A basement is a bonus space for many homeowners. And what better use for extra room than something fun and entertaining? If you’re looking for ways to create a lively basement. You’ll find ideas for watching movies with the family, playing table tennis or pool, hosting a Scrabble match or even teeing off for a round of virtual golf.
10. Textural Treat
Wavy 3D wall panels add texture near an indoor pool in this luxe Toronto basement by Design Therapy. An eclectic mix of fabrics punches up a low-slung sectional sofa, while a circular coffee table picks up on the movement in the wall panels.
9. Movie Night Meetup
A projector and a large screen make this Boston-area basement the ultimate spot for family movie night. Pingpong and a foosball tables make it ideal for game night too. Jan Gleysteen Architects also worked in a kitchen and bar near the staircase.
8. Laid-Back Lodge
This beautiful lower level of a large Minnesota river lodge built by John Kraemer & Sons features a spacious open area with tight-weave carpet that supports a wealth of fun table games. Rich wood beams and other wood details give the space strong rustic style.
7. Golfer’s Getaway
In this Denver-area basement by Thomas Sattler Homes, the homeowners can virtually play 18 holes of golf. When they’re done, they can mosey over to a well-appointed bar for a cocktail or an Arnold Palmer.
6. Light-and-Dark Lounge
Veining in the quartz bar top inspired a dramatic color palette in this Naperville, Illinois, basement. Interior designer Christie Kenny pulled out charcoal and white to create sharp contrast and a cool lounge vibe. The long room contains three hangout areas: a seating area near a fireplace, a TV lounge and a kitchen.
5. Welcoming Warmth
One of the biggest basement design conundrums is whether to keep rafters, wires, pipes and ducts exposed or sacrifice ceiling height to cover them up. Design-build firm J.S. Brown & Co. kept the ceiling exposed in this Worthington, Ohio, basement and mitigated the raw look with a warm slatted-wood TV surround and a rich brown leather sectional, creating a welcoming living area.
4. Fresh Feature Wall
In this St. Michael, Minnesota, basement by construction2style, gray shiplap makes a large TV recede from view when not in use. Light wood floating shelves and media cabinets draw the eye away from the black rectangle too. A tall console table doubles as a bar, with stools for extra seating.
3. Layered Lair
Interior designer Erica Peale used a similar strategy with this Arlington, Virginia, basement media wall, done in a dark gray-blue. Layers of textures, including shiplap, jute, wood, leather, wool and chenille, cozy up the space and create a rich materials palette.
2. Scrabble Space
This Milwaukee basement by Deep River Partners includes a media room and an exercise room, but this spot for Scrabble in the middle of a gaming area drew a lot of attention. With its large Scrabble wall board and Scrabble tile-inspired pillows, this happy place gets a high score.
1. Family Fun
The Denver space, designed by Ejay Interiors, has a stylish conversation area, a beverage bar, a cozy reading nook under the stairs and a pingpong table.
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