When we moved into our home, it was obvious that the basement had been a playroom. There were still tiny, dirty hand prints lining the wall down the stairs. And, who would ever choose bright red carpet for any room other than a playroom? Yes - the carpet is bright red!
Immediately, we envisioned it as our children's playroom too. That was back in 2007 though...before we were even married...before we filled that room with more junk than you can imagine...before it became the room where items go to
I was going to take a before picture, and I do mean before picture. A picture showing the worst state the 'Red Room', as I call it, had ever been in. Imagine this: totes stacked 4 high and 2 wide over in the corner, extra blankets, sleeping bags, and an air mattress shoved on the shelf in the other corner, DVDs and my beloved, puffy-cased Disney VHSs packed on not one, but two shelves, in the third corner, and in the fourth? Holiday totes and open boxes with random decorations protruding out the top. Lucy's baby clothes had officially taken over 4+ totes and we couldn't even get the lid on one of them. Her baby bottles, bouncy chair, and swing, in which she completely outgrew, were stacked on a recliner. The recliner still somehow faced the TV, not that we could actually use it.
You see...it didn't start this way. Things didn't start all strewn about.
There was once a Lucy-less time when the 'Red Room' was a workout area, a place to sort the laundry, and storage place for all of our keepsakes, in nice, organized totes in the corner. We had an entertainment center, a TV (it was old; but, it worked), a DVD Player, a treadmill, and even a table next to a neatly organized 'arts and crafts' area. Recently though? Mayhem.
The before, before picture would have been so awful that I am sure you all would have reported me to 'Hoarders' on A & E. Luckily, I forgot to take a picture though; so, I'm not even tempted to show you the mess. You will just have to imagine.
After we spent our Saturday morning cleaning out said basement, Heath did take some photos of the empty room. I will share those with the big reveal! :)
We took all of the stuff out, except for the big items (entertainment center, a twin bed, the treadmill, and a desk). Wow - listing these things makes this room sound huge. It's not...or it's about to not be...one of the two. You see here is the current lay out, minus all the junk:
These were exposed! Yes - this room was used as a playroom, with carpet, and these were, just, out there!
Our first priority was to cover them, safely. Our second priority was to make more storage and cover up those totes. This is what we came up with:
I don't want to cover the window, as small as it is; nonetheless, we will be making a sort of 'cubby' type area there (where it says 'landing'). It will have a door, so we can put totes inside, and will be about 6 foot tall; but, the teeny tiny window won't be blocked and that's all that I care.
The construction begins this weekend and it is a chance for me to get my organization/decor in order. I have told you before: I love organizing! I love putting things away! :) I am pumped about the thought of putting all of our stuff back! I literally want to yell "yay" right now.
So, I will be sure to share all of the things that I am looking at to help organize the room for Lucy. All I know right now is that the entertainment center is staying, the treadmill is moving to the 'den', and her toy box will be moving in. I am looking into buying some more shelves or canvas totes though....more on that later.
Wish us luck; we'll need it!
Oooh I love a good makeover! Your plans look great! Have fun this weekend.
ReplyDelete