The 20 Best Basement Pole Cover Ideas

Basement poles are often there to provide support for the upper levels of the house. However, they can be unsightly and you may feel as if you can’t do anything to improve them. There are various ideas of how to upgrade the poles with a cover — many that you can do yourself.

The below ideas won’t alter the supportive nature of the poles and will instead help you make the basement pole more modern and stylish looking. If you’re looking to renovate and sell your house, finding a proper cover for your basement poles is a great way to add value.

1. Paint Your Basement Poles

Adding a fresh coat of paint can be a cheap and easy way to give them a fresh look. You may want to match the paint to the surrounding wall color, so the basement has a cohesive and clean look.

You can check the detailed project here: thechroniclesofhome.com

However, you can also choose to add some contrast to the room by painting the support poles a different color. You have many paint options and this makes for a great DIY project that anyone can complete.

This pole is painted a darker shade than the walls — but it still blends in nicely with the rest of the room. It’s a safe bet to choose any complimentary shade based on your current decor.

While you’re at it, paint your basement door and ceiling with the best paint available on the market.

2. Add a Round Shelf Around the Pole

If you don’t want to go through the trouble of building an extensive cover around your entire basement pole, you can simply add a small table or shelf. This adds some width to the pole and you can use the table for setting drinks on.

View the project here: etsy.com

This is a simple project and you can choose from a multitude of materials to form the table — you just have to saw out the centerpiece to affix it onto your beams.

Building a simple table is a great DIY project. You can use a simple saw like a circular saw for most of the cuts, and you can even opt for a DIY pallet end table instead of using expensive wood.

This is an especially helpful design if you have your basement converted into a TV, game room, or man cave. Often, people will enjoy drinks or small snacks in this room and you’ll have a conveniently located surface to place them onto.

3. Natural Trunk Cover

If you’d like to bring some of the great outdoors into your basement, you can opt for a customized tree trunk cover. You may need to special order these — as it’s unlikely that your local home improvement store keeps them in stock.

View the project here: etsy.com

You can create this pole cover if you’re confident in your DIY skills. You’ll need to cut a log, hollow it out, and then place it around your support beams. This can be a great way to add a statement piece into your basement.

This can be a great way to add a bit of whimsey to your basement if you’ve turned it into a children’s playroom. The basement can be turned into a wooded theme with more faux outdoor plants to go along with the trunk cover.

4. Add a Wooden Box Cover

For the advanced do-it-yourselfer that has access to a circular saw and some power tools. You’ll need to measure the length and width of your basement poles, so you know what size wooden plank to purchase.

View the detailed project here: thechroniclesofhome.com

Next, you’ll want to construct the box to surround the pole. You can attach the wooden planks by using a nail or screw gun.

You can choose to stain the wood to match the rest of the room. This is a great way to both protect the support beams and also to blend them into the rest of the room. You don’t want your poles to stand out as an eyesore.

5. Cover the Poles with a TV Area

If you want to completely cover your basement poles, you can add a larger statement piece such as a TV around them. This is a great example of a finished basement and you wouldn’t even guess that a support beam is hidden behind the TV.

View for other project ideas here: sebringdesignbuild.com

Adding the wooden centerpiece to the otherwise white room adds a nice contrast and brings the entire room together while also successfully hiding an unsightly beam.

6. Rustic Cover with a Table

If you enjoy the rustic theme that can be found in many modern homes — you may enjoy this pole cover design. Building a table with built-in lighting elements can create a functional and useful space.

For more project ideas, check it here: addvaluetoyourhome.com

You could use this area as a small office and the support beams can go from being an eyesore to an integral part of your basement decor.

7. Add Shelving for Books

If you have a small library worth of books, you can turn your basement support poles into a small bookshelf. This is a great way to maximize your storage capacity while hiding away your basement beams.

More project ideas here: nextluxury.com

The beams turn into a multifunctional aspect of your home — supporting the upstairs level while also holding up a shelf.

This is another example of a wooden bookshelf addition. You can match the beam and the shelves by using a wood stain. You may not even notice the support pole anymore — as it looks like a design feature.

Here are some great pallet shelve ideas and honeycomb hexagon shelve ideas.

8. Small Coffee Table Cover

If you have a living area near your basement support beam, you can add a coffee table around the beam. This is functional and allows you to make use of the beam instead of it taking up excess space.

More project ideas here: sebringdesignbuild.com

This design embraces a rustic feel — but you can modernize the look by adding a different wood stain and surrounding decor.

9. Modern Abstract Shelving

If you have two beams close together, you can use them to create a shelving unit with varying heights and lengths. The dark wood color and the black beams create a modern contrast and add value to the basement area.

View the detailed project idea here: addvaluetoyourhome.com

You can choose to place books or small decorative items onto the shelves. If you have a bar area in your basement, you can use the shelves to store liquor bottles as well.

10. Nautical Rope Wrap

If you have a beach theme throughout your home, you can wrap your basement support beams in a thick rope. This is a cheap and easy way to cover the poles and you can do it yourself over the weekend.

