Using a 'roll-on' finish on 50 year old concrete slab is more difficult than you think. Those old slabs do NOT have a moisture barrier beneath them. That means moisture is moving through the slab all day every day x50 years.

As soon as you try to 'cap' it, the moisture begins to build up until it overwhelms the thing you put on top. Then you have a real mess.

Carpet has been used in these situations for, well, 50 years. Carpet breaths = the water vapour continues to move through the slab and into the air without any issue.

I would think an indoor-outdoor rugs would have the same properties. They would allow the moisture to move through without much issue.

@SJ, the slab is actually 90 years old. It is in such great shape, Thanks for the info about the constant moisture movement. So the Rugs would be the best option in the areas that I want a little more fancy looking. The old fruit room will just have to settle with a new coat of paint on the shelving and interior walls, which is nearly finished. I'm sure the new paint will be covering up lead based paint from the 50's or earlier.

@User thanks, for the input. I don't know about prices for the larger rugs, usually I see the 5x7' about $50-60. Thats a good size for my space, as my areas are small. Its the size I have in the old 8x7' bedroom off of the kitchen that is now DH office. That old bedroom is tiny, I can't believe my in-laws slept in there for years, as they raised their family, and before they added on in the 70's.

The basement area I'm looking at is under the old part of the house and small. So several 5x7' rugs will be doable and portable, when I want to take them out to hose them off.

I'd need very large rugs to fill my areas!

Prices are pretty steep for 5 x 7 rugs. Check out supplies online. May have to wait until fall to get some deals.

We have 3500 square feet of basement. We cleaned it out this past week. It was a bear!

This photo represents less than half the space.

@User My house is 1200sf in the main floor. The basement is the same, except the old part is only about 700sf. In the 70s an addition was added to make it 1200sf total, with an extension to the basement as well under the addition. I would love to have the rooms be larger, but all are small.

I think I will be glad to have no basement for catchalls!

We need our basement for tornado safety ;) The added storage is a bonus :/

It sounds like shopping for indoor-outdoor area rugs is a great option for you. They are easy to deal with, they can handle the constant moisture moving through and they can be rolled up, taken outside and hosed off (even a good scrub with a 10% bleach solution if needed).

Home Depot, Lowe's, Rona (if you are in Canada: Canadian Tire and Loblaw's/Superstore have large outdoor sections) to get kitted out with 5-6 of them.

Have fun!

And the rugs come so many styles. I’m looking forward to the next phase of this major overhaul.