Basement Playroom in Columbus, OH
Columbus Basement Finishing connects Columbus homeowners with local contractors who build basement playrooms and family rooms. The brief is simple: open floor, durable and washable finishes, plenty of storage and good light. Planned with a little foresight, the same room converts to a teen hangout or guest space as the family changes.
- Free in-home estimate from a local contractor
- Moisture and radon dealt with before the walls go up
- Permits and inspections handled by the contractor
A room that takes the pressure off upstairs
Ohio winters are long, and children need somewhere to run about that is not the living room. A basement playroom gives them that space, keeps the toys out of sight, and lets the noise happen a floor away from anyone trying to work or rest.
What to build in
- An open floor. Resist dividing the space. Children use the middle of a room.
- Flooring that forgives. Vinyl plank with large rugs, or carpet tiles that can be replaced one at a time after a spill. See basement flooring.
- Washable walls. A scrubbable paint finish. A section of chalkboard or magnetic paint is cheap and well used.
- Storage at child height. Low open shelves and bins, with closed cabinets higher up for things that need supervision.
- Bright, even light. Recessed lights across the whole ceiling, on a dimmer for film nights.
- Warmth. A supply duct sized for the room, and a floor that is not bare concrete.
Safety points
- Test for radon and fix any damp before the room is used.
- Tamper-resistant outlets, which current code requires in any case.
- A handrail children can reach, and a gate at the top of the stairs for small ones.
- A door, kept closed, on the furnace room and sump pit.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms linked to the rest of the house.
- Anchor tall shelving to the wall. Ask for blocking in the framing where it will go.
Building for the next stage
Children outgrow a playroom in a few years. A little planning lets the room change with them:
- Outlets and a data point where a desk or TV will later sit.
- Plumbing roughed in for a future bar or bathroom.
- A layout that could take a wall and an egress window to become a bedroom.
- Neutral colors and finishes, with the personality in things that are easy to swap.
How it works
Tell us about your basement
Answer five quick questions online.
Get matched
We pass your request to a local basement contractor who covers your area.
In-home estimate
They inspect the space, talk through your plans and give you a written price.
Decide
There is no obligation. Go ahead only if the plan and the price suit you.
Basement Playroom FAQs
What makes a basement playroom safe?
A dry, mold-free room, a radon test, covered outlets, a railing and gate on the stairs, and soft flooring. Keep the furnace, water heater and sump pit closed off behind a door.
How do I plan the room so it stays useful later?
Avoid built-ins sized only for small children. Run extra outlets and a data point, and leave wall space for a TV or desk. A neutral finish is easier to adapt than a themed one.
Other services
Basement Remodeling
Updating a basement that is already finished, from new flooring to a full redesign.
Learn moreBasement Bathroom Addition
A half or full bathroom below grade, including the drain work that makes it possible.
Learn moreBasement Bedroom
A legal bedroom downstairs, with the escape window and ceiling height the code asks for.
Learn moreEgress Window Installation
Cutting in an escape window and well so a basement room is safe and can be a bedroom.
Learn moreBasement Bars & Wet Bars
A dry bar or a wet bar with sink and fridge, built into a finished basement.
Learn moreBasement Home Theater
A media room planned around sight lines, sound control and wiring before the drywall goes on.
Learn moreBasement Home Gym
A workout room with the right floor, ventilation and enough headroom for the equipment.
Learn moreBasement Home Office
A quiet, well-lit workspace away from the rest of the house.
Learn moreBasement Kitchenette
A compact kitchen for entertaining or for a relative living downstairs.
Learn moreBasement In-Law Suite
A self-contained space with bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette for family or guests.
Learn moreBasement Flooring
Floors that tolerate a concrete slab and the odd damp spell, laid over the right underlay.
Learn moreBasement Ceilings
Drywall, drop or painted open ceilings, chosen around headroom and access to pipes.
Learn moreBasement Waterproofing
Stopping water and damp before a basement is finished, so the new work stays dry.
Learn moreBasement Framing & Insulation
The walls behind the walls, built to stay dry and keep the room warm.
Learn moreAreas we serve near Columbus, OH
Columbus Basement Finishing serves Columbus, OH and surrounding communities, including Grandview Heights, Upper Arlington, Bexley, Grove City, Gahanna, Hilliard, Worthington, Reynoldsburg, Westerville, Dublin, New Albany, Canal Winchester, Pickerington, Powell and Delaware.