Your ideal family room

[kartish]

So the work on our basement officially starts tonight, sheet being delayed all too long. The area we are working on runs almost the length of our house and we want to turn it into a child safe family room.
So our plans include putting cable Jacks and outlets up high so we can hang the tv, and keep that out of V's reach. The area is mostly unfinished so we can adjust the wiring and move things around before adding in drywall.

So tell me about your ideal family area, what things you love about your family area and hate about the space you have now.

Eta, only one outlet and Jack near the ceiling for the mounted tv, the rest would be normal height.

[tortor4]

My husband refinished our basement not long before DD was born and it sounds similar to yours. We have our outlets at regular height but they're tamper resistant so DD can't stick her fingers or anything else in them. Our surround sound stuff is all mounted up high so she can't get to it. We don't have any end tables or coffee tables, just a big sectional and an ottoman. We keep a tray on the ottoman for drinks and remotes and such. Other than that it's just her toys. It's amazing having a room that's totally baby proof. Our laundry room is off of the finished game room which is also where the cats litter boxes are so we put a cat door in the wall. DD only seems to notice it's there if I'm in there with the light on. Good luck with yours! Can't wait to see some pictures of it!

[aggiebug]

I just pine for more space . Living in a 3 story TH, even though it is relatively spacious, means we have limited room. I like having a behind the couch table that DD can't get to for our drinks. outlets with tamper proof plates, normal height is fine. surround sound system wired and in the wall instead of on stands and a built in entertainment center with shelves.

[dreemkin]

I would leave the outlets at normal height. In the future it'd be weird if you want to plug in a floor lamp or tv, for just a few years of putting in outlet covers and keeping the baby away from cords. My old house had a built in (like flush with the wall so it didn't stick out) entertainment center with outlets in the back and behind doors. Maybe something like that would be good for you. I miss that set up

[kartish]

Jan 29, 2016 16:53:57 GMT -5 dreemkin said:

I would leave the outlets at normal height. In the future it'd be weird if you want to plug in a floor lamp or tv, for just a few years of putting in outlet covers and keeping the baby away from cords. My old house had a built in (like flush with the wall so it didn't stick out) entertainment center with outlets in the back and behind doors. Maybe something like that would be good for you. I miss that set up

The plan was only one outlet and one jack up by the ceiling so that it will be behind the tv when it's mounted on the wall. The test will be the normal height.But I do like the idea of a built in entertainment center. I think we could definitely do something like that!

[danitaec]

Living in a 63 year old house has me wanting ALL the outlets. Most of our rooms have only 1-2, which makes things interesting. Every room we've redone we've added at least 2 more outlets. Plug in all the things!

[tortor4]

Jan 29, 2016 19:31:15 GMT -5 danitaec said:

Living in a 63 year old house has me wanting ALL the outlets. Most of our rooms have only 1-2, which makes things interesting. Every room we've redone we've added at least 2 more outlets. Plug in all the things!

lol yes! When DH did our basement he added so many outlets. Love it.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

I wish we had heat and a bathroom or half bath.

[dreemkin]

I second the bathroom! Wish I had one in our basement.

[kartish]

We have a space that we think we can add in a bathroom, it has some water hookups and a drain, but we need someone to take a look and see if it is within our budget.