Meadowlark Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Assuming you had a nice sized family room upstairs with a TV, what would you use your basement for? We have a longish/narrow good sized basement with nothing but a fireplace in the corner. We are also adding on and dh wants that room to be the downstairs family room with big TV. I have no idea then what to do with the main downstairs. No bar, not our style. You'd have to walk through this room to get to the family room. My kids are all young so no pool table, etc. Right now it's a big empty space. Id love to hear some creative ideas! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Treadmill and exercise stuff, another TV/movie room, a big, empty space for balls and Nerf where nothing can get broken... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I'm assuming that you don't need a schoolroom? If you do, then schoolroom would be my suggestion. With young kids I would put in those rubber floor mats that fit together like puzzle pieces. And I would make it a mini gym area down there with a small slide, lots of balls etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadowlark Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Well, we don't have a school room actually. I had one down there in what is now a bedroom, and that was a disaster. But I had babies at e time. Now I have 3 toddlers. I think I'm a kitchen table/couch homeschooler, but the thought is tempting. I like the idea of the physical stuff, esp. since we're in the Midwest with hard winters. Mmm...thinking of what that might look like... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I have 5 living spaces, and have divvied up activities this way: 1 - TV room (self explanatory) is 1/2 of the basement. 2 - Other 1/2 of the basement is play room, focused on big, active stuff, requiring little supervision. 3 - Living room is "library like" for books, a piano, and musical instruments (no TV, not much kids stuff, except books) 4 - Games & projects room has: card tables, shelves of games and puzzles, snap circuits, Lego, craft supplies that involve no water, items for drawing, colouring, writing and basically all "school supplies" along with a desk for me. 5 - DH's office contains his desks, the main home computer, our filing cabinet, and his electronics projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Space with sink, hard floors, countertops and shelving etc.for art and science experiments in time. Not sure if that fits with the flow. A friend has this kind of space in her HS room and it is lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I like the idea of physical stuff since you have long-winters and the kids need to expend their energy. A friend of mine built a climbing wall..... http://www.thegoodstuffguide.com/home-tour-friday-basement/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadowlark Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Space with sink, hard floors, countertops and shelving etc.for art and science experiments in time. Not sure if that fits with the flow. A friend has this kind of space in her HS room and it is lovely. We already have carpet, but it's the Berber kind (sp?). Not looking at doing any major renovation to the main part, but I just can't get a vision for how to set it up. We actually don't have a lot of toys, nor do I like a lot of "stuff" in general. I'm not even sure we would have enough toys to fill the space! Also, since I have a 1,2 and 3 year old, putting puzzles, games, or anything with pieces out is out of the question. I think I'm drawn to the large motor stuff idea. What sort of things could I get? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I'm in love with the climbing wall linked above. And the idea of indoor swings and active toys for kids. Our basement is a studio - music and art. It is not kid friendly though, as it's definitely a grown up space, and it's where DH works from home. But one can dream, right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolt. Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Slide (bigger is better, set it along a wall), mini trampoline, swing or hammock, light balls with a hoop or target, large scale foam "blocks", fort-making set (has ball joints and sticks, use your own sheets) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I think I'm drawn to the large motor stuff idea. What sort of things could I get? Discount School Supply has a large selection of large motor indoor activities. I was drooling just a few days ago. You might do some browsing there. Slides, obstacle course kits, ball pits, indoor trampoline, love the indoor swings. I'm not into lots of little toys either. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momof3littles Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 We already have carpet, but it's the Berber kind (sp?). Not looking at doing any major renovation to the main part, but I just can't get a vision for how to set it up. We actually don't have a lot of toys, nor do I like a lot of "stuff" in general. I'm not even sure we would have enough toys to fill the space! Also, since I have a 1,2 and 3 year old, putting puzzles, games, or anything with pieces out is out of the question. I think I'm drawn to the large motor stuff idea. What sort of things could I get? Low to ground balance beam (they even have ones with little sections that snap together so easy to store), rings, hammock swing, those "bag" style swings, beanbag set? Something on the wall that is interactive? I've seen people paint like an apple tree and have felt, plush filled semi flat apples the kids can hang on the painted wall, for example. Ikea has some nice gross motor toys like tents and tunnels and unique swings. Check PT/OT catalogs for ideas too, although those products will be more expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reign Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 We have the ladder and rings linked above with a gymnastics mat. I love the rock climbing area and hope to put some up in out next house! