A colorful rec room makeover with generous storage, dedicated craft and homework zones, play areas, and entertainment for toddlers through teens.
We did it — the Carney family rec room makeover is complete!
This space quickly became one of our favorite projects. It’s playful without being juvenile, full of durable finishes, and designed to serve a wide age range: from preschoolers to teenagers, plus a cozy spot for the family dog. The goal was one room that could handle crafts, homework, toys, games, movie nights, and everyday life — and still look intentional and personal.
The Carneys are dear neighbors: both parents are Air Force veterans and they have nine children. With ages ranging from college students to preschoolers, the design needed to be flexible, durable, and full of personality that reflects their family — including nods to red, white, and blue and a touch of Panthers teal.
Floors
The old carpet was long overdue for replacement. We chose luxury vinyl plank flooring because it’s waterproof, scratch- and stain-resistant, DIY-friendly, budget-conscious, and attractive — an ideal fit for a high-traffic family room with kids and pets. The hand-scraped plank texture gives the look and feel of real wood while offering the low-maintenance performance this family needs.
Paint
We painted the walls a soft, modern neutral that reads subtle and serene — the perfect backdrop for colorful accents. For cabinetry, we went bolder with a deep Newburg Green to give the built-ins character and to anchor the room visually while still feeling grown-up.
DIY Built-In Cabinets and Window Seat
Storage was the top priority. We spent about a week building an entire wall of built-ins with a cozy window seat using stock cabinets. Every child has a cubby and the parents have a couple of extra cabinets to keep things organized. Once the window seat cushion arrives, it will make a perfect reading nook.
Entertainment Area
The built-ins were designed to double as an entertainment center so the family can gather for movies, game nights, and streaming. Open shelving and closed storage balance display space and toy wrangling, while the TV zone anchors the room for group viewing.
Multi-Function Furniture
Space was limited, so we selected pieces that serve more than one purpose: a foosball coffee table provides play and surface space, a dog crate end table keeps the pet’s area tidy and integrated, and a sleeper sofa offers seating plus extra beds and storage for blankets and pillows. Slipcovers make cleanup easy after spills.
Decor
We layered colorful rugs, patterned pillows, and playful art to keep the room upbeat. Soft, durable rugs give kids a comfortable place to play on the floor, while poufs provide flexible additional seating for board games and puzzles. The overall palette — teal, navy, rust, blush, olive, taupe, and cream — ties the room together and complements the green cabinetry.
Art
A vibrant gallery of vintage car prints pulls together the accent colors and adds personality — a fun nod to the family’s interests. Family photos in clean acrylic frames personalize the space further. To visually lift the low ceilings and enlarge the window, we mounted shades outside the frame and hung curtains high and wide.
Homework / Craft Area
The sliding door limited large furniture placement, so we chose a compact craft table and a small desk with built-in cord management and basket storage. A display board gives the kids a place to pin artwork and reminders, while wipeable leather chairs make clean-up simple after messy projects.
Now the kids have a tidy, functional space to do homework, craft, and play. This rec room balances durability with warmth so it can be lived in and loved for years to come.
We completed the transformation in under four weeks. It’s bound to get rearranged and well-loved quickly — the best compliment a rec room can receive is to become the family’s favorite messy, joyful place.
Sources and finishes used in this room
- Wall color: Romabio Interior Low Lustre in Feather
- Trim/ceiling color: Romabio Interior Satin in Galleria White
- Cabinet color: Benjamin Moore Advance Interior Semi-Gloss in Newburg Green
- Flooring: ProCore Floors in Meadow Oak
- Rugs in coordinating teal, navy, rust, blush, olive, taupe, and cream
- Vintage car art series and family photo acrylic frames
- Woven Roman shades and high, wide curtains to visually raise the ceiling
- Sleeper sofa with storage and washable slipcovers
- Compact armchair, foosball coffee table, dog crate end table, and jute poufs
- Semi-flush mount lighting, floor and table lamps for layered light
- Small craft table, white desk with cord management and basket storage, and wipeable leather chairs
- Assorted accessories: leather cabinet pulls, throw blankets, decorative pillows, faux plants, games, and storage baskets
