Best Small Man Cave Ideas

Repurpose old furniture instead of buying new.

Designer and homeowner Barbara Purdy converted a wood-burning fireplace to gasoline to make a cosy focal point within this room. I couldn't see myself hauling logs down the staircase, she says. Radiant heating installed under the wood-look porcelain-tile flooring adds much more heat. The couch, a hand-me-down from her parents, was recovered and layered with cushions. Tour this cellar on Online TV, plus find more inspiration from our photo galleries of Barbara Purdy Designs, Budget Basement Decorating Tips and Suzanne Dimma's Favourite Dreamy Retreats.

Vibrant Laundry Room-Pinch pennies with MDF cabinets and add your trim.

H&H senior editor Meg Crossley turned this unfinished basement laundry area to a laundry oasis. Improper venting meant the washer and dryer had to be transferred into the opposite wall, where they're now concealed by latching doors. Meg also included a convenient sink with a kitchen-worthy faucet, an upper shelf and lower cabinets for extra storage. A contractor cut door fronts from MDF, then Meg additional Shaker trim for a personalized look. To provide the basement an airy atmosphere, the space had been painted white. Sico's Light Sugar (4150-11), an obsolete white, makes the ceilings look higher without feeling sterile or cold. The cabinets were painted robin's egg blue to get a country-inspired appearance.

Sleek Basement-Paint walls a dark and striking colour to get a cosy effect.

Stylist Arren Williams' basement was designed to be both functional and beautiful. A contemporary sectional couch in a charcoal cloth can sit many people while two cane ottomans can be utilized as side tables or extra chairs. To create the ideal setting for film night, Williams chose a thick, full-height velvet curtain to block any unwanted light.

Modern Laundry Room

Consider seat pinning as a more affordable option to digging out a basement. The laundry room of this renovated basement was created to be bright and clean with lots of storage. Simple cabinets and drawers maintain everything from linens to sports gear organized and out of sight. A farmhouse sink and industrial design sink and art lined across the countertop make the decoration more worthy of a main-floor room than a basement for chores. Accessories like fitting canisters and a dim tray finish the look off.