thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 24, 2020 14:53:02 GMT -5
I may have the opportunity to use a basement as kinda "teen hangout space". I have lived in AZ my whole life, so I have no real experience with hobbling together a room that will be little seen (and little used). I want to keep the budget insanely low.
First off - the specs
It is a large space - probably 600 square feet. There does have to be some storage - a few ladders, a workbench, etc. There is plenty of room to shove all that into the far wall, and work with the rest of the room. It is long - maybe 40-45 feet, but only 15 -20 feet wide. There are two sections, the front one (closest to the door) is 4 feet wider than the far side. The floor is concrete, and there are 3 big windows and a door (house is on a hill.) There is no staircase to the rest of the house. Added hiccup, there is 2 outlets on the front portion and 2 on the far side, and they are along the exterior wall. The other wall is concrete block.
This is not in a full time residence, so it will probably be a rec room/hangout, but will likely be used for sleeping - slumber party style. There is not internet or television service at the house.
I have already put a crappy, but perfect sized table and chairs for either puzzles or playing games, and we have donated a large number of board games.
The place needs to be cleaned and painted, and I'm thinking a fold out couch, or maybe two. I will need some shelving for all the games, probably a rug.
As stated, I'm looking to keep this cheap-ass cheap. So, no links to luxury furniture stores with amazing things. DIY, yes, but nothing that needs too many skills, as my work never turns out that great.
Any ideas to make the place fun, and comfortable, yet still **ahem "rustic"?
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 24, 2020 14:56:09 GMT -5
I forgot to mention the nasty utility sink between 2 windows that must stay, but maybe I can put a fake plant in front of it or something. ππ
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billisonboard
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Post by billisonboard on Jan 24, 2020 15:08:12 GMT -5
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kadee79
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Post by kadee79 on Jan 24, 2020 15:33:04 GMT -5
Check out carpet stores for remints that will fit & look ok. Check at Walmart for metal shelves that you put together yourself.
How about a folding screen that will block off the tool area...and maybe more than one to make more private areas for the slumber parties? Some bean bag chairs for easy moving around.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Jan 24, 2020 16:20:19 GMT -5
The house in which I grew up was built with my dad's dental office attached to the living quarters. The home was built in the fall of 1951/winter of 1952. The basement ran the full length of the home. There was the 'cold' part of the basement used for storage and such and then the finished part of the basement where we kids played. Finished part of basement did have paneled walls, a bar for the parents and their parties, and a gas heater to warm it up in the winter.
The home was three bedrooms with one full bath, all on the second floor. Half bath on the first floor. Plus a half bathroom in the dental office. Parents had one bedroom, sister had one bedroom and us three boys in the third bedroom.
When my older brother became a teenager, my mother and grandfather blocked off part of the finished part of the basement and built a fourth bedroom. Older brother got the 4th bedroom. It was his until he went to college. Then it because my bedroom. Younger brother now had his own bedroom on the second floor.
Put some used patio furniture in the finished part of the basement. TV with VCR. A table and chairs for game playing.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Jan 24, 2020 17:04:06 GMT -5
Thrift stores sometimes have cheap area rugs.
If you were closer, I would send you to my Mom's to shop. She brings home so much stuff from the thrift store she volunteers at that they won't sell that she could probably set you up.
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steff
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Post by steff on Jan 24, 2020 18:46:39 GMT -5
Our basement was the teen hangout spot. If we're talking teen boys, to be blunt, they don't care about how it looks. It's about what they can do. I'd make sure it's wireless & that they can connect multiple game systems. Kiddo's friends used to bring their game systems/computers over & set up to connect up a large group to game. I'd pick a table that has a leaf or can seat at least 6 & add some extra chairs that can be pulled up if a larger group comes over. I'd either paint the concrete floor or find some cheap throw rugs to toss down. If your gamers/teens will also be crashing there, multiple large couches or sectionals & a couple of recliners. Many weekend mornings we'd have teenagers crashed all over the basement. Along with a trunk or storage where you can shove a bunch of blankets they can pull out at will. It's just easier than you having to try & find them blankets. A big ass tv & a stereo or speaker system (on the cheap) that they can hook up to. Make sure there's plenty of electrical outlets because everyone is gonna wanna charge something if they are there for awhile. A bar set up...without any alcohol. Just everything they might need for sodas, waters, snacks. A mini fridge (a big fridge if you have an extra) for that stuff, cups, cheap dishes you don't care if they get broken (or paper plates/solo cups if you want). If you wanna make it really "their" spot, some posters of their choosing, some fun lighting. You can find some cheap cool lighting on Amazon or at thrift shops. We have a couple of neon signs, a small stop light, a light ball that looks like disco lights. Didn't pay more than $15 for any of them. A cabinet or hutch of some sort for them to keep shit in. Our teens played Magic & D& D a lot, so we had books & boards & dice & cards etc that I didn't want just left out everywhere. a big trash can, like an outdoor sized one, one they can't claim to have not seen. We had a tabletop ping pong set. A net that will fit any dining room table w/ paddles. We have a dartboard. I put it on a wall that I was okay with getting marked up. At one time we also had an air hockey table down there. It eventually went to someone else's house.
and then, a board of rules in large print & where they can't miss it, preferably right next to their gaming table/area.
