DIY Basement Upgrades

[Matt Rutter]

I'm looking for some helpful DIY basement upgrade ideas!

We recently purchased a 4-unit rental property in Cleveland and the basement serves as the communal laundry room.  Completely unfinished with exposed foundation, pipes, hot water heaters, crawl space, etc. The walls need a good brush down with a broom and the ceiling for some cobwebs.

That being said, while it isn't a large space we'd love ideas on how we can make this space a little more inviting for our tenants.  We've tossed around the idea of hanging curtains to cover the exposed foundation and adding some storage shelves for laundry products. 

I'd love to hear what you have done either DIY or on a budget to make these types of spaces a bit more welcoming than just a dark, damp basement.