Nesting With Grace

by Brooke Christen

10 Favorite Things in our Basement- We would do again

October 30, 2025

We love our basement family room, it’s our go-to space for gathering with family and friends! Whether it’s a cozy movie night, a fun hangout with the kids, or hosting a crowd for game day, this room truly does it all. We especially love it during the colder months when we’re indoors more. We’ve easily fit 30+ people down here! There’s a little something for everyone in this space, and today I’m sharing our favorite features and how we make it feel inviting year-round.

Sharing 10 favorite things about our basement! If you are a new visitor to our home, it was built in 1970, and we remodeled it (see all the details on the remodel here) it has 8′ ceilings throughout.

One of the biggest changes to the basement was making the windows larger to brighten up the area!

You can get all the paint colors on this post, with all the paint colors for our entire home.

Most recent update- we added a window wall. This helped to define different zones, which was needed for such a long room.

Marigold Double Cushion Sectional // Handmade Oushak Rug //
Round Coffee Table // Wood Arm Chair // Blue Ottoman //
Linen Colorful Pillows // Marble Game // Blue Vase //
Stray Dog Flush Mount // Book Quote Art // Fairy Garden Art //
Fabric Bench or Our Stripe Bench or Similar Bench //
Scallop Chair // Bookcase // Marble Table

1- Basketball Hoop- Pop a Shot

Probably our most-used game, and for good reason! It was on the pricier side, but totally worth it for how often we play. Everyone’s always trying to beat their own high scores (and each other’s!), which keeps the competition fun and lively. It can be surprisingly exhausting, but that’s part of the fun, it gets everyone up and moving.
NBA Pop a Shot Basketball Game // Another Option Pop a Shot // Wallpaper

2- Skee Ball

We recently got Skee-Ball, it is the game Finn plays the most at Arcades. We found it local, but this isbSkee-Ball game looks very similar. We set it up right next to the Pop-A-Shot, which works perfectly, there’s always something fun to do while waiting for a turn. Finn and his friends have especially gotten the most use out of it, and it’s quickly become one of their favorite hangout spots.

Family Gift Ideas-

Arcade Games and More

3- White Board for High Scores

Where we keep track of high scores. It’s how we know who is on the leaderboard (who we have to beat). The kids all love keeping track and even more exciting to wipe off an old score and update your new record! No one has to remember or worry about cheating. (I got mine from Lindsay Letters, she doesn’t make it anymore, but a chalkboard would be fun too!)

4- Arcade Games

We had stayed at a friends home and they had arcade games where all the teens and kids seemed to hand out. Even the dads! I knew I wanted a spot like that in our home. Arcade Games (with risers)–
Fast and Furious // Street Fighter // Buck Hunter // NBA Jam // Ms Pac Man // Stools

5- Air Hockey

We love our Air Hockey Table because anyone can play! We through about a Pool Table, but happy with Air Hockey, it’s a hit with both kids and adults, and it’s just as fun solo, perfect for practicing new shots and strategies without the pressure of an opponent.
Air Hockey Table // Rug // Gray Bird Art // Ottoman // Wallpaper

6- Bench Under TV for Conversation

For us we have no need for a traditional TV console. We need places to sit, rather than places to store things. We opted to do a bench under our Frame TV for more seating. That is the beauty of a Frame TV, it hangs on the wall as art, so you can put anything you want under it!
Our Pleated Bench // Similar Bench for Less // Wall Sconce // Similar Sconce for Less
Frame TV // Gold Frame // Tiger Art Digital Download

7- Game Table for Favorite Games

This area with the table, sofa, and chairs is perfect for family game nights! We love gathering here to play together. It’s cozy, comfortable, and always full of laughter. Here are a few of our favorite games to play as a family:

Phase 10 // Five Crowns // Sleeping Queens // Tenzi // Cover Your Assets // SkyJo // Codenames // LCR // Play Nine // Pass The Pigs // Herd Mentality // Uno Flip // Exploding Kittens // Nertz

We also hang new games on the wall, but the pretty version of games. I have Clue, Monopoly, and Scattergories, leaning on our picture ledge in our basement. Keep your eye out for games you like to play, but are also aesthetically pleasing. I just keep the game pieces in glass jars nearby (makes for cute decor!).
Gray Bird Art // Wallpaper

Monopoly // Scrabble // Checkers // Chess // Dominos // Playing Cards // Marble Games // Flower Memory Game // Tic Tac Toe

8- Large Wood Coffee Table for Puzzles

We also love using our large round coffee table (I got it local, this large coffee table looks similar) to work on puzzles while we watch movies, it’s the perfect way to relax and spend time together.

9- Candy Station

In our basement min kitchen we thrifted this darling cabinet and get it a refresh with paint. I wanted color and to make this space fun. So we filled these jars with candy! I kept each jar to a solid color of candy to make it really pop. The kids have loved this, just something fun when they have friends over or when we are having a family night together in the basement.

10- A lot of Seating- Large Sectional

Our basement can get pretty full with family and friends. I like it when everyone can find a comfy spot to sit and relax. This sectional is perfect for us! Two people can fit on each seat, we could fit about 12-15 people on this sectional, which makes me so happy! We went with this Double Cushion Sectional in the Montauk Performance Linen color Marigold.

Our sectional is 15′ x 11′ we have a Left Arm Chair, Armless Chair, Armless Chair, Corner Chair, Armless Chair and Right Arm Chair. “If you have a seat for them…they will come!”

Before we had four swivel chairs around a table, while it looked pretty, nobody ever sat here.

Instead of a rarely used sitting area, we now have a space that’s used daily, comfortable, conversation worthy, and fun! We swapped out the simple overhead light (it’s headed to the cabin!) for a show-stopping red chandelier. I brought in a colorful rug, added a cozy sofa, two accent chairs, a cushioned ruffle ottoman, and the matching console… and just like that, the room was officially drenched in color and pattern.

When we swapped the upstairs dining and front rooms, my “wall of ladies” had to come down. So many of you were sad to see them go. But they’re back! That little pop of color makes me so happy. Around the rest of the room is green tree wallpaper, which ties everything together beautifully.

If there’s one thing these basement projects reminded me, it’s this: pay attention to how your family actually uses a space, not how you imagined they would use it. Sometimes the best design decisions come from observing real life. Function first. Personality always.

11- Music

We play Music! I have playlists made like this one with music I know is appropriate and fun. Fun, upbeat music is always on in the background when we host. Makes it easy for everyone to feel welcome and gives those who share the same taste in certain genres an opportunity to connect! These have been our favorite speakers to use.

There’s always something fun happening down here, and I love that it’s a space where everyone wants to gather and make memories together! I hope this little tour gives you some ideas and inspiration to create a cozy, fun space of your own!

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