10 Tips To Turn Your Basement Into A Playroom

You’re probably here because you refuse to step on one more Lego. You just want to separate your house from Toyland. You love your kids and know how important play is for them — you just need it to be somewhere else. 

Your ideal solution is only a short walk away. A finished or unfinished basement is the perfect location to set up your very own playroom. With this list of tips, you transform your lower level into a child-safe toy heaven. 

1. Think Safety First 

Before beginning any fun style elements in your basement, you must ensure you renovate enough to make it a safe place for your kids. 

At the very least, you should have an egress window for a fire escape in an emergency. You’ll also need to cover exposed cords, plumbing and insulation at their level. You can make an unfinished basement work as a playroom. You’ll just have to get more creative with your safety measures. 

If you have young kids who will be in the space, you should also complete any young childproofing tasks like adding outlet covers. 

2. Create an Adult-Friendly Space Nearby

Until they hit their hormone-filled years, kids long to be close to their parents. You can either sit on the floor and watch them play the entire time, or you can create a special area in the basement for you too. Try one of these great options: 

• Laundry room

• Craft room

• Home office

• Family room

• Home gym

• Game room

Ensure you have a good sight line between your space and theirs so they can see you’re with them at all times, and you can keep an eye on their behavior and safety. 

3. Add in Natural Light

Having an egress will cover your safety bases and also let more light into the area. However, you’ll still be lacking in natural light if that’s your only window to the outside. Just think how many windows your upper level has to keep things bright. To brighten things up, work with a contractor to install a few small windows around the perimeter of your basement. 

4. Use Paint to Brighten the Area

A fresh coat of paint can make or break the feel of your basement playroom. While it may feel fun to do the room in bright pops of color, it may visibly shrink the space or make it feel darker than it needs to be. Instead, go with a white, light or neutral color which have the highest reflectance values and will keep your basement looking brighter with minimal sunlight. 

5. Childproof the Floor

Kids are notorious mess makers, and nothing will see more wear and tear than the playroom floor. Make life easier for yourself and invest in flooring capable of handling whatever your children throw at it. 

Look for an option with easily removable pieces so you can pull up the damaged section and replace it to look new. Rubber floor tiles or carpet squares are both excellent choices.  

6. Clear Out the Clutter

Most homeowners use at least a portion of their basements for storage. If you have tons of totes or scattered clutter where you want the play area to be, you’ll need to do some extra work before getting started. Go through everything and see what you can let go of to free up space. Afterward, organize what’s left and stash it in a different part of the basement. 

7. Skip the Theme

Your kids may deeply desire a Disney princess or Star Wars theme, but how will they feel about it in three months? A year? Two years? Most childhood obsessions fade away quickly and are replaced with a brand-new love. Save yourself some serious cash and make your playroom fit for children but with a more generic design. 

8 .Buy Second Hand

Kids are hard on furniture and decor, so your brand-new items won’t look new for long. Why not save yourself more money by purchasing second-hand when you can? Check Facebook Marketplace or local swaps to find great deals on things your neighbors’ kids outgrew.  

9. Add Plenty of Storage

Repeat after me. You can never have enough toy storage. Ever. Throwing a couple of bins in the playroom and calling it good is a recipe for disaster. Use shelves along the wall to contain most of the clutter with decorative yet functional containers lower down. Want more seating? How about a stool with — you guessed it — more storage? You’ll be thankful for your efforts when every toy has a place, and you don’t have to step on Barbie shoes anymore. 

10. Consider a Bathroom

A basement bathroom is quite the splurge, especially if you don’t have plumbing in yet. However, it can be worth its weight in gold over time. Little ones may have difficulty making it back up the stairs to go potty. One close by can save you loads of accidents over the early years. When your kids are older and no longer need a playroom, you can repurpose the bathroom and play area as a space for guests or even rent it out if there’s a separate entrance. 

A World of Untapped Potential

Your basement provides a vast amount of new square footage. If you’re in a one-story home with a full basement, you can double your living space by utilizing your lower level. It’s the perfect spot to spread out your kids’ massive toy collection. Using these tips, you can create a space you’ll be proud of and your children will enjoy for years to come.