How to Create a DIY Homework Station They'll Actually Use
Photo:
The basement before the new desk. Photo credit: Houzz
Where we started
Here’s the formerly empty basement area. As our children outgrew their toys and we updated our furnishings, the basement storage area had become packed with forgotten items. I removed all the clutter but kept the pieces that could be repurposed for my kids.
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For example, we had an old dining table that hadn’t been used in years. It had a lot of history with our family — holiday dinners and art projects — so I didn’t want to chuck it. I also found an old, large dollhouse that my dad had built when I was a kid and that my daughter had outgrown a long time ago.
Armed with these key pieces, I got to work. Instead of adding drywall, I painted the existing basic builder-stamped concrete walls to look like aged brick. It gave the area a lot of character and made it look finished without the need to add expensive drywall. We then had high-quality carpeting and an insulated drop ceiling installed for warmth and noise control.
