If you missed any of the process on this transformation, you can find the previous weeks here!

• one room challenge week 1 – design board
• one room challenge week 2 – trim
• one room challenge week 3 – diys
• one room challenge week 4 – rugs
• one room challenge week 5 – art
• one room challenge week 6 – paint
• one room challenge week 7 – wallpaper and details

I can’t believe we’re here! 8 weeks ago we were looking at a very dark and style-confused basement family room with a goal to resolve a lot of design issues.

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I remember saying one of my biggest goals was I wanted “to be able to forget that this room is even in the basement because our style flows seamlessly between the levels of our house.” How do you think we did?

Design Problem 1: How do you make a narrow room with a low ceiling feel larger?

Once we were able to transform this room with paint, the whole vibe began to perfectly fall into place. Going dark with color does not mean the room becomes dark and tiny. The opposite can actually happen! By painting the walls, trim, doors, and cabinetry all the same gorgeous moody blue, we actually created the illusion of a larger and wider room! And while this room does not have a lot of natural light, the dark blue and warm lighting give a cozy vibe that makes us want to snuggle up!

Design Problem 2: How do you create separate areas in one long room?

In week 4, I shared how rugs can easily ground and separate multiple spaces within one large room. We previously had the same 2 spaces – a family room and a craft space – but they felt disconnected and lacked a cohesive flow.

Instead of choosing 2 of the same rug, I selected 2 different styles in 2 different sizes to highlight the spaces and give the room depth. The added perk is that both of these rugs are extremely affordable and WASHABLE which is super important in a space that will be filled with snacks, crafts, and pets!

Design Problem 3: How do you make store-bought cabinets look like high end built-ins?

We added trim to the edges of the bookcase and built a riser for the 3 laundry cabinets on the opposite wall. Removing the legs and attaching the 3 cabinets together makes them look like a custom built in only made more high end by painting them the same blue as the walls. My husband added baseboard trim around the cabinetry and we will be adding shoe moulding to the edges where the cabinets meet the wall for a seamless look. Now, instead of being an obvious focal point in the room, the cabinets blend into the walls, which also helps the room feel larger.

Design Problem 4: How do you upgrade furniture when brand new isn’t in your budget?

I was really, really hoping for a sectional for our new basement lounge area, but my wish did not come to fruition. Luckily, my plan B was to give our old sofa and loveseat a mini makeover to make them feel high end and brand new.

By giving them a deep clean, adding extra padding to the back cushions and swapping out the clunky legs for these gorgeous vintage inspired turned ones, I still can’t believe these are the same pieces of furniture as before!

And my DIY lamp tables looking pretty darn great flanking the sofa!

My hope was that this space would be one that felt moody, cozy, and styled like the rest of our home. It might actually be the nicest room in our home now! lol! I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in the 10th Anniversary of the spring One Room Challenge and want to take an opportunity to thank the brands that contributed to this makeover!

• Woven Byrd – swoop arm chairs
• Rugs USA – Roxanne Rug | Pink Jewel Rug | floor lamp
• Frame it Easy – Ashford satin gold framed art
• Lick – paint in Blue 07 | wallpaper in Stripes 02
• Minted – Rosy Tomorrow I | Rosy Tomorrow 2

There are still some minor projects to complete like adding shoe moudling to the sides of the cabinets, attaching the baseboard to the cinderblock walls, and hanging the new dart board, but boy what a difference 8 weeks makes!

Next week, I’ll be sharing all the details on our built in shelves and what I’m storing in our cabinets! Until then, you can shop all of the linkable items in our makeover below!

shop the look

• throw pillows
• pink rug
• black and white rug
• laundry sign
• cabinets
• cabinet pulls
• framed canvas 1
• framed canvas 2
• bird art print
• zinnias art print
• yellow art print
• black and white flower print
• landscape print
• floor lamp
• woven poufs similar
• chair
• acrylic caddy
• acrylic paper holder
• acrylic art bins
• table lamp similar
• orange bench similar
• wall sconce
• sofa legs
• thin gold frame
• marble frame
• black and tan woven basket similar
• woven shelf baskets similar
• navy striped wallpaper – only sold in the UK – similar options here and here