Turn bogus room into bonus room - Recreation

USA Today (Society for the Advancement of Education), Dec, 2003

Take a deep breath and open the door to that unused bedroom, cluttered playroom, or banished basement, but do not enter alone. If you have decided to create a recreation room, the first step is simple: Gather up the family and tackle this project together. From there, the American Furniture Manufacturers Association recommends the following:

Develop a wish list. First, ask everyone to list all the activities they would like to do in this space. Then, as a group, identify the priorities. Conduct this meeting in the targeted area to help keep some perspective on how much the room can accommodate.

Consider a "zone" for each activity. If watching movies and playing video games is high on everyone's list, an entertainment center and appropriate seating will probably anchor the room. DO you need a place for playing and storing board games? A corner for reading? A closet outfitted with shelving and a desk could become a home computing zone or a hobby/craft zone, while a dormer might become a game storage zone.

Identify needed furnishings. What do you need to buy? What can you pull from other rooms? Remember, the fact that this area was underfurnished is part of the reason it was underused. You do not have to spend a fortune. Look for multifunctional pieces that help you organize the space, store the clutter, relax in comfort, and open up room for fun.

Research new lighting requirements. One light may not do the job for the new reading chair in the corner or the hobby/craft table along the back wall. Plan for adequate task and overhead lighting for each "zone" in your new rec room as well as table and floor lamps or wall fixtures.

Shop together, Leave the house armed with room dimensions and a list of storage needs. Remember to measure the television and other electronic components before shopping for storage pieces.

Do not forget the accessories. Collections that do not seem to "fit" elsewhere in the house may find the perfect home here, whether baseball hats, model cars, or seashells. If you do not have collectibles to spotlight, focus on simple accessories that follow a lively color scheme or a novelty theme that is a family favorite--perhaps movie posters, a specific sport or team, or a vacation destination like the beach or mountains.