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 one—many homes in this area don’t have basements—but in a smaller house extra square footage is a big advantage. Unlike some basements that can feel damp and gloomy, this space is bright, clean, and welcoming. We replaced the carpet and installed new flooring when we moved in, which made the whole area feel fresh and livable.
Our house is about 1,500 square feet, and the finished basement gives us useful extra living space. We often change how these rooms are used, so the layout needs to be practical and versatile. It’s not a fancy basement, but it’s comfortable and fits our needs. I especially appreciate having work areas down here where I can write in peace away from the household noise.
Most of the furniture is secondhand or pieces we’ve owned for years. You’ll notice familiar items carried over from previous homes or different phases of decorating. I prefer using what we already have and gradually collecting pieces I love—mixing things together usually works out when you stick with what feels right.
It’s fun to experiment with arrangements and combinations. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s easy to try another layout, move cherished items to a new room, paint, or let pieces go. Decorating is an ongoing process.
I’ll share another post soon with more details about the staircase makeover, which you can spot in the background of some photos here.
My oldest daughter Kylee and her husband recently sold their townhouse and are staying with us temporarily while they plan their next steps. It’s such a relief to have space for them. Kylee has lots of plants, which we’ve tucked around the basement and onto shelves among my blue-and-white pieces. We originally arranged this room when our other daughter, Courtney, was visiting, so much of it has remained the same.
If you missed my previous post about Kylee and her husband moving in temporarily, check back to catch up.
This smaller room is my quiet writing space. I close the door, curl up on the daybed, and work in peace. The curtains I use here moved with me from my old home office and still make me happy. Decorating should be enjoyable, after all.
We’d love to install built-ins throughout the lower level eventually, but for now freestanding furniture stores our office, business, and decorating supplies. It works well and keeps things flexible.
I’ve owned the iron bed since our girls were small, and it still feels right here. We plan to repaint more walls and add paneling downstairs at some point, but for now I’ve hung art we weren’t using to add interest. The curtains behind the bed are a temporary solution to conceal a mirrored wall creatively.
Normally the wood cabinet houses my printer, but to make the room cozier it’s currently being used to store quilts. The printer is in another room for now. The white Ikea Pax cabinets hold oils and supplies—finally feeling organized. I’ll share the inside another time.
I’ll post more about the staircase makeover soon—it’s shaping up nicely. And as always, the people and pets make the spaces feel alive. Lily often prefers a quiet chair by herself and has been soaking up the spring sunlight lately. Follow our accounts if you want to see more updates and photos.
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 and sources are available through previous posts and product notes.
Neva sofa (Sixpenny) in a light neutral; our leather loveseat in a warm Toffee tone has been a long-time favorite.
Patterns, rugs, shams, woven shades, and other decorative pieces mentioned throughout the post are similar to the items shown in the photos and have been used to create the layered, lived-in look in our basement spaces.
See other posts for more before-and-after details of painted furniture, staircase updates, and room progress as we continue to refine our lower level.