A lot of people resolve to finish their basements, or other uncompleted rooms, as soon as they have the time and the money. They dream of the perfect game room, party room or family gathering spot. For too many folks, however, the years go by, the time and money never show up, and the dream room remains just a dream.

Here’s a suggestion: don’t wait any longer! You don’t need a major remodeling project to make that wasted area into a cheerful, useful space. With less effort and expense than you might have imagined, you can give your home a brand-new room! Read on for five tips on putting that underused area to work.

The Basics: Get It Ready

Whether you’re going to create a hobby room or a rec room, you’ll need a little prepping to get started. Here are a few ways to make that space look less like a cellar and more like a space with possibilities.

• Declutter. Unused rooms tend to collect “stuff.” If you still have unopened boxes from your move six years ago, it may be time to sell it, donate it or trash it. Then organize the things you actually need to keep. A few storage shelves can work wonders. They can be out in the open or behind a partition, depending on how you’re going to finish your area. Also, storage furniture such as a coffee table with drawers or a storage ottoman bench will help keep clutter under command.
• A treat for your feet. Basement floors are cold and hard. Modern area rugs do wonders to address that. Use one or two big rugs or a few smaller ones. Don’t forget a rug pad to provide extra cushion and protection from wear. If you decide you don’t like where they are, they’re easy to pick up and move.
• Light it up and lighten it up. Some lower levels are dark. A judicious use of lights and colors can lift the mood. Try track lighting, floor lamps or even LED strips. White and light paints help too. No matter how drab your room looks, there are creative ways to perk it up with paint. Cinder block walls, ceiling and rafters are all fair game for a creative paintbrush.
• Keep it as “basement-y” as you like. Here’s a thought: instead of disguising the fact that it’s a basement, celebrate it! Consider industrial style or industrial chic; it’s an option that gives you permission to display exposed brickwork, pipes, ducts and beams. A cement floor with modern rugs is an industrial design mainstay. The industrial look is an uncluttered look with a few furnishings. Grays and neutral colors fit right in.

If you add a sofa, a few chairs and maybe a TV set to your spruced-up room, you’ll find yourself spending more time in a space that used to be wasted space. But that’s just the start! There’s a ton more you can do. Here are five good choices:

Rec Room

Those sofa and chairs are a great start. Now, maybe bring in an entertainment center for the TV. Want to add a pool table or Foosball? Why not! You’ve got a flexible room that will grow and transform as you find new uses for it. Keep the uncluttered look with a storage ottoman or a few coffee and end tables with under-top storage.

Home Gym

Use the whole space or just a corner of the room. Another bonus of the industrial look: you can use free-standing shelving to divide the space into smaller spaces. Cover a section of floor with a workout mat. Add some music. Arrange your favorite equipment. You can even hang a kickboxing bag from a ceiling beam. Give that treadmill or cycling machine new life. It’s easier to work out when you have your re-imagined room to look at!

Hobby Central

Whether you’re a woodworker, an artist, a scrapbooker or a crafter, your brightened basement is the attractive place to pursue your hobby. There’s just the right mix of organized and informal, of creative and structured. Bring in whatever size bench, table or desk your pursuit demands and add a few sturdy chairs for like-minded friends to join you.

Tasting Room

A lot of people have basement bars, and they’re loads of fun, but how about a home wine tasting room. A basement temperature is perfect for your wine cellar, and you can keep your collection right out in the open. A bar, some barstools, and a rack for glassware, and you’re good to go. All you need is a few bowls of crackers and a home-printed menu describing your choices of the day.

The concept also works for beer, cocktails or, for that matter, flavored tea or craft soda pop.

Ever-changing One-night Party Room

Here’s a way you can have a different room each time you use it. Decorate with beach blankets and chairs for a beach party, eerie wall hangings for a Halloween party, red and green for a Christmas party. Your guests will see something new each time they arrive! Use appropriately decorated coverings to hide those parts of the unfinished room you don’t want to include in the party.

These are only five ways to make that basement into something more! And it’s not just for basements: any partially finished room can undergo this kind of transformation. Maybe you want a practice room for your garage/basement band, a dance studio lined with mirrors or a home casino. If so, go for it! Start getting that room into shape, and the hardest part may be deciding which of the countless options you want for your rediscovered space.