Before & After: With Only One Little Window, a Basement Rec Room Finds Its Light
Carli, of the blog Fearfully & Wonderfully Made by Carli, hadn’t gotten around to turning her basement into the comfy family room she had imagined when she and her family bought the house. Dark walls and a lack of lighting made for a dim space that was only partially furnished, and almost never used by the family. But, knowing that the space had the potential to become a bonus room, they took advantage of Raymour & Flanigan‘s 3-day white glove delivery to give the space a total makeover in just a few days.
The biggest challenge was making the room feel brighter, despite the lack of natural light. (The room’s only source is one small window.) They smartly went neutral, so that what light does come in will fill up the room. Shades of gray, beige, and white give a feeling of lightness and establish a neutral backdrop to build the rest of the room on. The Artemis II 3-piece sectional (Carli’s color is Gypsy Vintage) provides a visual anchor for the room as its largest and darkest piece, but it’s balanced with bright pieces like the thrift-store-find entertainment center her husband painted white.
Rugs are the workhorses of room design, really pulling a palette together. Carli’s white and gray Moroccan-style number does this beautifully, while also creating a cozy area for playtime. All those toys, games, and books have their own little hiding places easily found by little hands. Then when it’s time for the whole family to gather, the entertainment unit doubles as a cabinet with extra room for pillows and throws for when the floor turns into an overflow seating area.
Since this room was being designed as a family space, personalization was also key. Installing a duo of wall-to-wall shelves made plenty of space for family photos, plants, and other objects. And to give the eye little places to wander, Carli dotted the room with decorative accessories. Finally, a selection of throw pillows gives the neutral sofa some personality.
The best part about this basement refresh was the time it took — or lack thereof! Raymour & Flanigan offers 3-day white-glove delivery 7 days a week in many areas (see if yours is among them!), meaning furniture gets from the warehouse floor to your door in 72 hours or less. White-glove delivery also includes assembly assistance to get you in full rec-room mode all the faster.
This post is sponsored by Raymour & Flanigan.
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