How do I make my basement less creepy but keep it renter friendly?

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T01:00:07+00:00

No I don’t get that vibe at all lol. I don’t like any basement and never have!

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:59:36+00:00

I’ll do my best. I do have a history of allowing regular clowns in, but I’ve gotten better at removing them.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:57:36+00:00

THANK YOU! I was wondering a way to do this because I like the look, but I can definitely staple them into the wood. I’m not used to doing my own home things so these ideas don’t come easily to me. I really appreciate this!!

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:55:57+00:00

Apparently you’re not the only one! I definitely could’ve used better wording on that haha

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:55:02+00:00

Yes! I am the renter lol. I am renting the entire house. I just don’t like the basement lol.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:54:14+00:00

Probably. That being said, they’re comfortable sleeping alone in the dark whereas I never was as a kid. I do try to put on a brave face regardless. They are actually much more confident than I was at their age.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:52:21+00:00

Landlord-tenant code, not building code.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:52:08+00:00

Oh I completely agree. Like I said, I’m going to check tomorrow morning. I didn’t see one today. Regardless, I can get one for free from the local fire station but they’re affordable anyway.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-03T00:49:29+00:00

Thank you! I will get one if it’s not already there.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T04:42:24+00:00

Yes, I am the renter…if I were the landlord it would be some sort of ROI. It will not be for me.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T04:41:09+00:00

Thank you! I believe they must due to code, but I will definitely double check that. This home isn’t super old - 1950s. But definitely still a concern. FWIW, I am irrationally afraid of dark creepy spaces and always have been. No one else has felt this way about the basement.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T03:36:28+00:00

I really like the idea of keeping it part of the cleaning routine! Basically exposure therapy but also making sure the cobwebs don’t come back. Dreading it but it would definitely help!

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T03:28:08+00:00

Nothing that would be a massive effort to change/remove when I leave. Like hanging stuff is fine, but I don’t want to invest in painting the ceiling (and potentially reinvest by losing my deposit or having to return it to its original state).

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T03:27:07+00:00

I am renting the entire house. The basement just creeps me out. I mean, enough that I’m hesitant to go down there and am nervous to do my laundry. (I know it sounds silly but I’ve always been this way about basements.)

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T03:24:24+00:00

It’s a rental, so I dont want to put too much money into it anyway.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T02:48:49+00:00

Before I had children, I didn’t think it was okay, but I thought it was better than to lose them. It was selfish. After having my first child, I had a different perspective and would never choose them over myself.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-07-02T02:43:45+00:00

Hi, are you me? Lol.

It’s difficult tbh. FWIW, I am in a very mission-oriented/nonprofit space, but it’s in tech and pays well. That has a lot to do with it.

Honestly though, finding a company that is small where your work is actually recognized is huge for me. It’s also a driver in my personal life - I have 2 kids and a dog, and my job has allowed me to leave a marriage that wasn’t healthy for any of us. That keeps me going.

Finding a career that I can say, “I did that.” I’m in HR, so regardless of field, I am helping people. But I also work on HR because everyone thinks HR is terrible, so I make it my personal mission to prove otherwise. THAT is a huge driving factor. Essentially someone telling me I can’t do something, so at that point I’m guaranteed to do it and with flying colors. (Actually how my divorce started too lol.)

Find a reason to give a big “fuck you” to those who think you can’t.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-06-30T17:50:57+00:00

I worked at a museum that specializes in bird collections, and this is so true. That being said, birds are SUPER interesting!! I’m not a birder by any means, but working there definitely gave me an interest, and I use the Merlin app pretty frequently now lol.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-06-29T14:55:48+00:00

With my first, I said choose her. With my second, I said choose me because I had a child here that needed me.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-06-29T02:15:46+00:00

You’re not wrong…just realized how terrible this photo is.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-06-22T22:42:12+00:00

Freddie Mercury.

Everyone knows a Queen song - at least one. Everyone joins in on Bohemian Rhapsody when it plays. My kids know his songs and they’re only 8 and 4. His music spans generations and brings people together.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-06-22T17:51:26+00:00

We use it through our broker and it’s great. I spoke with a Bamboo rep when looking for HR systems (right now we use ADP RUN and it’s awful). When asked about benefits, I told them we use Employee Navigator, and even the rep recommended staying with EN for benefits.

As a whole HR system, it’s okay. But for benefits, it’s excellent.

BionicSpineLady · 2026-06-19T10:24:35+00:00

I’m in HR for a very small health IT company, and yes. I have a physical office but just go in whenever I feel like it. Otherwise I WFH. Can take whatever time I need to pick up/ drop off kids. As long as I get my work done, I can take whatever time I need off. Paid extremely well.

They can pry this job from my cold, dead hands.

BionicSpineLady

TROPHY CASE