Reclaiming Unused Spaces: Finishing Touches

by Sherry Holetzky | More from this Blogger

10 Mar 2006 08:31 AM

While you may someday decide to complete a full renovation, you have currently reclaimed the unused space in your basement without enduring heavy construction, its resulting mess, or the time and cost involved in major renovations.

The basement is clean, uncluttered, and freshened up, and it feels pretty good, doesn't it? Now all you have to do is add a few finishing touches. This is the fun and easy part. All you have to do is add those things that make a house feel like home. Accessories add a nice personalized touch. They soften the space and make it feel homier and more comfortable.

A few pillows, a throw, candles, books or magazines, some favorite pictures or photos and maybe some plants, and you are all set. Bring in some of your children's items too, so they will feel comfortable in the space. You may want to purchase some new items, but you don't have to run out and buy everything new. You can utilize items from around the house to give the new space a more familiar feel. Mixing old favorites with new items will help your family settle in quickly.

Using existing items will also help you save money. You can freshen up some things with paint to make them coordinate better with the colors in the new space, if necessary. Also, try mixing things that don't normally go together. A vase that sits in the corner of the living room alone, may work perfectly in a vignette with other items from different rooms in your home.

If you are incorporating existing pieces of furniture and they don't really complement the new look of your basement, try a slipcover or some paint to update them a bit. Check out some of the previous articles here for information. You can tie your older pieces together with new things by making sure each item has some common element with the other items in the space, whether that means they are similar in scale, color, or texture. They don't have to match perfectly, they just need some commonality to tie them together.

Have fun decorating and enjoy your new space!

Learn more about Sherry Holetzky

Sherry Holetzky is a work at home mom and freelance writer. Married to her best friend, Sherry and her husband are raising their family in a quiet rural setting in the beautiful Ozark Mountains.

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