Guest House Living RoomContemporary Family Room, Boston

5. A place to go bold. If adventuresome design defines your home, there’s no good reason to deny your basement the same treatment. Conversely, if your design aesthetic runs to the tame side, why not push the boundaries down below? This basement on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, uses bold blues and fabulous wallpaper by Porter Teleo to draw folks downstairs.

1. A place to go bold. If adventuresome design defines your home, there’s no good reason to deny your basement the same treatment. Conversely, if your design aesthetic runs to the tame side, why not push the boundaries down below? This basement on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, uses bold blues and fabulous wallpaper by Porter Teleo to draw folks downstairs.

More Is MoreFinally, sometimes the best way to handle a low ceiling is to refuse to give in. This basement uses striking colors, bold accents and plenty of furniture, and it highlights the ceiling with a wood treatment. However, amid the personality and fun, you don’t even notice that the ceiling is a little low. If you love a bold look, don’t let a simple low ceiling take you down without a fight.

Kim's house - use wallpaper with vertical movement to raise the ceiling.