Finally, you’ve commissioned your long-awaited basement remodeling project! And while there’s a lot of work on the horizon, you can’t help but start thinking about the interior design of your finished space.

With so many themes and ideas to choose from, it’s a very exciting time. But once you are faced with the blank canvas of your new basement, the prospect quickly becomes pretty daunting! What color scheme should you choose? How can you incorporate particular styles and influences? Are there any rules you should bear in mind? To help you out, here are 5 places to look for interior design inspiration.

1. Pinterest

Pinterest is a virtual pinboard perfectly suited to planning the design of your home. With a constant stream of ideas - ranging from the achievable to the outrageous - it’s a great place to visit, especiallyy if you are struggling for ideas. Once you have an account, set up your own ‘interior design’ board and get pinning!

2. Houzz

With an ever-growing database of more than 20,000 basement design photos, Houzz is a fantastic place to check out other transformed basement spaces. The browse by style function is especially useful - including ‘contemporary’, ‘eclectic’ and ‘traditional’. And it’s not limited to basements only - every area of the home is covered!

3. Etsy

There’s no place quite like Etsy. A unique marketplace dedicated to creative makers, you can find all kinds of inspiration here - from geeky soft furnishings to stylish furniture and more. Set aside an hour or two to browse and marvel - oh and don’t be surprised if you can’t help spending a few dollars!

4. House Beautiful

The online version of House Beautiful is a treasure trove of articles - including design tips, color scheme advice and before and after case studies. Head here if you need some guidelines to follow - you’ll find out every ‘do’ and ‘don’t for interior design! The printed magazine is a great read, too.

5. Design Sponge

And last but not least, Design Sponge is one of the best blogs out there for inspiration and ideas. It is constantly being updated, and there is even an entire section dedicated to Illinois!

6. All around you!

From restaurants to retail outlets, interior design inspiration is all around you! Next time you go out, keep your eyes open and take note of any ideas you would like to incorporate into your basement.

Where do you find your interior design inspiration? Do you tend to ‘wing it’, or do you meticulously plan every detail? Have we missed your favorite interior design website from the list? We love to hear your stories, tips and tricks - so let us know via Facebook, Twitter, or Google+!