Interior and Health

The basement is one of those unused and often unfinished spaces within a house that can be turned into extra living space without the cost of adding a room. However when it comes to decorating such a large and empty area, the very idea can be daunting. The family room is a great place to get away from the pressures of everyday chores. Forget the piled up laundry and baby clothes to be folded. The loads of washing newborn baby clothes and designer diaper bags for a little while, and simply put your feet up and relax in your newfound refuge.

Of course before you can enjoy the ideal basement family room there is some work to be done. For instance; if the laundry room and piles of  newborn baby clothes are downstairs  in the basement as they are in so many homes it is important to arrange a walled off area for laundry. There is nothing worse than settling down to a family night and looking over to see a pile of baby clothes and designer diaper bags waiting to be washed.

Many large basements have more than enough room to fit in a full entertainment system, the concealed laundry area, and may even be divided into sections just as a larger room upstairs might be. For instance, the entertainment area can be sectioned without the use of walls by simply arranging comfortable chairs, a nice area rug and perhaps a coffee table as a focal point in that area.  Adjustable lighting in this area can make the entertainment center the focus of the section.

For parents and guests entertainment, a bar area might be placed in a corner complete with a built in fridge. This area can feature lower lighting, bar stools and perhaps a few scattered tables for two for more intimate conversations.

Younger children need not be left out of the ideal basement family room, particularly if the area to be decorated is large. An area rug with bright primary colors and a selection of children’s toys might fit in this area perfectly. Bright lighting and colorful furniture can finish off this section.  Just like the main living area of a home, walls are not necessary to designate a purpose for an area and still keep the flow of the room and traffic.

Many homeowners make the mistake of believing they require walls to designate areas in a basement. This might be necessary in some circumstances such as to disguise the laundry area, but it is not necessary to go to the expense of putting in walls when areas of use can be designated simply by using different lighting and taking advantage of focal points instead of walls.  Spend a little time deciding how many uses your basement might accommodate then use your imagination to design the perfect multi-use basement without walls.