The basement can be more than just a space to toss forgotten items and be home to a laundry room. The room below can be transformed into additional living space to enjoy. Create a media room, office or playroom.
Most basements are big empty spaces with cement floors and walls ready to be transformed.
There is probably an oil burner or hot water heater in a corner and support columns scattered like dots infringing on the open space. Preparing a floor plan is important so that you can design a plan of action.
Metal basement columns, known as lally columns, can be a challenge to work into the design of the room.
Columns can often be incorporated into new decorative designs.
- Walls with a door should be created for a room to encompass the necessary plumbing, heating, and electrical units. Columns located in this area may be able to be hidden in a wall.
- Design a bar or wall unit incorporating the columns into the design. Box the columns in with the same material and design that the cabinetry is made of. Add a dropped soffit between columns to place lighting in and to give them a contiguous appearance.
For basement rooms that already finished with columns still sitting in the middle of them as impeding eyesores presents a chance to be creative in decorating an unsightly pole.
- Single Columns can be boxed in with wood and molding to create a decorative finished appearance.
- Ready-made covers and wraps are made that can be purchased and easily installed to finish off basement poles. They come in different styles and sizes.
- If the space is being used to entertained than place a drink shelf around the column making it useful.
- Wrap the poles with self stick decorative, flexible metal sheeting creating a unique finished appearance.
- Paintable wall paper is another easy option for turning the poles into a decorative centerpiece. The wall coverings come in various textures and designs. Paint with the color of your choice in a semi-gloss paint.
- Design a nautical motif using rope to wrap the poles. Add some interesting knots for new dimension.
- The basement pole can be hidden inside a faux tree.
- To keep things real simple purchase flexible decorative molding that can be wrapped around the top of the pole as a crown and the bottom of the pole as a base. Then paint the pole and moldings in a high gloss paint to finish them off.
Try to plan for the furnishings to sit in the center so the columns will flank the sitting area. It is important to incorporate the columns into the floor plan so that the furnishings flow and do not appear chopped up.
Enjoy being creative and let me know of your own interesting ideas. Have fun and never be afraid to dance.
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