Who wants to live in a space with no windows and natural light?

Naturally it depends. Light is nice but a view with the light and high ceilings make the better space.

Another vote for windows. I have 5ftx5ft windows in my 11ft deep basement (completely underground) with large masonry window wells (8ftx4ftx12ft). The amount of light through these windows is surprising. I don’t need to turn on the lights during the day, which I think is awesome,

I’ve been pulling quite a few images from houzz and pin int. To my surprise the majority don’t have windows.

it makes me wonder if people expect them for this type of entertaining / recreation space.

this south facing egress window lets in a ton of light.

i’m considering adding one and expanding another for retrofit.

Seeing a lack of windows in many many great looking rec spaces has me second guessing the value add.

No lights are on to give you an idea of the amount of light. Of course a south exposure one in the middle of the day will showcase the most light versus any other exposure

I’ve been pulling quite a few images from houzz and pin int. To my surprise the majority don’t have windows.

This also holds for most main floors of houses built in recent years. Too few windows, and very small. But just because "everyone else" is doing it doesn't mean it's right or good or makes for a pleasant space to live in.

Retrofitting basement windows and window wells is asking for trouble unless you provide drainage to functioning weepers around the foundation. Leave it as it is.

Where we live everyone has basements and you would expect to see a few windows down there. How about your area? The other factor is what do you see when you look out of those windows? Is the foundation completely underground or what is the view? Do you have to worry about a cover due to area crime? And for those windows that are under - just painting the existing surround white will increase the light reflected into the basement. In a previous home our wells were steel and we encouraged the nearby ivy to grow down and placed potted plants/flowers.

IMO, nothing beats natural light.

The more windows you have, the less it will feel like a basement; in fact, if you have enough windows, it won't be a basement.

It really depends on how one uses ones basement. If it's strictly for storage, a lot of windows are not necessary. But if it's used for a spare bedroom/office/sewing room/teen TV room, then they are highly desirable and very valuable. My own basement is only semi-finished - ceilings too low to have a nice "finished" ceiling. But since my lot slopes, I have two windows that are about 3 ft square. Since they face due west, I get a lot of light. I would not be able to stand having my desktop computer and all my breathing treatment equipment down there without those windows - I'd feel like I was in a dungeon.

Natural light is the key - it will make all the difference. So if you can have a window for extra light installed, do it. Here are some additional tips - go with a window that has a very narrow frame - most likely with aluminum window. 2nd - use a laminated glass for this window for extra burglar protection.

Good Luck on your project!

Even moving with sound effects

I have a super creepy unfinished basement that's basically in the same state it was in when the house was built over a hundred years ago. It has windows. I appreciate the windows because I know it won't be totally pitch black if I get caught down there during a power outage and no pocket light source.

Also, ventilation.

We have two sliders and 3 windows in our walkout. Still a bit dark because the sliders and two windows are under the cantilevered living room, bedroom and deck so only the east window gets direct sun. When we finish the bedroom this winter will have one slider and the sat facing window. O window in the bath unfortunately because of the slope and no need for an egress window there. We'll need to be careful with lighting to make up for the lack of natural light.