HOUSE RULES! 1. You break my house, I break you.
2. You break my house, you will never game here again. 3. You puke in my house, you will be forced to clean not only immediately, but the next morning too. (this applied when mine were old enough to drink) 4. No smoking (if this is a rule you enforce. Again, at a certain point, it was no longer enforced in my house) 5. No drinking (see rule 3 & again eventually aged out to be replaced by "if you are drinking please deposit your keys upstairs with Mom & claim your sleeping spot early")
6. Remember God lives upstairs and God can shut down your party at any point. Don't do anything that would piss off God (God being hubby in my house) 7. Noise/music level must not be heard upstairs when God is at home. When God is at work, feel free to blast your music, but know I have a bigger stereo & 4 speakers and I WILL win the music wars. So ask yourself how you feel about 80's hair metal while picking your music level.
8. Clean up your trash before you go to your real home.
9. Anyone crashing for more than a weekend must have permission from upstairs.
10. Don't break my house.
These were the rules posted here. I only had to kick out 1 kid & it was because I caught him hotboxing in his car in my driveway. Dumbass. We were pretty loose with the rules & didn't have any real problems. My hubby worked nights & I didn't mind having a basement full of teenagers. Our house was where they all were at, I knew who my kiddo was with & what he was doing. We averaged anywhere from 6-15 kids here on any given weekend.
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kadee79
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Post by kadee79 on Jan 24, 2020 19:06:59 GMT -5
Costco has a small refrig on sale starting at the end of this month...It would be a little bigger than one found in many motor homes.
Or you can look for a used one for sale if you don't have an extra to put down there.
The last basement I had...many years ago in Ill., I put down indoor/outdoor carpet...it was cheap...& just used double stick tape on the edges to hold it down. Think I got it at some place like Lowes.
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laterbloomer
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Post by laterbloomer on Jan 24, 2020 19:45:31 GMT -5
Don't forget about the power of paint. And some picturss you've replaced from your real living spaces. And various lamps so they have a choice of lighting.
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steff
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Post by steff on Jan 24, 2020 20:25:38 GMT -5
we put all our sports stuff down there. Pennants, team signs, helmets, signed balls, etc. Got a signed hockey stick hanging on a wall. Shelves with sports figurines & die cast cars.
I do have to admit I'm working with a huge finished basement with a door to the backyard, a patio & windows. Kiddo's bedroom is also down there. Has a full bathroom & a small full kitchen. So our basement is basically a 1 bedroom apartment. It's bigger than some small houses.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 25, 2020 10:04:15 GMT -5
Don't forget about the power of paint. And some picturss you've replaced from your real living spaces. And various lamps so they have a choice of lighting. I was thinking about lamps, but with so few outlets so weirdly placed, we might have to stick with the overhead lights that are on there.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 25, 2020 10:07:25 GMT -5
Costco has a small refrig on sale starting at the end of this month...It would be a little bigger than one found in many motor homes. Or you can look for a used one for sale if you don't have an extra to put down there. The last basement I had...many years ago in Ill., I put down indoor/outdoor carpet...it was cheap...& just used double stick tape on the edges to hold it down. Think I got it at some place like Lowes. I am not going to out food down there. It is a vacation home in a somewhat wilderness ish area. I don't want to stock 2 fridges for a weekend, and I really don't want to leave anything up there that would attract a critter. But if it were my prinary home, I'd be all over it.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 25, 2020 10:09:15 GMT -5
I'm considering trying to find a used foosball table or something.
I am trying to find ways to be unplugged up there. Because there is no internet, and we don't have unlimited data, we have successfully shut down too many video games, etc up there.
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toomuchreality
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Post by toomuchreality on Jan 25, 2020 20:42:52 GMT -5
It's not for use in a basement, but if you lived by me, I'd give you a complete volleyball set. π
I picked some up for $3 right before Christmas.
Good luck on your project! (If you use extension cords, I'd get heavy duty ones.)
