How to Make a Basement Look Like a Club

Plan the basic layout of your club on a piece of paper, and write a list of any items you want to include. The essentials are a bar, seating, tables, dance floor, and a sound system.

Paint the walls. In a small basement, use cool colors such as light greens and blues to create a feeling of space. In a larger room, or to create a really cozy effect in a smaller room, use warm colors or dark hues such as reds and oranges or dark blues and greens.

Lay a wood floor. This is hard wearing, essential for all that dancing, and easy to clean, which is essential in a room that may suffer from the occasional drink spillage.

Add a bar. These can be purchased ready-made, in a huge range of styles and sizes to suit every home bar. Alternatively, if you are fairly experienced with DIY projects, you can make your own. If you want to give it a go, but are unsure where to begin, plans are available on the Internet, but these will cost you.

Position stools around the bar and create a cozy seating area away from the bar with a couple of black leather sofas, or an L-shape corner sofa which offers maximum seating with minimal furniture. Lay a floor rug in the center of the seating area and place a low coffee table on the rug to create a really intimate area.

Add a sound system. This can be as simple as a small, portable CD player behind the bar, or a more permanent and sophisticated set-up by the dance floor with surround sound speakers.

Use spotlights over the bar, with a dimmer switch for relaxing on quieter evenings. Place floor spotlights around the dance floor using red and blue LEDs or bulbs for a funky glow. Use softer lighting around the seating area, such as a standard lamp with a dimmer switch. Use clear bulbs for the main lighting in the room, this can be turned off when people are enjoying your club, but it's essential to have decent lighting for cleaning up.

Accessorize with a neon bar sign and bar accessories. Add artwork that complements the colors and atmosphere of your club. Use graffiti art for a dingy urban vibe, bold geometric prints for a retro feel, black and white prints for a sophisticated and elegant look or decorative wall panels for a stylish modern effect.