Rec rooms go by many different names – rumpus room, family room, den, great room, man cave, media room or games room.

No matter what you call it, we all want someplace to go where we can relax and enjoy. If there is no place in your main living area for the rec room, you will need to use space in the basement, garage or even build an addition .

What would your dream rec room look like? Some people want to have it furnished with the electronic equipment with all the bells and whistles. Others are looking for a more simple oasis to relax and unwind.

If you are starting from scratch to build your new rec room, you need to plan what size you want it to be. First thing is to decide how much money you have to work with? Even if you want only to remodel , rebuild or only reorganize a small area of your home into a rec room, it is important to have in mind a specific target and a realistic budget for it.

Evaluate your needs regarding the space – what furnishing do you want for the room, what will be the purpose of the room. Ensure that your rec room design plans include everything you would like or can afford.

Making the decision regarding whether to do the project yourself or to hire a contractor depends on several factors, including your skills and the magnitude of the project. Having only basic skills you can produce a great reorganization project. Be sure to hire a professional for any plumbing or electrical aspects of your planned project .

If you opt for a contractor, and this is the choice that we recommend regardless of the project’s magnitude or your skills, get one whose work you’ve seen and if you have the chance, get some recommendations. It is better to see with your own eyes the skills and some relevant work of the contractor so you can decide whether you could be satisfied with his work or not.

Costs and construction times vary with the scope and the magnitude of the project. The costs depend on the materials that you decide to use, but keep in mind that expensive
does not necessary mean quality and that cheap does not grant you reliability every time.

Your rec room can be a place to spend many happy hours for a long time to come if you plan it right according to your needs and dreams.

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Technorati Tags: den, family room, games room, great room, mancave, media room, rec room design, recreation room design, rumpus room

One of the common problems of basement floors is the accumulation of moisture. It is a crucial task to select a good cover for the basement.

Read this article to know about some of the best options for basement flooring.  Flooring is an important part of  rec room design .

Previously, hard cement floor was the most common option for basement flooring. Since, people have become more conscious about their own comfort and the interior design, cementing is no longer the most preferred option for basement flooring.

You can select from a wide variety of basement flooring options, depending upon your personal choice, budget and the purpose of its usage. For example, if the basement area is to be used as a home office, then you may prefer a more durable floor cover. Best Basement Flooring Options Some of the basement flooring options include tile and cement, carpet and laminate, hardwood or engineered flooring. While choosing a flooring for the basement, you should always consider the problem of unwanted moisture. A good basement flooring should be plush and soft, easy to clean and durable. Have a look into the details of some basement flooring options available in the market. Carpet: Carpet is the most preferred option for the basement flooring due to its low cost, softness and sound muffling quality. It is comfortable to use and provides warmth in winter. Carpet comes in a variety of color, texture and design. Carpet usually retains dust and other allergens and carpet cleaning is a bit difficult task. This is the main drawback of using a carpet in the basement flooring. Another disadvantage of carpet is that it wears out after a few years. Concrete Floor: Concrete flooring, also known as cement flooring, is a popular choice for basement. In fact, it is the most affordable and durable materials till date. Concrete floors are available in various colors and designs. Most homeowners and designers prefer concrete flooring, as it is easy to maintain and change. Concrete flooring can be a good alternative to carpets, especially for the hypersensitive people. The main disadvantage of concrete flooring is that it is hard and cold underfoot and needs regular cleaning and maintenance. Hardwood Floor: Hardwood flooring is is beautiful, warm and easy to maintain. It can last for decades with regular refinishing. As hardwood floor does not retain dust and allergens, it is mostly preferred by people with respiratory problems. Painting and staining adds more style to match the interior design and furniture. However, hardwood flooring has some disadvantages such as high cost and vulnerability to moisture. Sometimes, hardwood floor becomes very slippery, and make it difficult to walk on it. Hardwood floor should be installed by a professional. Laminate Floor:

If you are using the basement area as a space for household chores such as laundry or a playground for toddlers, then you can opt for laminate flooring. Major advantages of laminate flooring are its low cost, superior durability and unlimited designs. Laminate floors can be easily installed and some don’t even need glue for installation. Its only drawback is that unlike hardwood flooring, the top layer cannot be stripped off for refinishing.

Tiles:

There are two types of tiles such as natural and man-made used in basement flooring. Natural tiles include porcelain and ceramic tile flooring, whereas granite, marble and slate come under the category of man-made tiles. They are affordable, easy to install, durable and resistant to scratches. Tiles also come in a wide variety of colors and designs. Speaking about disadvantages; tiles are fragile, hard, noise reflective and slippery when wet.

