Basement playroom/media room layout ideas please!

taranator N

7 years ago

We have a nice open area to work with, but can't decide where to put things!

The area that I am talking about is labelled 'media room' in the image.

We would like it to have:

1 - a TV and a couch area (sectional?)

2 - 2 exercise machines and a

3 - a toy storage/play zone.

The windows are all very high and shouldn't affect the TV placement. I am imagining the TV mounted on the wall backing onto the bathroom. My husband thinks it should go on another wall. Thoughts?

Featured Answer

Kristin S

7 years ago

I’m with your husband - I think if you put it on that wall the seating area will feel like it’s in a traffic way and not particularly cozy. I’d probably do either:

1) playroom directly across from the stairs, tv either on the lower end of the long wall or under the three smaller windows, and exercise equipment tucked away in the corner; or

2) exercise equipment across from the stairs, playroom in the lower right corner, and tv tucked around the corner in the lower left corner.

To me #2 creates the coziest-feeling tv spot, but puts the exercise equipment on display, so to speak. #1 tucks the exercise equipment out of the way and puts the playroom near the office/bathroom/stairs, making it easier for younger children to feel close to adults while playing and for parents to keep an eye on older ones.

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Comments (12)

frenchtarragon
7 years ago
I'm going to side with DH on this one. If you mount the TV on the bathroom wall, then you'd have to put the couch directly opposite it, which would break up the room and make it feel cramped. I might mount the TV on the stair wall with a sectional in the bottom left corner. That corner also has the least natural light, which makes for a better viewing experience, and is farthest from the office to minimize noise issues. You could put a rug with toy shelving in the bottom right and the 2 exercise machines near the bathroom wall (I'm assuming you're referring to ellipticals/bikes rather than multifunction exercise machines that take up a ton of floor space).
taranator N thanked frenchtarragon
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er612
7 years ago
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taranator N thanked er612
taranator N
Original Author
7 years ago
There is something nicer about having the TV area tucked into the corner, but it does make us 'display' our exercise equipment which is not so lovely (bike and eliptical). Thanks guys, food for thought!
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taranator N
Original Author
7 years ago
...wow. ER612, that could work too.
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er612
7 years ago
A few more...
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taranator N thanked er612
One Devoted Dame
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Whatever you decide to do, I would, personally, want the toys as far away from the stairs as possible for safety reasons, and tucked into that lower left corner to keep them out of sight when the area gets a bit messy. :-)

Of the layouts proposed by ER, my favorite is in the latest batch of 4 (upper left quadrant), right above my post, except I'd put the toys where the exercise equipment is, and have the exercise stuff by the stairs/bathroom wall. I especially like the symmetry of the TV/furniture arrangement with the windows.
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taranator N thanked One Devoted Dame
chispa
7 years ago
Do you want to be able to watch TV when using the eliptical and bike?

I watch series/netflix, which keeps you wanting to come back to exercise the next day to watch the next episode!
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Jay Walsh
7 years ago
@er612 sorry to hijack but could you do a similar drawing for my basement? https://i.imgur.com/yMbbop3_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=medium. We are looking to fit a storage room by the HVAC,a gym, a media room (potential projector), and a family room with seating, as well as a bar.
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taranator N
Original Author
7 years ago
Hey Jay - I like what ER is doing too! Hope that they can help you. :)

I like option #2, and option #3. Interesting because I hadn't thought of option #3.
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sprink1es
7 years ago
I think the bottom left nook makes the most sense for a play area. If you had no play area, then I'd use it for tv/couch area.

IMO for a TV, I never want a window over/close to it or else it messes with my eyes and ruins the TV picture. Same thing with a glare, don't want a window behind you to reflect off the TV. That's my ideal opinion, otherwise there's always curtains!
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taranator N
Original Author
7 years ago
I know what you are saying sprink1es, but in our case I am sure that the TV will be mainly used at night when the windows shouldn't have any impact. After much thought, I think I would rather hide the exercise equipment from view when first coming down the stairs, so that makes #2 the winner for us! We will also have blinds on all the windows, so that we have the option to watch TV comfortably during the day.
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