Closing off a basement den?

Our basement den is now being used as a teenager’s bedroom, so we need some soundproofing and privacy added when we close off the doorway. We are on a budget. An informal look is fine. I have been thinking of finding about three old scrap doors, mounting two of them as fixed doors across part of the opening, and having the third door, the one furthest from the stairs, be a sliding door.


Thoughts?

  11 answers
  • TheHoneycombHome TheHoneycombHome on Apr 28, 2020

    I think your door idea is a good one!

  • Homeroad Homeroad on Apr 28, 2020

    I like the door idea but maybe you could create a room divider using large shelves? If not maybe attaching the doors with hinges to create a room divider? Sound proofing it is going to be difficult without major construction.

  • Lucie - Oh my sander Lucie - Oh my sander on Apr 28, 2020

    I like your door idea :-)

  • Judy in Canton. Judy in Canton. on Apr 28, 2020

    Can you put a door at the top of the stairs? If not, I would consider folding doors on a track. These can be removed easily when you want the whole den back. Also you have beautiful wainscoting and trim that you would have to remove if you try to put doors at downstairs opening.

    • Tracey Broderick Tracey Broderick on Apr 28, 2020

      No, I should have said, but the stairs are completely open up at the main level. They open right into our entryway, just outside the kitchen.


      The folding doors are a good idea. And thank you for noticing the wainscoting. We painted it when we moved in last fall and like it.

  • Kmdreamer Kmdreamer on Apr 28, 2020

    Get your self bifold doors and run them off the ceiling or attach to the walls then close when needed

    • Tracey Broderick Tracey Broderick on Apr 28, 2020

      Thanks! I will look into that. Most of the house, built in 1958, has folding doors on all the closets, so I should have thought of that.

  • 516maria 516maria on Apr 28, 2020

    Hi we had the same set up in our basement. We purchased a bookcase from ikea that fit almost perfectly on one side. Then we put up an expansion rod to fit in the remaining section. We put up a heavy dark blue linen set of curtains, which draped to the floor, at nite he could close them for privacy (we also had a free standing ac in there) and this would keep the little bit of coolness where it was needed. When he moved out. He took the bookcase , we took down the rods and curtains s and now we’re back to one open area. Wish I had a photo






    • Tracey Broderick Tracey Broderick on Apr 28, 2020

      Thanks! I actually have an IKEA bookcase just standing around in another downstairs room. We’ll try it today. I’ve thought about the curtain idea, but I’m not sure what will best muffle noise...

  • Tracey Broderick Tracey Broderick on Apr 28, 2020

    What does everyone think will best muffle noise? I’m not overly concerned about volume levels coming from the teen’s room. I’m more concerned that he feels that sounds are muffled so that he can have conversations in his room without feeling like his mom in the kitchen upstairs is listening to every word. (And indeed, it’s best for my peace of mind that I not hear every word. :) ) I’m thinking that bookcases would muffle sound well, especially if we fill up gaps around the edges with weatherstripping or some such.

    • See 2 previous
    • 516maria 516maria on Apr 29, 2020

      This is it

  • William William on Apr 28, 2020

    Folding or accordion door would work. Easier to install and easy to remove in the future.

  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Apr 29, 2020

    If you are wanting to go temporary, you can do the doors. You could permanently enclose with adding studs & sheetrock, then a door.

  • Agnes Chrzanowska Agnes Chrzanowska on Apr 30, 2020

    Folding door should for sure do a great job

  • You could certainly do that. Just be attentive to easy access and easy ability to exit in case of a fire.