Cozy Basement Family Lounge Design || $100 Room Challenge

Eeek I can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m jumping in the $100 Room Challenge for the month of September! I’ve participated twice before, but it’s been 2 years since I last did! Most of our basement is dumping grounds for toys and play-space for the kids, but there is a small nook that we’d like to reclaim for our Family Lounge space. Today, I’m sharing the before photos and plans for Our Cozy Basement Family Lounge!

$100! Crazy right?!

You can see all of the posts from past $100 Room Challenges here.

THE $100 ROOM CHALLENGE

If you’re just tuning in for the first time, the spirit of the $100 Room Challenge hosted by Erin of Lemons, Lavender and Laundry is to take a room and make it over with a $100 budget and over the course of a month. This is when thrifting, stalking clearance aisles, shopping your home and diy projects all come in really handy!

Sometimes it’s just about taking what you have and getting the room over the finish line. Why is that so hard to do sometimes?! It seems like that last 20-30% are the toughest!

In 2017, I zhushed up our Main Floor Powder Room for the $100 Room Challenge and then in 2018, I created a space for our company to stay in the Basement Guest Bedroom [which was later featured on Apartment Therapy].

Other than the Guestroom and play space [which hasn’t been touched], we also updated the Basement Guest Bathroom in 2018. And NOW it’s time to give some love to the back corner of the basement! We currently have a small TV area with a sofa and chair, as well as a wet bar and a wall of cabinets on the side.

I see some potential here you guys!

I have big plans for the Basement Family Room, but with lofty design goals, I’ve got my work cut out for me. Let’s jump in and take a look at the before pictures and Mood Board so you can see what I’m working with!

BASEMENT FAMILY LOUNGE BEFORE PHOTOS

Are you sure you’re ready for these?!!

I did not lift a finger to take these pictures so you could get a realistic view! It’s in desperate need of some TLC.

Our basement is an L shape with the Bedroom being at the top of the L, the play area along the long part of the L and the new Family Lounge Area will live in the bottom of the L. It really is it’s own little space tucked away at the back of the basement.

I envision it being a place for the boys to hangout [their old school Nintendo and DVD collection lives down here] as well as somewhere for us all to lounge to watch movies or play games.

One of the main reasons I felt I could take this space on for $100 is because most, if not all, of the large elements are already in place. The TV, media console, ladder shelf, couch, coffee table, chair, rug [and carpet] and wet bar area/tile are staying put. There is also a built-in wine refrigerator.

So, the idea is to makeover some of the furniture and put all the finishing touches on this space while staying on a budget and within a deadline.

Two of the trickiest parts 😉

BASEMENT FAMILY LOUNGE DESIGN / MOOD BOARD

tree // lounge sign // media console // vase set // peace sign figurine // leaning ladder shelf // flameless candles // moss balls // wood bowl // stack of books // 2 piece art set // marquee B // lyric art // clock // home bar // faucet // base cabinets // wine refrigerator // tile // lounge chair // x pillow // rug // coffee table // sectional sofa // color block pillow // stripe pillow // rust tassel pillow / black & white line pillow // metal figurine // black end table // gray lamp

To reiterate, this is a mood board I created solely for inspiration purposes. Obviously incorporating all of these pieces would put me waaaaay over budget!

Unfortunately our leather chair isn’t as sleek and sexy as the PB Teen one I put in the design and of course, I’m drooling over THAT rug. But this is the look and feel I want to infuse into our space, so I’m using it as a guide to help me work.

Isn’t this vibe so cozy?!

I was aiming for sort of masculine and moody with touches of warmth and texture to cozy it up a bit.

We’ll see what magic I can work down here!

BASEMENT FAMILY LOUNGE PLANS & CHECKLIST 

I’m going to be taking on a lot of painting, but fortunately, paint is one of the most transformative and least expensive items you can utilize in a room makeover.

PROJECT CHECK LIST:

• paint media console
• paint leaning ladder shelf
• update bar cabinetry with paint
• DIY countertop update?
• purge and organize barware and entertaining pieces
• style glass cabinets
• hang clock
• find / make art
• hang wall art / frames
• style the ladder shelf
• add a lamp
• style the coffee table
• swap out the pillows
• replace a few ceiling tiles

BASEMENT ITEMS STAYING:

1. sectional
2. coffee table
3. TV
4. media console
5. leaning ladder
6. cabinets
7. countertop
8. sink
9. tile / carpet [both were replaced in 2017 after our Laundry Room flooded the basement]
10. wine refrigerator

Like I said, I’m so lucky to  be working with everything I already have. When we moved in 4 years ago, we plopped these pieces down here from our last house and never lifted another finger. They will serve as a great foundation for my plans.

And that’s what we’re working with! I can’t wait to start sprucing up this space and will plan to do a little each week with the reveal at the end of the month. Tune back in each week on Tuesdays or Wednesdays to see my progress!

If you’ve missed any of the other posts in the $100 Room Challenge, you can get caught up here:

WEEK 1 // WEEK 2 // WEEK 3 // WEEK 4 // WEEK 5

MOOD BOARD + PLANS

LADDER SHELF REFRESH + FREE STYLING TIPS

DIY BRUSHSTROKE ART

BASEMENT FAMILY LOUNGE REVEAL

And to see the rest of the rooms we’ve tackled in previous $100 Room Challenges, see them all here!

There are also a ton of other participating bloggers and you’ll be able to see their spaces down below!

Did you see an item you love? Shop the items from my design / inspiration board here:

And don’t forget to pin for later!

If you want to see more room design plans, you can head straight to my Mood Board Gallery. And for all of the basement posts from past projects in this house and our last house’s basement project, head to the Basement Gallery!

Do you have a room you could spiff up for $100? Feel free to join in! I’d love to hear about your projects!

It’s a busy week on the blog, so come back for a new recipe, Fall decor, Deck Reveal, The Friday Five and more!

Thanks for being here 😉

xxoo