With low ceilings and beige walls, this basement was far from a fun gathering space for family and friends. Here's how it went from blah to brilliant on a budget.

One thing was clear from the get-go: a vibrant, retro look was the key to modernizing the space. The theme's inspiration was a purse made by textile designer Angela Adams. The fun, swirling patterns in her work translated to the blue-and-white pillows.

 

After painting the basement a cheery yellow-green, the homeowner sized up her options for making the most of the less-than-ideal space. Rather than try to obscure low-slung ductwork over the sitting area, a decorative painter infused it -- and the walls -- with bold swoops of color, starting with a red wave and later adding the blue circle to match the pillows.

 

Pegboard and metallic paint give a plain wall prominence as a media center. After removing trim, a carpenter attached a frame of 1x2-inch boards to the wall studs. He then secured painted pegboard panels to the frame with trim washers and nails. Small metal baskets from a discount store are hooked onto the pegboard for CD and DVD storage.

 

Metal window screens, wire, and washers create casual window treatments that add visual appeal without blocking sunlight.

To allow different age groups space for separate activities, this room uses zones furnished appropriately. For the sitting area in front of the TV, for example, hip yet comfortable seating stars. A pool table is paired with a 1950s-style bar-height table and chairs bought on eBay.