All too often the basement gets a raw deal when it comes to home design, barely passing as an afterthought in terms of comfort and style.

From exquisite lighting to comfortably chic furniture, the basement is the perfect domestic canvas upon which to extend your personal polish and hospitality. Your basement columns, in particular, are likely due for a significant overhaul, and with such a wide variety of options to choose from, that’s hardly an act of drudgery.

From classic Grecian compositions to more sleekly modern renditions, as well as expertly designed units that double as shelving spaces, you’ll never look at a column the same way again after checking out these Top 50 Best Basement Pole Ideas.

Truth be told, the basements of many homes, especially older ones, can be downright foreboding. Transforming a drab living space into a place of welcome and reprieve may not be for the faint of heart, but is certainly worthy of the superior connoisseur. By adding that finishing touch to your basement, you can ensure years of optimal use and enjoyment, proving that a little structural reinforcement never looked so good.

1. Traditional Basement Pole Ideas

Because basement poles are responsible for supporting thousands of pounds of weight from the floors above, they can be difficult, if not impossible, to remove. They often take the place of a bearing wall. Therefore, we must usually find a way to make existing basement posts look attractive with our chosen decor. Fortunately, many simple traditional column ideas work well with just about any interior basement design plan. One of the simplest ways to cover basement poles is to buy pre-made covers designed for this purpose.

Designed to look like solid columns, these covers can be cut to fit around any size pole. They come in bare wood finishes that you can paint yourself, or pre-finished with various trims, textures, and colors. They’re even available in faux wood. A basic black column visually balances any other black areas in the room, such as a fireplace opening or TV screen. You can choose full square columns, rounded columns, or half-columns that extend from the floor to chair rail height.