Our little 1950’s cape does have an unfinished basement that won’t ever be finished due to the fact that we live in a flood zone. Or if we add onto our home we would have to fill it in. We use the basement daily because it is also our laundry room, extra pantry, supply room, tool room, playroom (has a fuse-ball table) and more! It did not have a very welcoming entrance, leaving one of my kids afraid to go down there. I thought it would be a great place to add a fun wallpaper and of course a “Magic Light”!
Basement Entrance BEFORE-
It is funny how you live with something and don’t realize until after you make the change how bad it was! After Lola saw this before picture she said “the walls were so gross”. But no one said anything before!
Basement AFTER with Wallpaper-
It is a much happier place now. I just want to open the door so I can see the space now! We actually do open the door several times a day just to get to our bags. In our small home we have to make use of every square inch. So this is kind-of like a glorified mud room. I hung shiplap peel and stick wallpaper on the ceiling and a fun peel and stick pineapple wallpaper on the wall. I tried it with just doing the shiplap on the ceiling and painting the walls. Then decided it really needed a fun pop of color, so I went with the pineapple. The pineapple is a historical symbol, I thought it represented our 1950’s home well.
(I linked all the sources at the end of this blog post)
I had some leftover pink paint that we used on our piano. It is painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint color Antoinette. And spray painted some hooks in my favorite gold spray paint to hang all our bags.
Also hung a bamboo peg hook on the wall so we could put our dustpan and broom there. Before it was at the bottom of the steps in the basement. Now it is easier to access.
We have our security system here too. I put a command strip hook on top of it so I could hang a hat to disguise the system a little. Also used a sconce with a shade for our “Magic Light” trick. I hide the remote to the right of the door by attaching it to the wall with velcro, so it is easy to turn on and off.
Kevin took off the gross carpet that only went half way down the steps and painted it all in black porch paint.
Love to see where you add wallpaper to unexpected places! Tag me on Instagram and I will share @nestingwithgrace or send me an email if you have a private account!
Sources-
Magic Light Trick and Blog post on Hall
Shiplap Wallpaper(for reference I used two rolls of this wallpaper)
Pineapple Wallpaper that paper is discontinued I found THIS gold pineapple wallpaper (for reference I used 4 rolls of this wallpaper)
Over the door hooks (painted in favorite spray paint, info spray paint HERE)
My Shirt (it is actually a swimsuit cover-up)
You can find more sources for wallpaper and a video on how easy it is to install peel and stick wallpaper and a video on how easy it is to install wallpaper with wallpaper paste too HERE.
*I get asked all the time if this peel and stick wallpaper will work over textured walls. I personally have not done it. BUT many have and they say it does work. You will just see the texture if the wallpaper is thin.
*** UPDATE- see what the space looks like now with our vacuum hanging on the wall and our complete cleaning guide HERE
Super fun and cute! You just gave me some inspiration for our basement. Question, would you recommend wall paper on both walls if both walls lead all the way down the stairs (kind of like hallwayish)?
yes! I did it on both sides….I recommend it
Looks so good and happy looking!!!! All you need in life are peel and stick wallpaper, magic lights, and spray paint. Oh, and a plant or two. 🙂
yes!! And a plant or two!!!
Looks amazing!!! The pink door is beautiful to and now you can keep the door open!!!!
Exactly! Since it really is open a lot!!
Wow ! What a change – that is so pretty ! Is it possible to put up “peel and stick ” wall paper by yourself or are 2 people needed ?
Love this blog and your Facebook page – what a great group !
What a great look. I am a Realtor in Portland, Oregon and have many clients with that exact situation going down into their basements. I will be using this trick to make their basement entrances much more inviting and even a conversation piece. Thanks for the inspiration.
Would love to know the name and brand of the soft pink paint used on the door?
I shared it on the post! It is chalk paint from Annie Sloan Antoinette
Great idea! I have three places now that I want to put temporary wall paper — as you try one, I look around my house and think ‘yep I need that too’! That’s another cool thing about small homes, you get so much impact with minimal effort and cost. Thanks for sharing!
Also, I have used your ‘better done that perfect’ motto for myself and my daughters multiple times. So many times we are our own worst enemy, that little phrase is a good self-check!
Thank you Sharon! I am 100% better done than perfect….my daily mantra
Wow…this looks wonderful! What an improvement!
Looks great!! I love everything you did. I wouldn’t be surprised if you wake up one morning and Kevin is painting white racing stripes down your basement stairs!! 🤣😂 He’s a helpful and handy Hubby!! 🖤🍍💗
Ha! I think he is at the point where he guesses my next move!
Well, it’s official-you’ve upped the level of charm of your home to off the charts. Lol! This space is so super cute! You’re a design genius. Can I borrow your secret magical wand, please???
Thank you Clarissa! You are always so encouraging!!
Love it. Just one thing…those black steps seem like a tripping hazard! Without a visual delineation between steps, it make throw your step off going down! With little kids, just wanted to point that out. I felt like I might trip just looking down them 😂😉
Ha! The steps before were a dark ugly carpet and none of us fell…our steps up to the second floor were far worse! But thank you!
Thank you for always sharing such inspirational home decor ideas. Your home is absolutely adorable!! Like someone said everything you touch turns to gold!
I always look forward to what you’re doing next, for sure post a tour of your basement! Thank you.
Hi, love your transformation – little space BIG impact! Details are wonderful. Light trick ingenius! Didn’t see rug source? Thanks!
thanks! It is from here- https://caitlinwilson.com
Do you have a source for your broom and dustpan? I love the decorative quality of utilitarian items. Thank you.
yes! Here-
https://amzn.to/2wn8db4
https://amzn.to/2jJTM7M
I bought the same stick-up lights from Amazon that you have and love them under my kitchen cabinets! Great tip! But I have a few extra that I want to try in the magic light trick and need more remotes. Do you know if I can order more remotes?
Thanks!!
I dont think so. But if the sconces are low you can just reach up and turn them on!
You manage to make the most boring stuff beautiful! A hat over the security system?!? Genius! I also saw you hang two school bags on the same hook, do they hold so well on the wooden door?
Also, Hoe do you organise your stuff in the basement, any pretty ideas there?