Check the steps for this project: apartmenttherapy.com

You’ll need some industrial strength adhesive to ensure that the rope stays in place once wrapped. If you have cats around, you’ll want to ensure they don’t climb up the poles as it may be tempting for them.

This is another example of a rope-wrapped basement pole. This suits a basement game room well and it’s a budget-friendly option if you don’t mind the twisted rope look.

11. Brick or Stone Cover

If you have a modern home and want to use stone over wood, you can cover your basement poles with the stone or brick of your choice. Depending on the style of the rest of the home, you’ll want to choose a stone that looks complimentary.

View for other project ideas here: sebringdesignbuild.com

This adds further support to the upper levels, as the stone is strong and sturdy as well. This isn’t a beginner-friendly DIY project and you may need to bring in a professional to complete this pole cover.

12. Octagon-Shaped Table

If you want to add a small sitting area to your basement, you can include a small table around your basement support pole. This particular table seats four and it can be a convenient way to make use of your beam.

Check for more ideas here: nextluxury.com

Basement poles can be inconvenient in that they take up space, usually in the middle of the room. However, you can turn the pole into a central feature of the basement.

13. Faux Palm Tree Cover

If you want to add a tropical vibe to your basement, you can cover your basement pole with a fake palm tree. You can gather some fake greenery to use as the top of the tree at your local craft store.

Check for more project ideas here: finishedbasementsplus.com

This is a creative solution to cover up a support beam and add a conversation starter to your home. You can surround the faux tree with smaller live plants, to carry on with the tropical theme.

14. Crown Molding Basement Pole Covers

If you want to add a beautiful touch to your basement, you can add crown molding to your support beams. You also have the option to paint the poles, either to match the rest of your walls or to add a touch of contrast.

View the other project ideas here: nextluxury.com

To cut crown molding, use your miter saw. Or, you can also use a coping saw or even a table saw for cutting crown molding. A crown molding jig can help make a large volume of cuts faster.

This is a traditional style and won’t complement most modern homes. However, if you have an older home — then this could be the perfect addition.

15. Padded Foam Covers

If you have small children who enjoy spending time in the basement, you can wrap the support beams in a padded foam material. You can purchase this foam and use the velcro to adhere it to the poles.

View for more idea here: foamsupport.com

You won’t have to worry about your children running into the poles and injuring themselves. The padded material comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose which one works best for you.

16. Dual Wood and Stone Cover

If you can’t choose between a wood or a stone/brick pole cover, you can choose both. These two materials offer a contrast to each other that ends up being complimentary. This adds a unique touch to your home.

You can check for other project here: nextluxury.com

This style suits both modern and rustic homes — depending on the shade of wood stain you choose. This adds a significant upgrade to your basement poles and adds a great deal of value to your home’s value.

17. Carpet Pole Cover

If you have a feline friend who needs a scratching post, then you can wrap your basement pole in the carpet. This provides for a cheap and simple scratching station for your pet. You can wrap the carpet with twine so that it stays on the pole and doesn’t harm the cat’s nails.

View the project idea here: pinterest.com

You can choose to wrap the carpet up the entire length of the pole or keep it towards the base. This is a great solution for your furry animals and they’ll be grateful for the new addition.

Other pet projects you could dive into include a DIY dog fence and a doghouse. Get more dog fence ideas here!

18. Antique Painted Covers

You can add an antique finish by painting your beams white and then adding a darker color with a brush. This makes the poles seem older and more rustic. This style can go well in a specific type of house, as long as the surrounding decor is complimentary.

View the detailed project here: addvaluetoyourhome.com

Try your hand out at spraying the paint with a paint sprayer. This will make the project faster, especially given that poles are curved and harder to paint by hand.

This won’t do well in a modern house and it would look out of place. However, this can be a fun DIY project and you would only need to buy a couple of paints and a brush to complete it — making it budget-friendly.

19. Dining Table Pole Cover

If you enjoy taking your meals to your basement, perhaps to watch the football game, you can turn your support beams into a full table. You can seat 3-4 people at this table and you’ll be making use of your basement poles.

View more ideas here: nextluxury.com

This cover works best if you have two beams that are near each other, though you could make do with one pole as well.

20. Rustic Barrel Cover

If you enjoy the decorative style that an old rustic barrel brings, you can add it to the base of your support beams. This makes for a great table to enjoy a glass of wine at the end of the evening.

View more project ideas here: homeawakening.com

You’ll want to stain the remainder of the pole to match that of the barrel. This design idea works best if the rest of your basement has rustic touches as well — so everything goes together cohesively.

There Are Many Ways to Cover Your Basement Poles!

Now that you have some inspiration, you can decide which option you’d like to choose to wrap your basement support poles. You don’t have to leave them as an unsightly eyesore that doesn’t provide any value to your living area.

You can add decorative features to the poles or even turn them into a functional table or shelving unit. If you want to DIY this project, you’ll want to ensure you have the proper tools — or you can choose to hire a professional to make quick work of the project.