Basement bedroom: ideas?

[druidp]

Our master bedroom at our new house will be the basement bedroom.
See the pic:


It's large enough, but I'm wondering - aside from some mirrors on the wall decor - how to maximize the appearance of space considering the high basement window. Ideally (and someday) we'd prefer ceramic tile instead of carpet for the flooring.

One idea I saw on Pinterest was putting in a narrow shelf along the window wall flush with the base of the window - in the picture I saw it seemed to add some height to the room.

Thoughts? Ideas? We'll be putting in a queen bed, and likely will be getting a new one from IKEA that is closer to the ground:

[druidp]

Jul 15, 2012 21:32:07 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

First, does the room have an egress to the outside? If not, I think you should consider enlarging the window or choosing another bedroom.

No egress right now. Our last house had us in the basement bedroom, also nonconforming, and we were fine with it. We also have the option of someday expanding this room into the next room (storage) to create something more "master."

I've seen on IKEA where they've hung ceiling-to-floor drape panels, either around the bed, or on either side of the headboard to sort of frame it.

[MrsAxilla]

Jul 15, 2012 21:32:07 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

Second, I might look into making a "faux window" - basically hanging a real (reclaimed) window w/ trim into the wall w/ the glass frosted and a dim light behind it that you can turn on to mimic daytime. You could do a couple of them on a wall, hang window treatments over them (high and wide).

I've never heard of this and I love it!

[druidp]

Jul 15, 2012 22:32:51 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Jul 15, 2012 21:32:07 GMT -5 @domerjen said:

Second, I might look into making a "faux window" - basically hanging a real (reclaimed) window w/ trim into the wall w/ the glass frosted and a dim light behind it that you can turn on to mimic daytime. You could do a couple of them on a wall, hang window treatments over them (high and wide).

I've never heard of this and I love it!

Ditto - I looked around on Pinterest last night and I could totally do this. Plus I think DH would dig it too - we did our last master bedroom (also a basement room) in a nighttime street motif: streetlamp wall light fixtures, ceramic tile in the pattern of a road with sidewalks, etc. (Might sound weird, but it was pretty awesome.)

[FoxInFiji]

It's against national code to not have an egress window in a basement bedroom. The room does not look like it was intended to be a bedroom. Was it included as one in the listing? Do you really want yourself or any of your family to be trapped in that room if there is a fire?

[druidp]

Jul 16, 2012 11:24:29 GMT -5 asdfjkl said:

Change out the ceiling tiles. They make some really nice ones these days that don't look so office-y. Add mouldings - it will make the room look softer. Add a longer drapery for the window. Maybe get a decorative radiator cover. I'd actually keep the carpet. It will make it look less like a basement and more like a bedroom.

I'll have to look up the radiator cover, as I've seen that mentioned a couple of times. And thx for the other ideas, all!