One of the things we loved most about this house when we first toured it was the finished basement. I hadn’t been actively searching for a basement—many homes here don’t have them—but in a smaller house an inviting lower level is a real bonus. Some basements we saw felt damp, dark, or even a little scary, but this one was bright, dry and cheerful. We replaced the carpet and installed new flooring when we moved in, which made the space feel fresh and much more welcoming.
Our house is about 1,500 square feet, and the finished basement gives us a welcome increase in usable living space. We frequently shift how we use the rooms down here, so the layout stays practical and adaptable to our needs. It’s not a luxury basement, but it’s comfortable and functional. I especially appreciate having my work areas tucked away downstairs—plenty of cozy spots to write without the usual household noise.
Most of the furniture is secondhand or pieces we’ve owned for years. You’ll likely recognize many items from earlier homes or past arrangements. I prefer collecting pieces I love and making them work together—if you like what you have, it often blends in naturally.
It’s fun to experiment with different arrangements. If something doesn’t feel right, simply try a new layout, move treasured items between rooms, repaint, or let things go. Decorating is an ongoing process, and small changes can make a big difference.
I’ll share a separate post soon with more on the staircase makeover, which you can glimpse in the background here.
My oldest daughter Kylee and her husband recently sold their townhouse, so they’re staying with us temporarily while they plan their next move. It’s been wonderful to have them here, and they brought many plants that have found spots on shelves and around my blue-and-white collection. We originally set this room up when our other daughter, Courtney, stayed here, so the layout hasn’t changed dramatically.
If you missed yesterday’s update about Kylee and her husband moving in temporarily, check the previous post for more details.
This is my quiet writing room where I can close the door and curl up on the daybed. I brought these curtains from my old office because they still make me happy—decorating should be enjoyable and personal.
We’d love to install built-ins throughout the lower level someday, but for now freestanding furniture stores our office, business and decorating supplies. It works well for our current needs.
I’ve had this iron bed since our girls were young, and it’s still a favorite. We plan to repaint the basement walls and add paneling eventually, but for now I hung a few pieces of art to add interest to the wall. The curtains behind the bed are a temporary, creative fix for the mirrored wall.
Typically the wooden cabinet houses my printer, but to make this room feel cozier it’s currently used for quilts while the printer lives in another room. The white Ikea Pax cabinets store our oils and supplies—keeping things tidy makes me feel organized, and I’ll share a peek inside soon.
I’ll show more of the staircase makeover soon—it’s turning out really sweet. And yes, the photos include many familiar faces; Lily, our introvert, often prefers a quiet chair in the sun and is usually absent from group pictures. We’ve been enjoying the spring light here. Follow along on Instagram for more updates and snapshots.
Scroll and click the images below for details
More Sources:
Navy paint color: Hale Navy Benjamin Moore
White brick paint: Simply White Benjamin Moore
Guest room paint color: Coventry Gray Benjamin Moore
Flooring details available in a previous post.
Neva sofa from Sixpenny in Jasmine Rice — read more about our sofa in an earlier post.
Our leather loveseat in Toffee (similar options available).
Similar curtains, rugs, pillows and decorative accents are cited throughout the post and were sourced from items we’ve used over time.
Knit weighted blanket on daybed, woven shades, and other textiles are noted in the captions above.
See the painted armoire makeover post for details about the white armoire.
I’ll share more before-and-after photos of the staircase and other updates as we continue the basement refresh.