when we first moved into our basement suite, I knew it came with compromises — little natural light and low ceilings. for a girl who loves natural light and creating content, it didn’t exactly scream inspiration.
however, the payoff of renting this basement suit was that we had 3 bedrooms, which meant I was able to turn one of the rooms into my office! with remote work and creative projects becoming a bigger part of my life, I decided to turn that underwhelming little room into something special: a cozy, functional work-from-home space and a full-fledged podcast studio.
here’s how I made it happen:
the challenge: small, dark, and uninspiring
Let me paint the picture: beige walls, dingy carpet, and one tiny window that barely let in daylight. It wasn’t exactly motivating. Because we are renting, I am not able to make big changes, so I knew I had to make do with things like layout + decor.
step 1: the vision
I knew I needed a space that could do double duty. during the day, it had to support deep focus + all the usual WFH needs. but I also wanted it to convert seamlessly into a podcast recording space — somewhere that felt creative and energizing that i could record no matter what time of day.
my non-negotiables:
- Good lighting (even if it had to be artificial)
- An aesthetic lifetyle set-up to be able to film my podcast
- A background I wouldn’t be embarrassed to have on Zoom or on camera
- A large desk for working + hobbies
step #2: the investments
Knowing that I wasn’t doing any major changes to the room like paint or swapping the carpet meant that most of my budget went into investments
A good, large rug – The original carpet was dark, so I wanted a large, bright rug to cover floor, lighten the room, and gave me a fresh, clean base to build the rest of the design around.
A high-quality podcast microphone – If I was going to record regularly, sound quality had to be non-negotiable. Investing in a pro-grade mic made my voice sound rich and clear, and it instantly leveled up the professionalism of my episodes.
A comfy recording chair – I chose a chair that felt great to sit in for hours, supported my posture, and looked aesthetic on camera. The only thing I want to add is a matching ottoman!
Linen curtains to cover the door – This was one of those “small change, big impact” upgrades. The soft, textured fabric hid the plain door, gave a more natural look to the room, and on camera especially makes the room look a lot bigger than it is!
High-end lighting for night recording – Basement + winter evenings = pitch black by 5 PM. Investing in adjustable, high-quality lighting meant I could record at any hour and still get that bright, inviting look on camera without harsh shadows or dullness. I also added an non-fixed sconce to the wall for cozy backlight
step #3: pulling it all together
To make the space feel like mine, I added:
- Framed prints and artwork that inspire me
- 2 small shelves with photos of my family + souvenirs from our europe travels
- my *iconic* year at a glace whiteboard set up which is one of my favourite things
These little things make all the difference when you’re spending hours in the same room every day.
This project has truly inspired me to see what a HUGE difference it can make to style small spaces well!
LINKS TO EVERYTHING
rug: https://go.shopmy.us/p-11596695
chair: https://go.shopmy.us/p-11573557
curtains: https://amzn.to/41XqYii
gold curtain rod: https://amzn.to/40kVKkd
wall scones (battery powered): https://amzn.to/4gEkUQv
white mic stand: https://amzn.to/4gDPLg2
whiteboards: https://amzn.to/4fHKClG
taylor swift print: https://go.shopmy.us/p-11596707
coffee and croissant print: https://go.shopmy.us/p-11708916
slow down print: https://go.shopmy.us/p-11708180
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