The first thing the homeowner needs to ask is not how they should decorate their den, but how the room is to be used. Start by sitting down with a piece of paper. On one side write what you want. On the other side, write what you need.

When the list is finished, draw a line across the page.

Continue the list of wants and needs projected five years into the future. A family with small children will not need a games area in their den, but they will need one in five years.

This type of planning will help decorators avoid filling up a space with a bookshelf where they may need a future student study area or game area. Be practical. It may sound idealistic to imagine a teenager studying hard in the bedroom, diligently pouring over books in the silence of an organized bedroom.

Unfortunately, teens are social. They will gravitate to the most active and noisy room in the house. A student may get better grades if their study area is at the edge of the den, with the family, than if they are isolated.

Many homeowners turn their basement into a den. This is a great idea as long as the homeowner focuses on a few things. First, the basement should have ventilation. Second, it should have good lighting. Not only should the room be bright, but the lighting fixtures should accommodate ?sunlight? bulbs in the winter months.

Cleaning needs should be the second aspect. Many homeowners focus on colors that do not show up the dirt. This convenience can cause health problems. Mold and dirt will build up in the basement, and without good ventilation and air purifiers, they will turn into toxins.

Throw rugs, easy to wash furniture, and plastic will help homeowners keep the air in their dens healthy. If possible, add one large window. If it is not possible to add a window, paint the walls a light color.

Or, if you are inventive, create a fake window. This can be done by covering a wall with a window treatment and putting strong lighting behind it.

The window will have a dramatic effect on the occupants? emotional well-being.

Once the room's functionality is taken care of, it is time to focus on storage. Improvising is the key to success. Multi-purpose dens can become cluttered in a matter of weeks.

There are several ways to solve this. Storage under furniture is a common solution to the problem. Using a pine wooden box as the coffee table can create a large storage space that is easy to access.

The space under the stairs is often misused. Most staircase storage areas are stacked with boxes. Instead, use a closet storage system to keep the area organize and easily accessed.

Another solution is to use a closed wall of cupboards instead of a bookshelf. The wall will give the room a nice wood panel look and hide years worth of collectables, heirlooms, and treasures.

A functional den will become the most used room in the house facilitating family time and helping today's busy families maintain close bonds and encouraging communication.