How to Decorate Unfinished Basement Walls - 7 Basement Wall Covering Ideas on the Cheap

If you are a renter, or a new home owner with limited budget, you can turn that dingy unfinished basement into something spectacular and usable without intense DIY or damage to walls.

1.  Fabric or Wallpaper Panels

Before you hit the back button thinking yukky DIY, this can turn your basement into awesome!  Hanging or simply leaning large easy to make frames against the wall will give it a 3D effect without paint or any damage to the concrete blocks or poured wall.  Check out this video, yes a little bit of DIY, but this could look awesome!

This would create a 3D effect which would stand out from the basement wall.  You could hang them using 3M no damage hangers or simply lean them against the wall. If you use lots of color this would brighten up the space.

2.  Lots of Smaller Fabric Canvas Panels

If the idea of making something that large is not practical, but you love the idea of simply working with the walls, then you can purchase multi packs of artist canvas's that you can then cover with fabric and staple behind on the frame.   Check video below:

Check the local fabric store or online for lots of bright colored scraps of fabric that you can cover your canvas's with.  I like the idea of the canvas as it is 3D and will take your eye away from the wall behind.  You can get great deals online with multi-packs.

Pack of 7 Artist Canvas

All you need is a staple gun and stretch the fabric across them like in the video above.

This pack of 7 canvas's is under 20 bucks.  Head to the fabric store and find remnants and have some fun with your wall.  If the concrete wall is smooth you can use those 3M no wall damage hooks to hang your fabric art, otherwise you could hang on picture wires from the ceiling rafters.

3.  Basement Wall Covering Ideas - Concrete Paint! 

If you have a cinder block wall or poured concrete wall that is the usual grey, if the landlord permits you could use concrete paint in white or a neutral color and then use the fabric panels to compliment.

This is one of the fastest ways to cover a concrete wall.  Even if one day you plan on renovating and doing a framed wall, you can still enjoy the space if painted.  These paints are water based now and low odor.

Basement Masonry Paint Soap and Water Cleanup

This paint is white so you brighten up the space, and also tackles damp.  Just brightening the walls and then adding your fabric panels can make a huge difference!  If you stick to a white or cream color your landlord may not mind but check with him/her first.

If it means extra enjoyable living space for you, then it is worth it!

4.  Decorating Basement Walls - Curtains 

 If your basement wall is half concrete blocks and half vapor barrier insulated walls, then you need to try a different tactic.  Hanging curtains using the rafters to hang the curtain rod close to the wall will give your wall instant warmth and color.

You could check the flea markets and thrift stores for floor to ceiling curtains, or you could simply hang them long enough to cover the insulation part and then paint the concrete blocks.  You can get mural curtains that would add to the space.

Floor to Ceiling Mural Curtains

This would take your eye away from any unfinished areas and add some color or scenery to your space.  Using strong wire, you can hang the curtain rod from hooks screwed into the rafters or ceiling close to the wall and simply hang them and keep them shut to show off their scenery.

Summer Scenery Mural Curtains

I just love the idea of a mural curtain rather than plain. It is like instant artwork as many are beautiful photos or paintings.  For under 100 bucks you can get these mural style curtain panels.  Since you are not opening them you simple need a cheap curtain rod that you can suspend at the ceiling.

5.  Room Divider Curtains - Separate Off Areas of the Unfinished Basement

If you want to create rooms in a large unfinished basement you can create a divider curtain.  These are specifically designed to separate areas and use a curtain hook attached at ceiling.

Room Dividing Curtains

Unfinished Basement Wall Coverings

There are so many ways you can get this space personalized and usable. Don't wait until you can "afford" to finish it with walls and drywall and lots of money, you can still use this space especially if you are renting a house or basement apartment and the walls are boring cinder blocks.

The best part, is that everything is portable and can simply move with you if you are renting, but I bet your landlord will love what you did and want to keep it!

My favorite is the wall mural curtains.  This is an instant way to hide a basement wall or even a bad dry-walled wall.  These are instant and such a beautiful scene.  Don't go with plain!  Bring some life into this space.

6.  Room Dividers

If you want to simply wall off an ugly area, or create a craft area or hide the furnace room or the kids toys, you can simply stand one of these room dividers.

Room Divider

Unfinished basement walls don't have to ruin your decorating ideas!  Even if you just make a focus wall it will add some personality to your space.

Now that you have the walls figured, what about that concrete floor?  The easiest solution is a area rug

Interlocking Foam Faux Wood Tiles

These are really cool. They simply click together for instant soft on your feet flooring on the basement floor, and you can easily un-click them and take them with you if you move.  They are an affordable option especially for children playing on the floor or in their toy area.

7.  One Other Option That Would Make a HUGE Impact on an Unfinished Basement Wall

If you can convince someone or yourself to build a simple frame from 1 x 2s or similar and then add wall board panels, you could then temporarily attach it to the basement wall from the ceiling and add a large wall mural such as this one.

Wall Mural

There are some awesome murals for any size wall. You could go smaller and create the framed art or create a large frame that fits the wall and use this mural idea.  Check out THIS MURAL PAGE for some really cool realistic photographic wall murals.  Many are under 100 bucks!

Decorating unfinished basement walls doesn't have to be expensive or complicated.  It is such a waste

to not use this space.  It could be your hide away space, or the kids playroom, or a guys den, anything you want.  You just need to make it inviting.  A place you would like to hang out in.

Work with what you have and what you are allowed to do based on landlord or budget.  Remember all of the above are portable and can be taken with you when you move.

If you are going to have to live with this boring old concrete wall basement for a long time, you might as well be using it!

I hope I have inspired you to get moving and enjoy that space.  My goal is to try and create welcoming and enjoyable space on the cheap and so you may also enjoy my article Cheap Wall Covering Ideas for Bad Walls or How to Hide Bad Walls without Paint or How to Fix Nail Holes in Wall with Toothpaste to get some more awesome cheap ideas!