We’re back with our weekly basement update — here’s where we left off — and this week we gave the built-in cabinet a fresh coat of paint, added artwork, obscured the semi-sheer armoire doors, and brought in a bunch of bins to organize current items (and make room for future finds). The space already feels much brighter and more functional. Here are the latest updates:
Huge thanks to the team at True Value for their generous gift card — it helped us tackle a lot of this week’s projects. We picked up paint for the built-in and several storage bins to maximize the armoires and the space under the small Ikea table by the door. The basement feels practically brand new; even the cobwebs of the past would be baffled. Thanks, True Value!
First up, we used crisp white semi-gloss paint to freshen the built-in cabinet we inherited with the house. We’ll share how we plan to use the storage there soon. For context, here’s the cabinet before the refresh:
After a few coats of white paint it looks renewed and ties in nicely with the new Ikea desk next to it. Paint really is magic for dated cabinetry.
We also addressed the semi-sheer panels on the two wardrobes we recently picked up. One armoire now holds our giant Christmas tree bag with a few bins on top…
…and the other stores eight variously sized bins (only a couple are filled so there’s still plenty of room for more storage) …
…but the colors showed through the door panels and felt visually chaotic — especially with the bright red tree bag peeking through.
Our solution was simple and affordable: two rolls of green-and-white wrapping paper from Target. We cut each roll down the middle to create four panels, trimmed them to size, and used double-sided tape to adhere them to the inside of each door.
Instantly, the patterned paper provides color and texture through the semi-sheer panes, balancing the look and making the whole area feel intentional. Total cost: $6 — with leftover paper for gifts. A small investment with big impact.
You’ll also notice two pieces of art in the space. The black-and-white framed print near the window was something we already had and it fits the room well — the moody artwork complements the black stripes in our rug. The long framed piece above the armoire was a recent groomsman gift for John: our last name spelled out using photographed objects that resemble letters. It matched the refreshed palette perfectly.
Hanging art on cinder block walls can be a pain: screws often pull out, leaving dust behind. We used heavy-duty Command Picture Hanging Strips to avoid drilling. They work like strong velcro — stick one side to the frame and the matching side to the wall, press firmly, let the wall-side strips cure for an hour or two, then reattach the frame. The result: secure, screw-free artwork that saved us a lot of frustration.
We also showed what’s inside the armoires — Halloween decorations, an air mattress, family quilts — and the two green bins under the window table are dedicated to Christmas decorations. Having everything in one place is a major improvement over boxes scattered across cabinets, under the bed, and in closets. It feels great to be organized and to have seasonal items easy to find.
That’s where things stand this week. We still have a few projects on the list: adding window privacy, creating a screen to hide the water heater, and sharing a storage solution for the newly painted built-in cabinet. We’ll keep you posted as those come together. What unfinished projects are on your list? We’d love to hear what you’ve started but haven’t finished yet — we can definitely relate.
Psst — Want to look back on our basement makeover from the beginning? Check out our earlier updates: the first post, the second post, the third post, the fourth post, and the fifth post.