How to Turn Your Basement into a Kids' Playroom
Keep costs down by sticking with secondhand furniture and quick, yet functional, fixes
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.
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.”
“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.”
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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.
“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.”