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Depending on the ceiling height, you could put a whole Little Tikes/Step 2 playset in there. I know people who have the small, inflatable bounce houses for their basements. These blocks are great: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks (40 pc) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A12YBW/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadowlark Posted August 14, 2014 Author Share Posted August 14, 2014 Depending on the ceiling height, you could put a whole Little Tikes/Step 2 playset in there. I know people who have the small, inflatable bounce houses for their basements. These blocks are great: Melissa & Doug Deluxe Jumbo Cardboard Blocks (40 pc) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000A12YBW/ Do those blocks hold up well? I always imagine my kids stepping on them and destroying them, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Exercise equipment for mom and dad, play stuff for kids. At one time I had lots of mats and giant foam blocks. The kids did lots of building and climbing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Riding toys. If money is tight, clean up the summer outdoor toys for winter use indoors. Your three year old might be ready for a hippity-hop. Cardboard moving boxes – they become trains, castles, caves, … Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbgrace Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Some active ideas, some really obvious. I'm having trouble visualizing for sure, but it sounds like you have descent length/space. Some of these won't work for smaller spaces. plastic scooter http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Scooter-Board-Handles-inch/dp/B001RPS87E those hop balls, if they make them for that age, got good use here indoor trampoline; we have one with a bar and it's been fantastic for getting out energy ball pit...with a baby pool, pack in play (I did that), or any similar containment thing to make one. kid sized basketball goal lots of balls of various sizes Cones and similar things to use for making obsticle courses, bases or islands to hop from one to another (we use paper plates, pillows, whatever for this; you don't need to buy anything), etc. Maybe a play tent if you have that kind of room nerf type guns or swords hose off ride on toys from outside and bring them in when it gets cold, if you have that kind of space us use painters tape to make temporary hopscotch, race lanes, long jump set ups, four square courts, roads for vehicles, etc. small slide from outdoors one of those pop out tunnels; my boys still play with that sometimes we used a 2 x 4 as a balance beam thing; you can purchase nicer ones eta: those cardboard blocks did hold up well here. We ended up donating them as the boys got older. They are lots of fun to build and knock down My boys are getting hungry, but there are lots of ideas you'll be able to come up with. It might work best to rotate in and out various things so they stay sort of novel. We play a lot of games (pretend to be a kangaroo, a crab, etc.) with loud music playing, simon says with really active commands, snowball fights with rolled up socks, etc. You really don't need materials to use the space for a lot of sorts of active play in the winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I'd move the TV and family room downstairs and change the use of the upstairs TV room to something else. When I watch TV, it's because I'm sick of the world and want an escape. A basement seems like an ideal place to get that. They are also nice and cool to hang out in the summer when you want to escape the heat but not put the AC on (those marginal 83 deg days where you almost don't need the AC, until late afternoon). I wish I had a basement (I live on the Chesapeake, super high water tables, basements are always floody here). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 I don't think I've seen this mentioned, but the OP's signature indicates she has 5 kids. What about floor-to-ceiling bookshelves to hold all of the BOOKS you'll accumulate from homeschooling? I only have 2 kids, but we have 3 bookcases full of books in our school room. Plus bookshelves in our family room, plus bookshelves in each kid's room. At least twice a year we purge and send a big box of books to my nephew, who is several years younger than my youngest. If I had 5 kids, I'd need at least double the amount of storage just for homeschool books. You could still put exercise equipment down there, just use the outer perimeter for storage. I've never had a basement (lived in FL my entire life) so if this is a bad idea, feel free to do something else. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maize Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 In my home it would become a dance studio, but if I didn't happen to have an obsessive dancer it would probably be an exercise/play room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 We built a climbing structure and rock wall in the basement to keep our boys active in the winter. Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
applethyme Posted August 14, 2014 Share Posted August 14, 2014 Because of ds medical issues outside play is difficult for him. Santa brought the Little Tykes castle for our living room. It has a slide and a tower. That was 4 years ago. It is still the most popular toy in the house. It gets lots of use when the weather is too hot or too cold to play and on rainy days or just a place to sit and read a book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted August 15, 2014 Share Posted August 15, 2014 Treadmill, mini tramp, trapeze bar, exercise balls, mirror/dance barre . . . large motor exercise stuff. Maybe a TV for fitness videos. All this with an eye towards the space becoming a teen game room/ hang out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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