My office is currently upstairs in a bedroom now. There are no windows in the basement. No plans to put a bedroom in the basement. There used to be windows, but previous owners blocked them up 30 years ago and I finished landscaping our exterior. So I am not putting windows back in.

I am back with another layout. I really wanted a separate storage area, but not another door off the main area. So I came up with the idea make it right off of the mechanical room. I am still not sure about the furniture layout in the family area. Please review.

I prefer your first, more simple layout, in part because I think the seating area is laid out better for people to see the TV and fireplace. Also, I think the main area in your second version will feel more chopped up with the half wall. Soon enough your kids play area will include the TV and associated electronics.

I'd utilize a few feet of the low ceiling area in the office for storage closets. Might as well have as much of the higher ceiling area as possible for spaces where you'll be walking. This depends on what you need to store and if it will fit in closets. (Barn style or bifold doors will take up less floor space than regular doors as shown.) The closets will act as a sound buffer if kids are watching TV or playing while you're working. (left pic)

If you stick with storage off the mechanical room, can you move the location of the door to the mechanical room? If you have a small vestibule area for doors, that gives you more wall room for furniture in your main area. (right pic) Haven't played with storage in that space - it could be wall cabinets, shelving, or walled off, pending what you need to store.

Be sure to check your wifi connection down there. We had an office in the basement prior to an addition, and we used a wired connection for better access (our router is on the 2nd floor.)

How about a poker table or game table there by the mini bar? Use for playing cards or eating.

That is an interesting idea Chicagoans for the vestibule area. Yes, I could move the door to either side. The one con of the long closet is that the office is a long narrow room, but it does utilize the store under the low ceiling better. I ran these by my wife and she likes the closet under the ceiling. I think that is the best option because I would want to hide our stuff we are storing.

I'm not seeing *any* egress. We don't want you trapped down there during a fire in the house.

I would never use, nor would I want myself or my family in a basement with no egress. I'm not even sure it would be legal

There are zero windows down there? I can't even imagine it. It will feel quite cavelike no matter how you decorate it. Our last home had a family room downstairs with the small windows and only one in the family room and it was okay but we never hung down there except for winter. On the other hand the light we got from the egress in the bedroom was amazing and made it a very comfortable and safe place to be.

I realize you have finished the landscaping but I'd seriously reconsider the window issue. It will be a much more pleasant place to spend time. I am with cpartist we would never use it.