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Beat the Heat: Escape to the Basement
When It's Too Hot or Rainy, Bring the Party Downstairs
Dripping skies and biting bugs are a quick way to put a halt to your backyard festivities, and extreme temperatures don't lend much of a favor, either. Rather than listen to your friends complain about one of these various ailments, bring them indoors for a party underground. A well planned basement is a quick fix for any outdoor nuisances that creep up and will alleviate the frustrations of having 20 people hover around your kitchen. Sweep everyone downstairs and brush your party woes aside — the basement is the place to be.
This lounge area feels cozy and welcoming with the help of warm, earthy colors. We have been drilled with the rule to avoid dark colors when there is a lack of natural light, but I say just go with the flow and rather than fight it. With sufficient lighting, a basement is the perfect area to use colors from the darker end of the spectrum.
A tabletop that's black or white is a good fit for a basement, as it doesn't feel as stuffy as those jade and wine colors I mentioned.
Embrace the natural light. Typically, the word "basement" can bring forth a few feelings of hesitation. Backed by thoughts of a dark or musty storage area, many folks who are enjoy basking in the sun don't really think of a basement as a fun place to spend the day. Prove them wrong through the use of basement windows or walkouts.
Exchange gardening for fishkeeping. Since keeping aquatic life is nowhere near as big of a hobby is gardening, your friends will gravitate towards a large tank and admire your efforts. The other cool part is that you'll have something to do all winter.
A fish tank also can substitute for a fireplace when it comes to creating a mesmerizing atmosphere.
Avoid the rain, keep the fire. A campfire is one of the biggest draws of a warm summer evening. Keep the vibe going strong through the arrival of rain by having your fireplace ready to go.
Swap the backyard bistro for an indoor bar. A basement bar is the perfect place to enjoy a favorite summer cocktail. Of course, you'll probably need more seating than this if you have more than one friend, but you get the idea.
If space constraints put a damper on your thoughts of a full-fledged bar, something like this can make the same impact. And if you are really short on space, you can always recess your bar space into a wall or small closet.
More: Browse basement photos
More: Browse basement photos