Since it comes up every time I show our basement here, on Instagram, or anywhere on the Internet, let’s discuss the eyesore that is drop ceilings and some of the available options to improve them.  Let me first declare that I am anti-drop ceiling.  I understand their practicality, affordability, and necessity in some circumstances, but I am still not a fan.  And, in my house, I strongly dislike having a drop ceiling.  I would say hate, but I don’t think I quite cross that line.  I just really, really don’t like them.  So, for all of those who point out how ugly the basement ceiling is, I am in full agreement with you.  If anyone felt like I needed convincing, I don’t. If drop ceilings were in the main living areas of the home, they would’ve been ripped out shortly after moving in.  In this particular basement, however, there were

Let’s talk about painting wallpaper.  In most cases, I am not in favor of it.  Painting wallpaper bonds the wallpaper to the drywall in a way that makes it almost impossible to remove down the road. Some wallpaper will bubble and crease when dampened by a fresh coat of paint.  It’s a shortcut that will almost always require more work at some point, such as replacing the drywall entirely or covering it with paneling.  But, there are times when the speed of painting over wallpaper outweighs all of the negatives. Such is the case with our basement.  For this basement to get a proper update, it really needs to be entirely redone.  New drywall, new ceiling, new lighting, and it would benefit from being reconfigured to allow some natural light.  When we bought the house, we thought we would renovate the basement, but after a couple of years of living