10 Basements For The Whole Family

Transform your dreary, unfinished basement into a space everyone can enjoy with these 10 inspiring basement ideas.
 

Pretty and Playful

Transform your unfinished basement into a dream playroom for little girls. Soft blues and pinks are the perfect palette for this innocent and feminine child’s space. A built-in shelving unit with small wicker baskets helps to keep toys organized and neatly stored, while still making them easy to reach for little ones.

Adults Only

This chic, industrial basement quickly became an at-home getaway. The unfinished space was spiced up with warm chocolate hues and urban appeal, while providing all the warmth and coziness of an upstairs room. With a casual lounge area, wet bar and work studio, this is definitely a mature, toy-free zone.

A Family Affair

Turn an unfinished basement into an all-encompassing media room, playroom, mudroom, guest bedroom, bathroom and pantry. The child’s playroom offers plenty of space to play on the rainbow-colored rug or at pint-size tables. A wall-to-wall shelving unit displays favorite toys, while keeping art supplies hidden in the cabinets.

Ready for Company

Turn your basement into a place for both entertaining and relaxing. By blending traditional materials and furnishings with modern accessories, the space delivers a cozy, at-home feel with a party-ready vibe.

A Place for Him

A wood plank ceiling, hardwood floors and natural stonework set a rustic, outdoors tone for this basement-turned-ski lodge. A fully stocked bar and lounge area makes this the perfect place to relax after hitting the slopes or for watching sports on the weekends.

Pool Time

Nothing says ‘man cave’ quite like an extra-large projector screen, fully stocked bar and billiards table. Traditional, masculine hues — like copper, chocolate brown, sage and tan — offer a warm color scheme without making the space feel dark and enclosed.

Chic and Sophisticated

This modern basement features all the amenities for a fun family gathering. This is a sophisticated, multifunctional room where guests and family can enjoy drinks, dine, relax, watch television and play pool. The grass-cloth wall covering, concrete countertops and warm brown hues set a soothing and relaxing tone in a formerly concrete-covered basement.

Brand-New Space

Originally a two-car garage, this space was transformed into a living area with a media room, bathroom, home office, laundry room and utility room. With crisp, white walls, modern furnishings and fresh, hardwood floors, it’s hard to believe this room was once covered in cement.

Masculine Theme, Feminine Appeal

Who says sleek, contemporary decor and sports memorabilia can’t go together? Create an elegant, sports-themed basement the entire family could enjoy. By adding plenty of plush seating, a soft area rug and a stylish, kid-friendly mini bar, this space proves to be a place for both guys and girls.

Boy Zone

Foosball, air hockey and a video gaming station are just a few of the amenities in this teen man cave. Add an extra-large, cozy sectional and kept the decor simple and sleek to create the perfect space for him and all his friends.

6 Trends From The Most Popular Sunrooms

It’s a nice time of year to enjoy your sunroom. And if you don’t have one, now is a good time to start making plans for one, as these window-lined rooms are a real treat to spend time in when warm summer days seem like a distant memory. Called “Florida rooms” by many, they are filled with sunlight and bring a piece of sunny vacationlands to our homes during the colder months. Here are 10 of the most popular sunroom photos this quarter.
1. Quintessential Florida room style. It’s hard to resist this classic sunroom look. Tropical prints, extensive windows, rattan and bamboo furniture, and the pale blue ceiling bring sunny Florida up to Illinois year-round at this house.
2. Brick flooring. The brick flooring adds an outdoor element to this New Jersey room. It has many elements in common with the previous popular photo: the light blue ceiling, classical arches and transoms, and light British Colonial-style furniture you’d find in the Caribbean.

3. Interesting ceiling shapes. This space is a conservatory addition to a classic Tudor-style home in Wisconsin. The architecture of the sloped ceilings and cupola outfitted with transoms give the room a light and relaxed feel.

This Michigan conservatory has a similar relationship to the house (check out more of it) and is similar in size to the one in previous photo. It also has a soaring ceiling. The slate flooring and the patina on those doors and transoms make a stunning combination. This room also has a dedicated space for dining surrounded by the view.
4. Layers of texture. Limestone flooring, a natural-fiber rug, a brick arch and a wood ceiling create a warm, comfortable retreat in this Michigan sunroom. Also note the arched French doors that allow for views through to the rest of the home and vice versa.
This modern sunporch has warmth layered in via teak and leather. Details like the Moroccan lanterns, subtle Greek key pattern on the chairs and variety of throw pillows give it eclectic flair.

Layers can also lend relaxed boho style. Layered rugs, a hanging daybed, a leather Moroccan pouf, a Moroccan rug and a wide mix of textiles add up to laid-back bohemian style here.

5. Contemporary lines. If a traditional sunroom can be called a Florida room, is the more modern or contemporary version a California room? I don’t know. But the rectilinear black windows and doors of the architecture set the tone for this contemporary room’s style. Low-slung deep sofas make this the most inviting spot on the property for a nap.
Clean lines also bring the modern to “modern farmhouse.” Board-and-batten siding, a brick-colored floor, oversized gingham upholstery and bold black graphic touches bring the farmhouse part of the style.
6. Fire. Style aside, there’s one more big thing to consider for your sunporch — a fireplace or wood stove. Yes, sunrooms are a lovely place to pretend the weather is warmer, but if all of those windows and doors are not energy-efficient, these rooms can be challenging to heat. We’ve seen an uptick in fireplaces and wood stoves in sunrooms lately. They make them a cozy spot for snuggling up with a hot toddy in the winter.

How To Install Under Cabinet Lighting & Power

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Learn how to install your own backsplash!

Lighting Steps
1. Go to the main electrical panel and turn off the power to the existing under cabinet lights and outlets.
2. Unscrew the old light fixtures from the underside of the cabinets.
3. Use a jigsaw to cut a hole in the cabinet back for an old-work junction box.
4. Cut a similar hole in the wall directly above the cabinets.
5. Push two nonmetallic electrical cables through the upper hole and down into the hole cut inside the cabinet.
6. Cut a hole in the kitchen wall for an old-work switch box, then use a fish tape to pull a cable into the hole.
7. Push the ends of the cables through the rear of the switch box, then screw the box to the kitchen wall.
8. Wire a dimmer switch into the box; be sure the switch is designed for use with LED lights.
9. Make the wire connections in the junction box inside the cabinet. Screw a blank cover onto the junction box.
10. Make the wire connections inside the light fixtures, then screw the fixtures to the underside of the cabinets.
11. Run a new cable to the wall beneath the cabinets, then install the 120-volt outlet strips.
12. Make the final wire connections at the outlet strips and test your work.