How to Turn Your Basement into a Kids' Playroom
Keep costs down by sticking with secondhand furniture and quick, yet functional, fixes
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Head Copywriter for Layla Grayce and Zinc Door.
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Every kid needs a space to release his or her endless bounds of energy — ideally, that area is not in the middle of your carefully curated living room. Give your kids their own designated section of the house by transforming a basement space into a playroom. Because this room will probably change in function after your children have grown, it doesn’t need to get a large or pricey renovation. More importantly, it should be a fun, imaginative area that will keep the kids active.
Before jumping into your basement renovation, read a few tips and tricks from the pros to get you on the right track.
Before jumping into your basement renovation, read a few tips and tricks from the pros to get you on the right track.
by Wentworth, Inc.
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Plan the placement of the playroom in relation to adult spaces. This is especially important if your kids are fairly young, since you’ll want to keep an eye on them while they’re at play.
“Most often, parents like to reposition the furniture so that they can watch television and the kids at the same time,” says interior designer Lisa Wolfe of Lisa Wolfe Design. “Figure this out before you determine which section of the basement will become the new kids' room so you create a space the entire family can enjoy.”
“Most often, parents like to reposition the furniture so that they can watch television and the kids at the same time,” says interior designer Lisa Wolfe of Lisa Wolfe Design. “Figure this out before you determine which section of the basement will become the new kids' room so you create a space the entire family can enjoy.”
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| Consider square carpet tiles. Wall-to-wall carpeting is one of the most common choices for basement flooring. But in a basement playroom, this approach has some drawbacks — not only are basements prone to moisture and flooding, but accidental spills or damage from playful kids may require an expensive repair or replacement. “A solution to this is flooring in square tiles,” says interior designer Sara Hopkins of Sara Hopkins Interiors. “They’re available in a variety of choices, including patterned vinyl that resembles wood or square carpet tiles. All are easily installed and can be individually replaced in the event of any damage.” |
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by Aurelio Vazquez
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| Shop secondhand. “There’s no need to spend a lot of money on this space,” says Wolfe. “Unless you plan on having toddlers around for 10 years, you truly need furnishings to look good and last for around five years.” Wolfe suggests taking advantage of secondhand stores like Salvation Army, garage sales or super discount places. “Remember, there are ecofriendly paints in every color under the sun to make an old piece new and fun again,” she says. |
Durable furniture fabric is a must. Even if you’re shopping secondhand, keep an eye out for durable fabric. “Considering that this seating will get stained and heavily used, look for something that will last,” says Hopkins. “One of the most forgiving fabrics is an ultra suede. It appears delicate, yet it’s one of the most durable and cleanable coverings made.”
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| Seek functional pieces that don’t look too childlike. A playroom doesn't have to look like a chaotic kindergarten classroom. Keep in mind that most basements are one big open room, meaning a playroom is going to be adjacent to a TV room or even a bar area. “If the playroom is sharing space with the adult section of the basement, try to select furnishings that almost look like an extension of the adult area,” says Wolfe. “Kid-size craft tables and chairs have come a long way from bubble gum style to cool, mini-me pieces.” |
by CWB Architects
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Maximize storage. “Whether it's an open cubby concept with baskets or long credenza with drawers, it is critical that the kids have plenty of places to store their toys,” says Wolfe. “It goes back to that idea of reclaiming the adult space once the kids are through for the day.” Wolfe suggests shopping at places like Ikea or West Elm for functional, age-neutral storage pieces that won't break the bank.
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Separate the adult space from the kid space. “Consider sliding doors, drapery panels or even folding screens to physically section off the playroom or obscure the view when it is adult-time,” says Wolfe.
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Balance the wall space. “Because kids’ furniture is shorter than normal, the biggest problem I see with playrooms is that the space becomes bottom heavy,” says Wolfe. “Oftentimes, there is no thought taken to the treatment of the vertical space.”
To cure this, Wolfe suggests hanging photographs, art montages or permanently affixed blackboards. Don’t want to spend too much money on artwork? A very affordable artist may be right under your nose. “Your kids’ imaginations are often the best source for artwork: Give them credit and proudly showcase drawings in frames,” she says.
To cure this, Wolfe suggests hanging photographs, art montages or permanently affixed blackboards. Don’t want to spend too much money on artwork? A very affordable artist may be right under your nose. “Your kids’ imaginations are often the best source for artwork: Give them credit and proudly showcase drawings in frames,” she says.
Ideabook published on Aug. 31, 2012.
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All the mommies I encounter today would be very jealous of my mom and her friends. Their idea of toys was different. They relied VERY HEAVILY on the great outdoors, and were not even picky about weather. Nope! They stuffed you into a snow suit and pushed you out the door. Or put you in rubber boots and a slicker and pushed you out the door. With some sort of "postman philosophy", moms believed as long as you were reasonably dressed for the elements, it likely wouldn't kill you. And it didn't. Inside, blankets and a few couch cushions or dining room chairs made a fort, cardboard boxes on the back lawn made a play house. We had sandboxes, the tricycles, chalk for the driveway and sidewalk....the stroller to push with our "babies" in it. And lots of crayons and paper for inside. Their favorite words were "AMUSE YOURSELF", and magically we did, or Mom would say "I think someone needs a NAP!" She couldn't escape, because Dad had the only car. All this while she was stuck in a small house, with three kids sleeping in one bedroom so TINY.... one bed was a murphy that attached to the wall during the day. The underside was a blackboard. If it sounds like a "good ol days" story, it is. Oh, and there was nothing on tv after Captain Kangaroo........ I think it just went to..... "snow" . Can you even believe it? BELIEVE IT.
I loved the idea book too!!
Now, as a Nana, my "playroom" consists of the one thing that seems to be missing from all of their play things at their own homes - IMAGINATION! It seems that when the kids are playing with toys that have a lot of sounds and visual stimulation, they sit and expect the toy to play with them. When that runs out of entertainment value, the kids are bored. I don't have many things that require batteries. Most things run on brain power and make believe. That kind of energy can last much longer than batteries The kids seem to be entertained much longer and they LOVE playing at my house! Just some food for thought. . .
marcie
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