HOW I CREATED THIS PRETTY OFFICE SPACE IN OUR BASEMENT
Our basement is one of those spaces that is used on a daily basis but doesn’t function the way it should. It has multiple purposes, and is really a great space. The kids use it daily from playing video games, watching movies, playing hockey, practicing dance routines, sleepovers, you name it. It’s our basement family room and I will tell you it gets a ton of use. Unfortunately, it just hasn’t been pretty enough to share here with you! It’s full of all of our old furniture from over the years and is kind of a ‘catch all’ space if you want to call it that. Since we don’t have a home office on our main floor, I decided it was time to carve out a nook down here, and I want to share how I created this pretty office space in our basement.
This corner in the above photo, had an old dresser that I refinished from when our son was a baby (shown below). We moved it to the adjacent wall – it holds gift wrap, bags and tissue paper and although it’s very old, it serves as storage that is very useful.
Our windows are in need of coverings still, and I have to decide what to use – I’m thinking of simple roman shades. Since our yard is private, we only really need them for aesthetic purposes, and because this space hasn’t had much love in the 7years we’ve lived here, they are still bare…I think I have to get on that!
All of the large pieces of furniture in this room are from the Canvas line at Canadian Tire. The idea was to create an office/lounge area that was warm and inviting. I didn’t want to just have a desk and shelving in the back corner – I wanted to carve out space that has dimension and draws your eye inward. The tall white bookshleves are the first thing you see as you come down the stairs, and the baskets on top help to bring the focus over to this space. The blue chairs compliment the side cabinets beautifully too.
Picking up on the blue tones, I brought our living room lamps down here (I’m searching for new ones for upstairs) and they tie into the color palette perfectly. You can see more of our upstairs living room here.
I also borrowed one of our dining room chairs for now – I’m still on the lookout for the right chair down here, however the brown works really well and ties into the baskets on top of the shelving. I love the sophisticated lines of this chair and how it brings a sense of chic to this space. I’ll keep you posted on what I find, but I hope to get something similar.
All of the accessories you see are from around our home – I didn’t purchase anything new. As you may already know, I love to repurpose accessories all the time, from season to season, and sometimes I move things around weekly. You can see how I’ve done that in our entryway upstairs here, simply from shopping around our home. Don’t be so quick to throw things away! I rotate very often and it helps give newness without having to spend too much :)
I really love this nook and how it is starting to bring our basement to life. Simple touches like the coral, blue agate bookends and faux lilies add texture and softness and help break up all of the linear elements as well. How cute are these cabinets with the basket drawers?
We have a very large basement, about 1700 square feet, since we have a one storey home. There’s quite a lot of unfinished storage space and room to add a bedroom or two, and a bathroom. This is only one corner of a very large, open rectangular space which is about 1000 square feet of the entire level.
I’ll admit it – I never really come down here often…it’s usually to hang out with the kids, or do some gift wrapping.
We have a lot of work to do down here, so I’ll be sharing more of it with you as we tackle it in the coming months. We’re lucky to have a basement and to have such a large space to work with. It’s definitely time to bring this space up to par so we can really enjoy it!
I think you will find me down here a little more often now that I actually have a space that I can enjoy :)
Tell me what you think! Do you have an office at home? Would you carve out a space in your basement? What I love about this, is that we can all share this area – homework, crafts, gift wrapping, hanging out and listening to music…it can be whatever we want. Because it’s part of our family room and has a casual, open feel it’s the perfect for workspace where I can be with my family at the same time :)
GET THE LOOK WITH THESE ACCESSORIES:
*Affiliate links are used as sources for some of my favorite items. These are either the same as the items featured in this post, or are similar options for your shopping convenience.
Hi Tam, what a beautiful inviting space, so fresh and modern. I have a home office in my house (so does my husband), mine is off the foyer in our house, and it is that very traditional office, with the old cherry wood desk and 4 large bookcases (which I need for all of my paperwork), I have to say my mission in 2017 is to try and go paperless, which I am working on. I really love the freshness of your space, my husband’s office is in our basement, and again it is the vintage roll top desk with 7 long low cherry file cabinets, in my next house I am going to do something like your beautiful space. Have a great week my friend.
Hi Terry! Unfortunately I don’t have the name – there is no brand on them – I purchased these years ago at HomeSense and I’ve never seen them anywhere else since. I’m so happy you love them, I wish I could help you find them! Thank you so much for your kind words and for stopping by my blog!! xo
Hi! Could I ask you please where you purchased your actual lamps? Not the link for similar but the brand for those actual ones? I’m obsessed! I absolutely LOVE your style!
Isabel thank you so much! I’m thrilled that you like it and I can’t wait for you to come and see it! xox
Hi Lynn! No worries, yes these are from the Canvas line – try this link : http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/canvas-easton-3-drawer-cabinet-grey-0687835p.html#srp
It’s the Canvas Easton 3-Drawer Cabinet. I hope this helps you! Thanks for stopping by! xo
Bear with me. I looked on Canadian Tire website and didn’t see anything like this. Did you buy something and paint it and add
Baskets?
Beautiful Tam! Can’t believe you had the time to do that over Spring Break! it is gorgeous! i am happy you finally have that space you were craving for. Congrats!
Hi Tracie! Thank you so much!! I truly appreciate your interest!! We are lucky to have basements here – that’s one of the benefits of living in a cold climate!! So happy you stopped by today! xo
This looks absolutely beautiful, love the chairs. Will be watching this space transform with great interest, as we do not have basements in Australia.
Thanks Leigh! I have soooo much to do down here it is full of so many old things that are falling apart lol! Slowly but surely though! Thanks for visiting!! xoxo
Thank you Vanessa! I’m happy you like it! I’m happy to have this space finally! Thanks for stopping by :)
This is beautiful Tam. Can’t wait to see how you finish the rest of the space. I’m sure it will be fantastic!
Thanks Ter – yes you can!! It will give you an excuse to visit me haha! Love you! xo
Tam-Gorgeous space here- The brightness of the space is also very welcoming.. I would love my own little niche just for me.. And who would have even thought, Canadian Tire!!!!
Can I come over and use it???!!!
Ha
xoxo
Oh my heavens it’s beautiful! It’s so soft and inviting!
Trace you have SO MUCH stuff you can use too. You know I want half of it lol. So glad you like it! Love you!! xox
Wow Tam, Canadian tire really has made this room look beautiful and elegant for a basement!! They sure have great stuff. This gives me an entire different outlook on redocorating at a reasonable cost !
With your advice, of repurposing odds and ends around the house,it has really helped me out a lot..I am now starting to pull out stuff I never thought I’d look at again!! Thanks :)
Summer you are the best! Thank you for always being so supportive! I need a date with your blog!! xoxo
Oh Tam this is gorgeous! You did such an incredible job! ☺???
Marta you are so sweet my friend!! Thank you for saying that! But your home is pretty darn fabulous!! Thanks so much for stopping by sweets! xoxo
Hi Lynn!! Thank you so so much! These are from Canadian Tire – there’s a link to their home line in the post. I hope that helps and thank you for your sweet words! xo
Hi Sue, Thank yo use much for your kind words! This wall color is Collingwood by Benjamin Moore. Good luck with your project!!
Hi! Looks great! I won’t show you my basement that I am working in right now! Love the wall color. What color paint did you use? We are thinking if painting our basement and need to brighten it up.
Oh love the room. Where did u get those file cabinets? That’s the big ugly element I am trying to get rid of in my office. Your office makes me e hale and smile?
This is stunning Tamara! Your basement looks better than any room in my house. Ha! Xoxo