Have you ever seen those magazines of the picturesque family sitting in front of a fireplace? They have a look of serenity on their faces and a cup of hot cocoa or cider in their hands, wrapped in assorted blankets. There may even be a family dog on the rug in front of the fireplace drifting off to sleep. This moment of cozy serenity is attainable even within your basement in a cold Michigan winter. You and your family can curl up in front of the fire in that picture-perfect scene with the assistance of the following cozy basement family room ideas.
When imagining those cozy colors, you want colors that give you that warm and fuzzy feeling. These colors should be rich in saturation. They are also known to be darker shades. For example, warmer shades of red include burgundy or merlot. Instead of bright sunshine yellows, mustard yellows evoke a warm feel for your cozy finished basement.
You can play some other colors with soft blues, tangerine orange, and even creamy white. The idea is to find colors
that are not too extreme on the eyes. In your mind, you would want to consider colors that would look good under dimmer lights as you would see from a fireplace. You can also experiment with different shades of brown, typically seen in furniture selection. Which brings us to….
For cozy basement furniture, this is all about comfort and durability. Depending on the size of your family, odds are that you don’t want family time on a small two-seater sofa that has minimal cushion and very little flexibility for when you are not sitting with perfect posture.
For your picturesque cozy basement, you will want a couch or even a sectional if there is space that will allow you to recline even slightly. That comfortable leather (or faux) armchair or that super comfortable recliner would be a great addition to your setting.
For side tables, darker woods are commonly seen in these spaces to support the lamps that may provide additional mood lighting or even display some of your favorite family photos.
With your basement, you will not likely have a full-size window to look out at the snow while sipping your favorite hot beverage.
However, in the chance that you do have one, this window could provide the perfect decor to reaffirm your ideal moment when you look out at the blanket of snow and compare it to your warm and cozy finished basement.
Basement lighting is one of the most important things to think about when considering making a cozy basement family room. Though easily overlooked, the lighting of a place can make a difference in the overall atmosphere you are trying to generate.
For example, fluorescent overhead lights that emit white light associated with office buildings inspire productivity and, in many ways, can often trigger stress responses. Without a doubt, this would be a poor fit for your new basement.
The ideal lighting situation would imitate the light given by a fireplace. Therefore, a warmer tint would be more appropriate. Imagine sitting on your couch in your newly finished basement with a hardcover or paperback book in your hand. You reach over to turn on your lamp for a lovely time of reading. Which type of light would you like to read from – bright white fluorescent light or a comforting warm-toned light?
Typically, in cozy spaces, vinyl plank flooring or carpet are the most common. These floors are very durable for moving furniture around and for rambunctious playtime with children and perhaps the family pet. These types of basement floors are also relatively easy to clean.
Whether we are talking about fashion or interior design, what makes an item or a new space special is the accessories. Accessories can make the best impression possible to show that you care.
With that in mind, your cozy basement family room isn’t complete with just a fresh coat of paint, flooring, and furniture. Add subtle touches that make the space your own instead of only another copy of an image in a book.
These subtle touches are where you can become more creative with your space. You can find some interesting pieces from an antique store. Instead of using generic frames for your family’s memories, look instead for more intricate or more rugged frames that add more character to the space and tell more of your family’s story.
Small or medium wooden statues could add a more creative edge to your space without clashing with the cozy environment you have already created.
Another suggestion would be to use different rugs on your floors, particularly in front of your fireplace. These rugs provide another spot for either reading a book and relaxing or enjoying time with a special someone.
This lower level features a dedicated seating area with a warm electric fireplace to keep everyone cozy. A seating area like this is the perfect place to get some reading done.
Throughout this entire article, we have discussed fireplaces indirectly. Still, we also understand that everyone cannot have a classic wood fireplace built into their newly finished basement walls.
An alternative for this model includes (but are not limited to) electric fireplaces. With your newly finished basement and the well-insulated space that comes with it, you will not be subject to the potential sweatbox that could come from having an older model wood fireplace.
You will have more control of how much heat is emitted to create a more comfortable environment for you, your family, and any guests you may have.
As you think about your cozy finished basement ideas, it is essential to connect with what you want out of your space, from thinking about the color palette to your furniture selection down to accessories’ minute details. This space should be, in essence, your sanctuary where you can relax and have peace any time of the year, especially during those Michigan winters.
For assistance in your soon to be finished basement, contact Basements Plus, where we have a team willing to assist you from the foundations of your initial construction projects to your finalized space.
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