After the completion of your basement and other parts of your home, you’ll want to install ceilings, as it helps to make cooling and heating easier. However, skipping the installation of the ceiling in your basement can save you some costs. A finished basement with an exposed ceiling gives your basement a different kind of feel because you have visible trusses, beams, electrical wiring, ductworks, joists, and pipes. You can call it a finished basement with an unfinished ceiling.
Some ways you can rock a finished basement with an exposed ceiling are to paint the ceiling, add more color to your basement, and set a new background for your basement features to bounce off. Also, you can leave it exposed to contribute some rustic vibe to your basement. Another idea you can apply to the exposed basement ceiling is to use metal sheet tiles, such as corrugated metal, tin, or plank sheets.
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In this article, you’ll understand some of the benefits that come with having an exposed ceiling in a finished basement. You’ll also have some ideas that you can apply to improve the look of your finished basement with an exposed ceiling and change its industrial look. You can read about current ceiling trends in another post.
What are Exposed Basement Ceilings?
In both finished and unfinished basements, you can find the ceiling untouched; that is, they don’t contain any stylish material to cover the fittings, joinery, and plumbing may be present on the ceiling. Conversely, an exposed basement ceiling is unfinished and has visible fittings and plumbing.
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While it is a common feature of an unfinished basement, you can also find them in some finished basements, which may be undesirable in such an environment. However, you can improve the look of an exposed ceiling in a finished basement by covering part or all of the ceiling and transforming the space into a finished basement with covered ceilings.
Why Should You Rock Your Finished Basement With Exposed Ceiling?
Finishing an entire house can be costly, but the cost can be reduced if you don’t finish the basement, as many people do. However, the basement can also serve as a living or entertainment space for your family, improving your living conditions and general comfort. For example, it can serve as a guest bedroom, teenagers’ bedroom, a game room, or a home office. Depending on its size, you can also combine these rooms in your basement.
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Your basement is liveable and said to be a finished basement. However, the ceiling may be exposed, and there are reasons you should have them that way.
Reduced Finishing Cost
The overall cost of finishing a basement makes it habitable, maybe more than finishing a bedroom above ground level. Therefore, you may want to reduce finishing costs by exposing the basement ceiling.
Although fittings and plumbing may be visible from the ceiling, there are ways to hide them and make your finished basement look better at a reduced cost compared to a stylishly finished basement ceiling.
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Unique Aesthetic Look
An exposed ceiling in any part of your home makes that space appear industrial, and that can be a good thing as it is one of the minimalistic and modern interior design styles. However, you can remove that industrial feel if you cover up the exposed ceiling with affordable materials or modify them to hide some of the fittings, wires, and plumbing.
You can achieve that stylish aesthetic in your finished basement by leaving the exposed beams to create a rustic feel or covering the ceiling with simple materials that won’t defeat your budget.
You Have More Space
Ceiling coverings take up some space in the first layer of every room, reducing your available space, even though you may not use that space. Installing a ceiling means you cover your beams, which creates space between the beams and the upper ground floor.
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Leaving your exposed ceiling and hiding its imperfections gives you the illusion of a bigger basement and allows you to be more flexible with designs and styles you may wish to add.
How to Improve the Look of Your Finished Basement With Exposed Ceiling?
To eliminate the industrial look and feel you get with your exposed ceiling, you can apply these treatments to your basement ceiling to improve its outlook.
Painting
The exposed beams of your basement can appear better with paint; however, you need to choose the right color. You can paint the entire ceiling, including the beams and under-floor surface, to hide the ceiling’s wires and other rough features.
Black paint is a common color for exposed basement ceilings. It reduces light glare in the space and, as a neutral color, is a perfect background color for other colors that your basement walls may take. White is another neutral color that you can apply to your exposed ceiling. Although it helps you to reflect light better, making it more suited for basements with minimal light. A bridge between white and black – gray – will give you the best of both colors.
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You also have the choice of spraying your basement ceiling beams to make them appear better and give you that rustic finish. This will be perfect for reclaimed wood in your basement.
Good to Read: Mirror Ceiling Tiles
Installing Plank Ceiling or Beadboards
A plank ceiling is one of the affordable ceiling options that you can apply to your basement. It is available as tiles and boards, and you can paint them your desired color. A plank ceiling will transform your finished basement with an exposed ceiling into a fully-finished basement.
You can also use bead boards in place of the plank ceiling. They are relatively cheaper than other professionally installed ceiling options, and there are DIY ones for you. Beadboards will create a focal point for your basement and completely hide all ceiling imperfections. However, they are susceptible to water damage.
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Using Metal Ceiling Materials
Corrugated metal or tin ceiling is another option for a finished basement with an exposed ceiling that’s looking to be covered. This ceiling option is not as easily damaged by water as the wooden options, although rust is a concern with them.
Metal ceiling materials can give your basement a rough look, depending on your choice of ceiling material, or they can transform that rough industrial look into a smooth industrial finish.
Finished Basement With Exposed Ceiling Ideas.
Using all the possible ways to convert your finished basement with an exposed ceiling to a fully finished basement, here are some ideas for fully finished basements with exposed ceilings.
Finished Basement With Exposed Ceiling Painted Black
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A black ceiling for a finished basement entails covering all the beams and under-floor surfaces with the same color. Black, being a dark color, hides the architectural features, electrical parts, plumbing, and fittings you want. It also allows easy access to these fixtures and features for easy repair and maintenance.
The black ceiling layer of your basement can go with a host of colors, but they are best combined with other neutral colors, such as white and gray of every shade. Also, the floor of your basement should be close to the ceiling’s or floor’s hue for color uniformity.
White Exposed Ceiling in Basement
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As a neutral color, white helps to brighten any space due to its high reflective property. Therefore, as an option for painting an exposed ceiling in a basement, it can make some imperfections in your basement obvious. However, it’ll also require you to install fewer light fixtures.
The beams, columns, and under-floor surface of your basement will have the same hue of white. You can pair the white exposed basement ceiling with other neutral colors, such as gray and beige. You can also use cool colors on your walls or furniture, such as blue and brown.
Exposed Basement Ceiling With Rustic Finish
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The natural wood finish and grains, surrounding expressive wooden features, and brown interaction among furniture and the room’s first and second layers make up a perfect rustic basement. You can apply these to your basement by allowing the beams and columns to remain exposed but treated to a spray and natural wood finish.
The floor and ceiling may be of similar hues, but the furniture should be of a different hue, a deeper brown. While you have the liberty of painting your basement walls in whatever color suits you, you should consider if you want to go full rustic or just a touch of it.
Related: Modern Ceiling Finishes
Bluish-Gray Exposed Basement Ceiling
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A less common basement ceiling painting option is the combination of blue and gray. The neutral and cool color combination gives you a focal point that’s unique and not overbearing.
Your fittings and plumbing can stay relatively well-hidden in the recesses of the beams and columns. However, for the walls, you’ll need to pair this gray ceiling with blue undertones with a relatively bright neutral color, such as white or beige.
Final Thought
The basement can be a habitable place. While covering up the ceiling can help improve heating and cooling efficiency, it may not be applicable to your basement. However, you can expose your basement ceiling by applying treatments such as painting them.
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