Room of the Day: A Playful Basement Makeover Suits All Ages

“A finished basement is pretty much a necessity when you have five kids,” says interior designer Kirsten Krason. Though this basement was already finished, it was a dark hodgepodge of unused old furniture and other stored items. Krason and design partner Erin Morgan set out to lighten up the space and create a casual and hip environment that could accommodate their clients’ five children and the kids’ friends. “They wanted a super-fun place where the kids could hang out with their friends, watch movies and play games, that would still work as they grow into teens,” Krason says.

Photos by Lindsey Orton

Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family with five children, ranging in age from toddler to tween
Location: Draper, Utah
Size: 1,000 square feet (93 square meters)
Designers: Kirsten Krason and Erin Morgan

“It was pretty dark down here and there was no life in the space,” Krason says. The design duo’s first order of business was lightening up the room. “The wallpaper really helps. It’s mostly white, and it reflects the light,” she says.

Wallpaper installer: Details by Others


The chevron pattern set a geometric tone for the space. Along with the blue-trimmed white curtains used on the room’s three windows, the pattern draws the eye up. This helps the 8-foot ceilings feel higher.


Because the space was long, the designers created three areas: one for watching movies, one for the pool table and one for playing other games.


This sitting and game-playing spot occupies a small area. “It was awkward. Using the round table and making the seating area round really helped with the flow,” Krason says. A cowhide rug helps define this area and adds a soft touch on the floor.

The designers picked pieces that were durable and could stand up to kids. “They really wanted a place where everyone could let loose and have some fun,” Krason says.

The small recess in the wall peeks into a hideout underneath the staircase.

Feather wallpaper in Denim: Serena & Lily; Rialto bonded leather chairs: Overstock; Apis coffee table: CB2


The designers chose a dark blue sectional sofa to ground the space. It’s upholstered in performance velvet that can stand up to spills and stains.

Four ottomans can be moved around and serve as extra seating, a coffee table or a foot rest. They also open up to provide storage for books and toys.

For the wall behind the sofa, the team chose decorative pieces that light up, because this is one of the darker areas in the basement. “We had a lot of other art pieces in the room already, so we wanted to do something different on this wall,” Krason says. “It also adds something fun at night.” They found the pieces on Etsy, at Pottery Barn Teen and at Restoration Hardware Kids.

Henry sofa and most of the throw pillows: West Elm; rug: Rugs USA; ottomans: Overstock


A funky retro-style cabinet hides media equipment and wires, and a potted tree adds life to the room.

Media console: Global Views


The designers kept the room playful with an orange and blue palette and geometric prints. “We wanted to make it fun for all genders and ages,” Krason says. A soft Moroccan shag rug in the TV area provides a comfy spot for sitting or lying on the floor.


One of the homeowners won the pool table, and its smaller-than-standard size is the right fit.

Tip: If you’re looking for a large-scale artwork, consider a shower curtain. The designers had this astronaut shower curtain mounted on wood.

Mown shower curtain: Society 6; other artwork: One Kings Lane


A pair of sputnik chandeliers play off the astronaut theme and add a mod touch overhead. The room is super-fun, casual, comfortable and hip — mission accomplished.

Maddox chandeliers: Z Gallerie

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