The simplest way to make the biggest change in a space is to paint it. Clear everything out and take a paint brush to the walls and trim. The fresh clean slate is the perfect way to give a new look to a room.
This first week of work for the $100 Room Challenge often feels like the biggest one. It typically involves clearing out the space, followed by a little demo. And then, every square inch of the room is painted. Our basement staircase makeover was no different.
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After working in here, I have come to the conclusion that the easy part of this makeover is the actual size of it. The difficult part is that it is a staircase and at this point, I am just really hoping that I get to the end of the month without falling down any steps…
BASEMENT STAIRCASE MAKEOVER BEFORE
The door to our basement is right off our kitchen and it tends to be open more than closed. After two years, I am ready to tackle this space. Yes, it “just” leads to an unfinished basement, but I think it can be fun to have an unexpected pop of functional beauty in such a space.
〈$100 ROOM CHALLENGE: BASEMENT STAIRCASE BEFORE〉
This staircase has seen it’s fair share of action these past two years and I am looking forward to no longer cringing every time I walk down here.
SHELVING DEMO
This was the easiest demo job I’ve ever done for a makeover. In a few minutes, my youngest and I had the space all cleared out.
This little set of shutters has an awkward story behind it. On the other side is our new coat closet. Before even moving in, we took out the original coat closet to create more space in our entryway. We moved the coat closet to the closet behind these shutters. The thing is, there was a toilet in there that had to be moved first.
Super awkward and before moving in, we dubbed this the “toilet in the closet house.” {I shared pics and the makeover of it HERE.} Anyway, we think these shutters were meant for ventilation in the toilet closet. Yep. Weird. But we’re trying to work with it here…I’m just glad the toilet is gone.
BEHIND THE SCENES
PAINT FIXES EVERYTHING
After everything was removed, the shelves taken down, and the walls and ceiling were given a good cleaning, I began to paint. Besides working hard at not falling down the stairs, this was a quick and simple makeover.
The power of paint always amazes me and this basement staircase makeover is no exception.
I am really excited about the fresh clean slate with freshly painted walls, ceiling, baseboards, and doors.
{Walls are painted Behr Swiss Coffee in Behr Premium Plus Satin and trim/baseboard/door is the base white in Behr Premium Plus Satin.}
Disclaimer: as you probably already noticed, the actual staircase is still really gross. That is coming, I promise! Just look beyond it and focus on the fresh clean walls.
PROJECT CHECKLIST
√ Remove everything from the space
√ Take down shelves
√ Clean the ceiling and walls
√ Paint the ceiling, walls, doors, and baseboard
√ Ask James to work on closing in the bottom set of steps
WEEK ONE BUDGET
Paint: $28.98
Brush: $5.87
Total Spent: $34.85
Amount Left: $65.15
This coming week is a little up in the air as it depends upon the timing of James finishing up sheetrock on the bottom half of the steps. I am definitely winging it, but think shelving will be the focus this coming week.
You should check out these other $100 Room Challenge makeovers:
$100 ROOM CHALLENGE: BEFORE / WEEK ONE / WEEK TWO / REVEAL
PIN IT FOR LATER
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER $100 ROOM MAKEOVERS
I love a freshly painted room. It’s just so clean! Please be careful on those steps! It looks so much better all ready. I bet it feels better too. Can’t wait to see what you do with shelving!
I feel like this project is taking longer than it would normally for the amount of space as I work at not falling down them. 😉
Basement stairways into an old home matter! They are a thoroughfare on a daily basis and are so often overlooked. I just know your completed $100 challenge is going to be finished in a way that is practical but also pretty & unexpected with Leigh flair!
Aww, thank you, Stacie. I am looking forward to enjoying this space. And yes, it is a busy thoroughfare and works hard for us.
Fresh white paint is such a game changer! It’s looking so much better already! I had to laugh at your toilet closet story, and I’m curious about that little door next to the outside door. I just love old houses!
Thanks, Meredith! It was so super weird to find that toilet in there the first time we walked through. 😉 And the little door is a milk door…I’m working on cleaning it up for next week.
Wow! It is already feeling so much lighter and brighter!
Thanks, Rebecca! A fresh clean slate to add some fun things now.
It’s already looking so much better!
Thank you, Christina! I am excited to no longer cringe every time this door is open. 😉
Painting always makes everything seem so new and fresh again and I love how it brighten up your stairway too.
Thanks, Jen! Paint is such a great first step.
The deep cleaning and and fresh paint already did wonders in your staircase!
Thank you, Kati! It has me really excited to clean up the actual stairs..soon!
And now my keyboard is working!
I was so busy loving your little milk door, that I just realized, your door and the trim around the shutters, is a pretty crisp white. I like that you painted the shutters as well. It gives it more character and made them look like they were meant to be there the entire time. I really need to grab some Swiss Coffee. Everytime you use it, I fall in love with the color.
The sneak peek of James putting sheetrock up at the bottom of the stairs, really gave the look of separation with the stairs and the basement. It already looked great as he was working on it, so I can imagine how it will look when you make your way down those steps.
Thank you for noticing all these little details and for being so encouraging, Lena! ♥
Leigh, It looks amazing!! So fresh and clean! Can’t wait to see the next update😊
Thank you, Aimee. Paint really is the simplest way to give new life to a space!
Beeeutiful Leigh! Can’t wait to see when it’s finished!!
You are so right… paint is powerful and it looks so much cleaner and brighter with just the paint! I can’t wait to see what the rest looks like!
This already looks amazing. So fresh and clean with all that white paint! And the story behind those shutters… so… ummm… weird? interesting? What do you say about a toilet in the closet? I love watching your rooms transform.
Without that shelving, the space seems so much bigger, and the white paint helps too. Fresh and clean magical paint- love it! The shutters now that they’re painted seem intentional. Looking forward to the next project