That is a very cute idea! His water dish upstairs in the kitchen near his treats dish. He goes downstairs to eat and use the litter box in order to get some exercise! :)

I love the cat tree idea. Before I read that, I was thinking in terms of decorating it like you would a foyer upstairs ---for example, a mirror, a table to set things on, possibly a lamp, a small chest or bookcase, that sort of stuff. I find it convenient to have a place at the bottom of the stairs where I can set small things that are in transit between upstairs and downstairs.

What is the purpose of the finished basement? Do you use it for something? I like the kitty corner, but you could do something on the longer wall. In an actual foyer, I like decor to reflect the style and interests of the home owner, and serve as a peek into what to expect in adjoining rooms.

Good question @decoenthusiaste and one I’ve been asking myself for the past five years we have owned the house. We don’t need another “hang out room” or an exercise room (we go to the local gym) or a hobby room. I’d love to make it a guest room but there is no egress window/door or bathroom. Right now I have a desk in there where I do some office work but don’t spend more than an hour or two a day down there. I’ve run out of ideas but don’t enjoy wing down there since it isn’t anything more than walls, carpet., recessed lighting and a desk. I’ve never lived in a house with too much space....

LOL, the cat tree looks fun. Hope said cat does’t lurk, then “pounce” when you walk by.

Are you "book people?" Could be a nice library; quiet and private. Would hubs enjoy a media room or man cave? Here's a multi-purpose basement; library, sitting area and craft area.

Yes, we are book people - this has a nice look to it.

Books and cats go well together...

Is your laundry room sufficient? You could make this space a drying rack area with a fold down ironing board, maybe a little tv. Do you sew? Or, I always wished I had space for one of those massage chairs. Also, I just returned from vacation and the house had a sauna room in the basement. It was amazing!

Thanks everyone, we are thinking of going with artwork on the right hand wall since the traffic pattern is a straight shot from the stairway to the doorway and any table along that wall would jut out into the traffic aisle. Since we are book lovers (especially garden design and cookbooks) we are thinking of built-in bookcases on the left hand wall flanking the (closed) door. The paneled door kind of sets the design (traditional) unless we change the doors. Our doors on the first level, our living space, are the original 2 panel doors from when the house was built in 1950.

Consider interesting shelving that could double as cat furniture.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/382806037051715021/?lp=true