Do your kids long for a place of their own, one where there’s more freedom to play than in their bedrooms or the living room? With a basement remodel, you could create a space just for the kids or the family room you've always wanted. The kids will have a year-round space no matter the weather, and you'll have a little more quiet time too.
Converting your basement into a playroom is a multi-layered process, which includes the fun stuff — decorating it, and the not-so-fun stuff — building it out. But before either of those can happen, you’ll need a plan. (Read: Organizing a Custom Playroom that Inspires) Here are some ideas for how to use the space you’ve got and create something magical.
Define Spaces in Your Basement Remodel with Furniture Groupings
As with any space in the home, furniture groupings can help divide a large, open space into smaller “rooms” within the room. Child-size furniture helps the square footage go a bit further, too. Multi-purpose furniture, such as an ottoman or low table with storage underneath and book cases with benches and cubbies help keep books and toys out of sight. They help make cleanup easier, too.
Don’t forget to take advantage of wall space. Instead of decorating the walls with art that has no function, chalkboards and whiteboards on the walls add to the decor and give kids more places to be creative.
Remodel with Knee Wall Partitions for Storage
If you really want to divide a wide-open basement space, think about knee walls with book cases built in. Because knee walls are low, they don’t break up the room into cubes. But they do function as dividers that can separate areas for reading, active play, study, and other activities.
With book cases or other storage built into the knee walls, you get more mileage out of the room’s space. And they also let you keep like things in similar areas. There can be books on one side in a reading area, and balls on the opposite side in an area for more active play.
You could even incorporate a countertop over a knee wall for seated areas where kids can do homework.
Organize the Basement with Perimeter Built-Ins
If you want a basement that can accommodate a wide range of activities, think about built-ins surrounding the whole room. This gives you plenty of ceiling-to-floor storage, and the space in the middle can be used for whatever inspires your kids on any given day.
A larger space also lets you add interesting and fun elements such as swings and other ceiling-mounted activity areas that you couldn’t incorporate on the main floors of the house.
Another interesting idea with a wide-open basement play area is a rock climbing wall. Just be sure there are plenty of padded mats on the floor below it.
Remodel Your Basement for Sports-Minded Kids
If there’s a particular sport that your kids just can’t get enough of, why not dedicate all or part of the basement to it? There might be room for half-court basketball, dodgeball, or other games that involve a lot of active play.
Cushioned flooring and pads mounted on the walls keep kids safe, and storage that’s recessed into the walls removes the danger of running into obstacles throughout the room.
The scope of your basement remodel will be partly dictated by your budget and the space you have to work with. (Read: Remodeling Budget and Neighborhood Home Values) Maybe you don’t have room for basketball, but you might have room for a rock climbing wall and reading area. When in doubt, ask you kids what they’d like.
What matters most to you in a basement remodel with a kids focus? We’d love for you to share your ideas.
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