, particularly if you find you’re running out of room in your house, want to rent out the space to earn extra cash or are preparing to put the home on the market.

It might initially seem like a big, tiresome job, but turning your forgotten basement into useable, stylish space for you and your family, or for others, doesn’t have to be a nightmare or take up a huge amount of your budget. No matter what your goals are for your basement space, why not spend some time clearing up over the coming weeks or months? Here are some tips you can follow to do just that.

Create a Plan

The first step is to put together a plan for yourself. By creating a schedule for the work you want to complete, you’ll be much better organized, both upfront and as the job goes on. To create your plan, think about the type of space you want to end up with —how you want it to feel and look. Consider how you and your family will use the area and if there are any particular new elements you want to add.

Decide on a budget for your basement makeover. Then, your plan can include costs for each particular job or for the purchase of materials and décor items. Budget in prices for contractors too, such as tilers, electricians, painters, plumbers and the like.

Spend Time Decluttering

The next thing to do is declutter the area so both you and tradespeople can get proper access to it. Of course, eliminating a lot of your junk (since basements tend to be the spot where much of this accumulates!) will also ensure the end result of the makeover is more impressive, as the finished space will look larger and be more useable.

As you go through the items in your basement, put things into piles according to what you will do with them. For example, some things will need to be thrown out or recycled, some goods will need to be repaired before you can use them again, you may want to donate certain items to non-profit organizations or to friends or others, and then there will be the bits and pieces you keep and use.

Get Rid of Current Issues in the Space

Another important step is to get rid of any current issues with the space. Once you’ve gotten all the clutter out of your basement, you can evaluate the area and work out if there are particular problems to address before you work on jazzing it up with styling elements.

For example, many people discover their basement is full of mold and mildew and doesn’t look or smell great. Many basements have had water issues from leaking or burst pipes, leaks from above, cracks in walls, less-than-perfect flooring and so on. Plus, poor ventilation is often the case in basements, which just compounds the problem.

To get rid of chronic dampness, a dank smell and potentially toxic mold, you will likely need to hire professionals. Look for a specialist firm, such as Service Master Restore, or an experienced plumber or builder that deals in this kind of work day-in and day-out. They will help you find the cause of the problem and rectify it. Keep in mind that you may need to pull storage units and other things away from walls and floors to find the problem if it’s not immediately obvious.

Other issues which may need to be rectified include pests that have taken up residence in your home (such as mice, rats, termites, and more) or flooring that has been damaged. Oftentimes, people’s basements have had carpet in them, but this carpet has gotten wet over the years and is now smelly and unattractive. The underlay often needs to be removed, in addition to the carpet, to fix this problem.

Even if you don’t currently have any flooring in your basement, you’ll no doubt find that a simple concrete base is not the prettiest and leaves the space cold and not conducive to spending time in. For a complete basement makeover, consider installing new flooring, such as cork, hardwood, laminate, vinyl, carpet or another option.