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Jan 25, 2020 22:21:50 GMT -5
I'm remembering some of the fun basement hangouts that were at some of my friend's houses. Since you don't have internet, I'd recommend a foosball table, air hockey table, and maybe a ping pong table. Good times! One house even had a restaurant booth & table.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 26, 2020 0:06:30 GMT -5
I'm remembering some of the fun basement hangouts that were at some of my friend's houses. Since you don't have internet, I'd recommend a foosball table, air hockey table, and maybe a ping pong table. Good times! One house even had a restaurant booth & table. That would be so cool!
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azucena
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Post by azucena on Jan 26, 2020 8:47:02 GMT -5
Ikea has some cheap sinks if you want to replace it.
If the water is drinkable, lemonade mixes and a mixing pitcher.
Think about a microwave with a stash of popcorn - teens will eat that forever. Could be in a critter proof bin.
Can you tell I think food is key to attracting and keeping a teen crowd?
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 26, 2020 10:54:06 GMT -5
This isn't a house we live in, nor a house people will drop by. Teens will have to be invited, travel and spend the weekend. Having to come upstairs for popcorn or a glass of lemonade will have to be enough. I'm putting no food, no food storage and no cooking equipment down there.
So far
- Rug - Beanbag chairs - Sleeper sofa - coffee table / end tables - table & chairs to play games (already there) - board games and puzzles (already there) - a shelf to store all those board games - Curtains - Paint & Artwork - we own a large bluetooth speaker so they can have music - a phone charging station - Storage for pillows and blankets - room dividers or some other coverage to hide the sink and hide the tool storage - game table (foosball, ping pong, darts, or the like) if I can find an affordable one - Maybe a gaming system / TV / hot spot for limited use - and a nightlight. It can be very dark there. π
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jan 30, 2020 8:10:31 GMT -5
Maybe some futons instead of sofas β you get a couch AND a bed. π.
I second the large trash can.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 30, 2020 14:33:26 GMT -5
Maybe some futons instead of sofas β you get a couch AND a bed. π. I second the large trash can. I gotta keep trash can on the list, but my experience is, they are very difficult to use....at least to teens.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Jan 30, 2020 21:34:22 GMT -5
Maybe some futons instead of sofas β you get a couch AND a bed. π. I second the large trash can. I gotta keep trash can on the list, but my experience is, they are very difficult to use....at least to teens. (GRG lovingly pats Thyme on the top of the head) Oh, no, sweetie, the trash can just makes it easier when YOU clean up. π π π
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laterbloomer
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Post by laterbloomer on Jan 30, 2020 22:05:10 GMT -5
I gotta keep trash can on the list, but my experience is, they are very difficult to use....at least to teens. (GRG lovingly pats Thyme on the top of the head) Oh, no, sweetie, the trash can just makes it easier when YOU clean up. π π π
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oped
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Post by oped on Jan 30, 2020 22:53:50 GMT -5
Ours has extra sleeping space, couch, end and coffee tables with high edges you can throw dice on, pool table, punching bag, darts, big tv capabilities...
They donβt want your old decor. Mine hung some posters and their own art purchases.
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oped
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Post by oped on Jan 30, 2020 22:56:09 GMT -5
You donβt pick up your own trash you donβt have to use my house again...
Heck Iβve been known to say things like, there are like 15 of you here... each take a window and theyβll be clean in 10 minutes max...
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 31, 2020 9:08:53 GMT -5
It is easier when you are holding them hostage. They can't leave until I leave, and I don't leave until the house is clean.
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kadee79
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Post by kadee79 on Jan 31, 2020 11:58:04 GMT -5
My suggestion on the fridge was not for food, but mainly for an assortment of drinks...water, sodas, tea, etc. The little freezer on that fridge could also hold ice for their drinks.
Was at Costco yesterday...they have a nice futon on sale for $300..reg. $400. It has a metal frame & phony leather so easy to wipe down if anything got spilled. I want 1 for our cottage, but don't have anyone who could load/unload it for me right now. Need to figure this out cause they were really nice looking.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Jan 31, 2020 12:04:31 GMT -5
My suggestion on the fridge was not for food, but mainly for an assortment of drinks...water, sodas, tea, etc. The little freezer on that fridge could also hold ice for their drinks. Was at Costco yesterday...they have a nice futon on sale for $300..reg. $400. It has a metal frame & phony leather so easy to wipe down if anything got spilled. I want 1 for our cottage, but don't have anyone who could load/unload it for me right now. Need to figure this out cause they were really nice looking. I'm over futons. They have some decent cheap foam sofas that have similar designs or functionality that are more comfy - at least initially. Maybe they age as horribly as futons. This one can't be much better, but can't be much worse either. π www.ikea.com/us/en/p/balkarp-sleeper-sofa-vissle-gray-50307936/I'm still not doing a fridge. If they desperately need soda in the room with them and absolutely refuse to walk to the kitchen, then they can take the cooler down there for the weekend.
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