​​Simple Ways To Make Your Basement Cozier For The Winter

Love it or hate it, winter is coming; in many locations, the change in seasons means much lower temperatures and worse outdoor conditions, leading to more indoor time. Fortunately, for much of the region that suffers the worst winters, basements are common, but they can come with their own set of challenges. While basements offer a lot of additional square footage — a huge asset when outside temps are getting the best of you — many times they also lack the warmth and coziness that would attract people to using them. Fortunately, there are a number of simple ways to make your basement more welcoming for the winter.

Basements often conjure up visions of dark, cold, dank spaces, so any action plan aimed at improving the ambience of a basement should take those presuppositions into account. Also, unless your basement is unfinished, it should be relatively straightforward and affordable to get this area feeling like a desirable living space. Before tackling the negative adjectives assigned to your basement's conditions, it is imperative to begin with a clean slate. This means taking some time to declutter and organize, throwing away items that are no longer useful and donating things that have some life left in them. Once your basement is no longer cluttered, you can optimize this room.

If your basement is like most people's, you probably notice that the air is colder and damper than in the upper levels of your home. While you can't do anything about this area's tendency to hold moisture and lose heat, you can choose to bring in items that will help you combat these conditions. A dehumidifier like the AIRPLUS (which is designed for basements specifically) can be an invaluable addition to your damp-feeling basement. Removing moisture can have multiple positive effects on the basement including reducing the risk of mold and other allergens that thrive in damp spaces, and even making the basement feel a bit warmer (thanks to the lower humidity levels). If you live in a particularly cold climate, however, adding a portable heat source like this Lasko ceramic heater can make your basement comfortable for longer periods of time.

Another issue likely plaguing your basement is poor lighting, as many basements are equipped with fixtures that put out too little or too much light. To brighten up your basement, swap out the light bulbs for versions with a warmer tone. If this small change doesn't fix the lighting enough, however, you may want to purchase a couple of table or floor lamps to position throughout the room. There's nothing worse than a dark corner of a basement, so shoot for even and warm lighting.

In addition to the lighting and humidity of your basement, the scent of this room can have a big impact on whether it's inviting or not. If your basement smells musty or simply lacks any positive scent, consider purchasing something like Glade PlugIns, an essential oil diffuser, or some extra cozy scented candles in autumnal scents like this Apple Pumpkin Yankee Candle. Similarly, while a space heater has likely taken the chill out of the air, laminate basement flooring will still be frigid, making an area rug a veritable necessity. Hopefully your basement already has a comfy couch for snuggling up in, but if it doesn't now is the time to acquire one. Sites like Facebook marketplace can save you some big bucks over buying new (just remember to clean anything you buy second hand), or you can splurge on something extra soft and cozy like this loveseat from Signature Design by Ashley. 

Pairing some chunky blankets (or if you want to get really cozy, a Homemate electric blanket) with your comfy couch will give you or guests a place to curl up and read a book on those dreary winter days. If you really want to take your basement's coziness to the next level, you can even install a Keurig or electric kettle in the basement with a selection of teas, coffees, and your favorite mugs. Finally, while basements might feel sterile and barren, there's no reason that they cannot be home to tasteful artwork. With the right perspective and approach, your basement can become a wintertime haven.