I’m so excited to share this basement sneak peek with you. We’ve taken our time furnishing the space. More so because I couldn’t quite pin down what I wanted. Once I had a clear vision, it was a hunt for the right pieces. If you are in the midst of a renovation or makeover, don’t be afraid to take it slowly. There are a few key things that helped us get to where we wanted and I am sharing those tips with you today.
SNEAK PEEK
1 | Cleary Define How You Will Use the Space
This space has certainly evolved over time and our ideas of what we wanted in here. Do you remember what we started with? When we first jumped into the basement renovation, we thought we would do a sectional. But what we came to realize is that we have plenty of spots to lounge and watch a movie upstairs. That is not the need for this space.
Because this is an extension of our backyard, we wanted it to be a place we could easily entertain and welcome friends. We envisioned people sitting around the fire pit out back, relaxing on the outdoor sectionals and coming in and out of this room. We also pictured game nights with our friends. Everyone gathered around a coffee table making memories; appetizers, cocktails, and laughter. We can’t wait for Riley to be home on breaks and work on a puzzle in here while Hallmark movies fill the background. Once we had clarity of how it would be used, the vision of what furniture we needed came to life.
2 | Establish a Fabric Formula
I think it’s important to establish whether your space will read more casual or formal. With the dark and moody walls and arched bar area, we knew we wanted to keep this more of a lounge feel. Elevated but comfortable. That helped us figure out what materials we would use for the pieces. A mix of leather and velvet keeps it looking a bit more formal but still comfy. Maybe you want to go more casual and use kid friendly fabrics or slipcovers.
Just as you want to picture how you are using the space, you also want to imagine who is using the space and how the fabrics and styles need to hold up. Our second sofa will be ivory which I feel comfortable with because we have moved into more of the adult stage with teens and our friends.
Ultimately I decided I wanted the following: leather + velvet + ivory fabric. Then it was a matter of finding pieces that fit the formula. I wouldn’t bother looking at velvet sofas when I knew I wanted velvet chairs. Having a good formula in mind helps refine your search.
3 | Measure and Tape Everything Off
coffee table | rug | faux stems | marble dish | velvet chairs
It might be a little difficult to see, but I taped the sofas off in with painter’s tape. It’s so important you get the measurements of each piece and physically tape them off. You could also use a computer program to plan your space. I like to see it with my own eyes in the space. We also taped off the measurements for the chairs.
It’s also really important to know the height of your potential pieces. More than one time, I chose a sofa but it was too high to sit next to the leather one. If you struggle to find two sofas that are roughly the same height, a sectional makes things much easier.
*Our coffee table is on sale and you won’t believe the price. The rug is velvety soft and on sale as well. If you missed it, I shared a round up of ten great coffee tables and why we chose ours in this blog post.
I know furnishing a space can be overwhelming and because furniture is expensive, you want to get it right. I hope these tips help point you in the right direction. And I am thrilled because our second sofa arrives next week! Can’t wait to share a tour of the finished basement space.
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