MONTHLY MID-CENTURY MAKEOVER
After a somewhat long hiatus I am ready to continue the monthly Mid Century makeover segment of this blog. Since I've covered all the major rooms of the house I thought I'd move on to the basement. Basements in the 50s were utilized much the same way they are today. They were rec rooms, laundry rooms, play rooms, they were extra space to do something fun with. Here are a few examples of what basements looked like in the nifty fifties, hopefully it will give you some idea of what to do with yours.
Rec Rooms
Basements are a great place for kids and teens to hang out and play. Giving them their own space to be rambunctious is a great way to save your furniture and rugs.
As amazing as the above image is, most basement rooms were not unlike living rooms, just another place to relax with your family. Unlike the living room, this room would usually contain a TV.
If the room was going to be a multi-purpose space, vinyl sliding partitions were often used.
Better Homes and Gardens 1954
Of course, parents can enjoy the play room as well. In the example below, games have been tiled into the floor, they're always there and there's nothing to clean up afterwards!
Better Homes and Gardens 1954
Entertaining
If you don't have kids, considering using the space to entertain guests. This is especially nice for ground floor basements that open into the backyard. This basement is serving both purposes, with one half for the kids, and the other for the adults. Peg board was used for the walls to easily hang toys, and all the walls fold down to reveal hidden storage.
Better Homes and Gardens 1955
This room is by far my favorite. It works great for both teens and adults. I love the television and color scheme!
The American Home 1956
The American Home 1956
Ladies Home Journal 1955
If the room was going to be a multi-purpose space, vinyl sliding partitions were often used.
Better Homes and Gardens 1957
If you want to go all out for the ultimate hang out place, consider transforming a fireplace into an indoor barbecue.
Better Homes and Gardens 1957
Laundry Rooms
Just like today, the basement usually housed the laundry room. Women who were home all day didn't want to go into a dingy basement to wash clothes, and they didn't like leaving their toddlers upstairs unattended, so they often created small play areas. That way, they could take their time folding clothes and still keep an eye on their kids.
Better Homes and Gardens 1954
This clever lady is also using her laundry space as a sewing room. She can easily hem and patch while waiting for her laundry.
Ladies Home Journal 1955
I hope this has given you some inspiration for your basements potential! Next month we'll be looking at some outdoor areas and how to get your backyard ready for summer.
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