Basement Ideas Man Cave

Playful Home Office - Embrace brick walls rather than drywalling over them.

A red accent wall adds the look of depth to this room and feels daring and cheerful compared to the basement's simple black and white plot. The gallery wall includes original drawings from designer Theresa Casey and her husband, Robert Gray, go to capablegroupinc.

Vibrant Laundry Room-Pinch pennies with MDF cupboards and add your own trim.

H&H senior editor Meg Crossley turned this unfinished basement laundry area to a laundry room oasis. Improper venting supposed the washer and dryer needed to be transferred to the opposite wall, in which they're now concealed by latching doors. Meg also added a convenient sink with a kitchen-worthy faucet, an upper shelf and lower closets for additional storage. A contractor cut door fronts from MDF, and then Meg added Shaker trim for a personalized look. To give the basement an airy feeling, the space had been painted white. Sico's Light Sugar (4150-11), an obsolete white, makes the ceilings look higher without feeling sterile or cold. The cabinets were painted robin's egg blue for a country-inspired look.

High-Low Laundry Room-Dress up fundamental basement closets with vintage drawer pulls.

Designer Theresa Casey renovated her 600-square-foot basement to add an office, guest bedroom and luxe laundry area. She stored on cheap white lacquered cabinetry but additional classic handles, a marble counter tops, a gallery wall and a vintage ladder to make the functional space look special.

Present Storage-Use storage space under the stairs rather than building brand new cabinets.

In Tanya Linton's home, every spare corner is utilized for extra storage. With two small boys running round, baskets are ideal for concealing toys and knickknacks. In a little corner, a heap of books and magazines doubles as a side table into a painted chair.

Dark TV Area-Accessorize with cheap vintage finds.

It appears counter intuitive to paint your cellar walls and ceiling in such a darkened color, but stylist Arren Williams maintained the space glowing with mood light. The undermount lighting at the high-gloss storage units highlights our ranges, says Williams. This contemporary design has a manly feel without yelling out bachelor pad.

Repurpose old furniture rather than buying new.

Designer and homeowner Barbara Purdy transformed a wood-burning fireplace to gasoline to create a cosy focal point within this room. I couldn't find myself hauling logs down the stairs, she says. Radiant heating installed beneath the wood-look porcelain-tile flooring adds much more heat. The couch, a hand-me-down from her parents, was regained and layered with pillows. Tour this cellar on Online TV, and find more inspiration in our photograph galleries of Barbara Purdy Designs, Budget Basement Decorating Tips and Suzanne Dimma's Favourite Dreamy Retreats.