So, these are some of the most popular basement flooring options. If you are thinking of remodeling the basement, first check whether the basement floor is good enough or not. You can take the help of a professional for checking the usability of the basement floor. In case, there is a problem of moisture accumulation or major cracks in the basement floor, it is better to repair and resolve it before making your  actual plans .

By Ningthoujam Sandhyarani
Published: 2/5/2009

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Technorati Tags: basement rec room, designing a rec room, ideas for rec room, rec room design, rec rooms ideas

When it comes to  decorating your basement, the height of the ceiling can play a big part in helping you choose what you’re going to do, especially if you have exceptionally low ceilings.

Low ceilings create design dilemmas. Unfortunately, if the decorating isn’t handled gracefully, the whole  basement can end up feeling like a cave. In the same way that high ceilings give rooms a much larger feel, low ceilings can serve to make a space look small and cramped, even if it’s not.

You’ll be glad to know there are things you can do to open up your  basement space and keep it from a cave-like appearance. Making the area lighter and brighter will go a long way in giving your basement a larger look.

Use light colors on walls and ceilings, and both table and floor lamps to brighten the basement up. Rec Room Lighting Wall sconces can make a big difference if you use them correctly. They need to be hung fairly high in order to project their light onto the ceiling and open the area. Wall sconces are unique in that they shine upwards. If you place them too low, they could end up shining up into people’s eyes. Therefore, they need to be placed above eye level if your ceilings are high enough to allow for it. Otherwise, forget the sconces and go with alternative rec room lighting. You need to avoid using fluorescent lighting in  basements with low ceilings. It will make your basement appear smaller, dimmer, and more like a cave. You’ll also find that recessed ceiling lights call attention to how low the ceiling is and actually make the space feel smaller.

Recreation Room Decorating

Any way you can you’ll want to open up space in the  basement to make it appear larger and make up for the cramped feeling created by the low ceiling. For example, you’ll want to keep furniture placed around the perimeter of the room leaving the center open and appearing more spacious. For a rec room, you might consider placing furniture in small groupings in the corners. Any arrangement you can come up with that leaves the middle of the room open will fool people into thinking the room is larger.

Rec Room Painting The newer trend in darker paint colors will not work in a  basement with a low ceiling. Instead of looking bright and happy, they will serve to make the area seem smaller and more cramped. Use light colors for walls when choosing rec room painting colors.  

Window Treatments For window treatments, try to leave as much of the windows uncovered as possible so that more light will be let into the space. Depending on the type of windows you have, you might consider tie-back drapes and a valance across the top. You can always install mini blinds if you need more privacy.

Use of Mirrors

Mirrors are wonderful for making small areas look larger. Using mirrors on walls can open the appearance of the room up enormously. You can also place mirrors on the walls opposite each other which will detract from the ceiling and make the room look like it goes on forever.

Don’t hang anything from the ceiling, because that will only draw attention to the ceiling and make it seem even lower than it is. It will also add to the look of the confined feeling of the room. Use floor lamps and table lamps to light the space. If you hang ceiling lights on a low ceiling, a tall guest may bump his head on them, and think about how low that would make the ceiling seem!

By Christopher Smith
Published: 4/9/2008

Importance of Good Basement Lighting

If you plan on finishing your basement, one important thing you will have to decide on are your basement lighting ideas. Most basements are dark because of few windows and natural lighting. This places an increased importance on the lighting you choose and making sure that there is ample lighting. No matter how cool or great looking your basement is, it won’t reach it’s full potential without good lighting. In fact, this might be the hardest room in the house to figure out all your options. Finding the right lights both on the ceilings and lamps on the floor are crucial to make sure this room stands out like it should.

Basement Lighting and Flooring

We installed the basement lights and the flooring.

The Best Basement Lighting

Picking the best basement lighting for your home is a decision that can mean all the difference when adding beauty and energy-efficiency to your home. How well the basement is illuminated sets the ambiance for the entire area, can reduce eye strain, and can add to the feeling of comfort and convenience in the home.

Basement Finishing Projects

The first area of design that you want to focus on with a basement is the lighting scheme. Most basements are known for being dark, gloomy environments. Unless you plan to turn your basement into a movie theater or photography studio, light is the way to liven up the atmosphere. Certain basements are equipped with windows to the outside. Taking this natural light and letting as much of it in as possible is a great start. Use simple window treatments instead of treatments that block out light.

If natural light isn’t available in your basement, using artificial light is also a wonderful way to open up the room. Placing lights on the ceiling will create the illusion that the room is larger and more open. To keep a warm setting in your basement, consider using floor and table lights.

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