I think you have a lovely basement with a lot of light and a neutral background. I like the floor tile and I think you can warm it up with area rugs. as for layout, I understand the fireplace dilemma, it makes the room awkward for sure. i think getting the floor plan right first is the priority. as one idea, I would try swapping the living area and the game area. put the games in the area of the fireplace and the seating at the other end. I am assuming you want a tv somewhere and I would put the tv on the far wall that shares a wall with the room adjacent, and then place one sofa facing the tv. It seems like there may not be enough room for the second sofa. instead, I would get a couple chairs, maybe recliners, to try and accommodate for more lounging when watching tv. put the two chairs facing each other on either side of the sofa and then a coffee table in the middle of the grouping. as for rug, I would start with a nice thick, possibly shag, rug in the sitting area. it needs to be large, either 8x10 or possibly larger. hard to determine the size of that area so this size is a estimate. you want it to cover a very large portion of the floor so you get that cozy feeling you want.

Hi Marni T,

call me crazy but since you just bought the cottage, perhaps check to make sure the former owners didn't close any heat registers in the basement. I love your wall of windows with the french door. In my mind, part of making a room feel cozy is to have drapes on the windows. I would still keep the blinds though. Or better yet, check the windows to see if properly insulated. If you feel a breeze, remove trim and stuff with insulation.

If it's not comfy, I doubt people will use this room at all. I agree with looking into the insulation situation. If that's not in the budget, you'll have to make do with the following: Measure the room for a large rug to cover most of it. Looks like you have an odd size room, so you'll probably have to get two rugs. Make sure to get rug pads underneath for warmth. Cover all the windows and glass doors with lined curtains. On the walls, put canvases all over for wall art and put super lightweight insulation behind them.

What a wonderful space! It appears that you have great views, too. Could you place a sofa facing the fireplace? Do you use the fireplace to take the chill off?

As was mentioned, I would add drapery panels that can be closed when it is especially cold? Since this is your first carpet foray you might want to opt for something inexpensive . There are many online sites with great options at very reasonable prices....delivered right to your door!

You could do a new post asking for help with carpet selections. Post pics of your style, color preferences, etc. There are many generous and talented folks who will help you.

Here are some examples from Wayfair. I prefer a traditional style with color, but there are endless options. I cannot tell the color of your sofas.

Think of the long space as two separate areas. Float the sofa that's in front of the windows so that it faces the fireplace. Float the other sofa to face the active game area, This idea but with space in the middle for access to the doors.

or this L shape layout with game area at the other end of the space:

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Anchor the fireplace sofa with with a thick colorful rug.

Add nesting side tables that can be pulled out as needed for putting down drinks, food, gaming devices, etc.

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At some point, you might want to add a long low media shelves across the back wall for a TV, which can be viewed from the sofa that will face the game area. Store games and books in the media cabinets. Add colorful posters to balance out the TV screen.

Hi. I like the distressed tables posted, and idea to try sofas was it back to back sort of?

You've done ok though.... I thought to add/ to balance fp, a similar color wood piece to left of fp [try the one already there on other side of the room].

This is transitional and versatile -- not a match with sofa [hunter green?] -- bit warmer than floor which I like, and reaches more toward darkness of furniture color

Aegina Soft Stripes Gold/Green Area Rug, 5'3"x7'3" · More Info

https://www.houzz.com/products/aegina-soft-stripes-gold-green-area-rug-53x73-prvw-vr~102099972

Thanks for the feedback everyone. A few responses - there are working heating vents and the fireplace is a heat source.

Maybe stripes will a tiny bit widen the visual in the area? called Earth, poly.

Dalyn Joplin Earth 5' x 7'6" Area Rugs JP1EA5X8 · More Info

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It is the floor tiles which are always freezing so rugs are for sure necessary. And the couches are dark evergreen.

I love Celery Girl's pics! I would get a larger end table rather than that " log" :).

From personal experience, a rug will not help, as the floor is ground level. I ask you to heed my words. What you should do, either now or later, is to put radiant heat in the floor.

Do you have gas heat? If so, for a somewhat temporary fix, get a gas insert for the fireplace.

You could change your landing area of the stairs. Remove the end portion of the current stair rail and the newel post and instead have a generous two step landing, without rail, that is a 90 degree angle configuration. You could reinstall rail (where the landing is open currently) if you want it a closed off feeling from the fireplace if you like. Looks like you have the room to borrow from. Hope this is clear enough how I described. Anyone able to do a mock up?

I am really hoping to make the space rustic - like a cozy ski lodge so not so much floral.

I agree with floating the sofa that is against the window so its back is to the game area. Your french doors are in an awkward location for furniture placement, but it looks like the door on the right is the one used for egress, while the other is probably only used for moving large items into the basement. Is that right? If so, I wouldn't worry about the floated sofa impeding traffic to the doors, because it will affect the left, mostly stationary door.

It's difficult to tell without measurements, but if the sofa floated so it was kind of centered on the fireplace, could the other sofa be pulled forward so the walkway to and from the stairs would be behind it? Then get a rug to fit under both sofas almost to the fireplace. Something warm to visually warm the place as well as your feet!

The other option, as someone mentioned, would be to use the 2nd sofa down in the game area and get a couple of chairs for the seating area to use with one sofa.

It's a great space and hopefully, if you live in a hot summer area, it will provide a cool respite from the heat!

It's frustrating when people post so many random things as suggestions when we really don't know your taste or your budget. I did see this one and if the green worked with your leather, might be pretty in your space. It's quite inexpensive, though $310 for a 9.10 x 13 from Rugs.com. I'll refrain from posting a dozen more, lol.

If the room is cold, those sofas are too. Even in summer, with AC and wearing shorts, they will feel cold. I'd opt for fabric seating. Arranging would depend on where outlets for lighting are located for me, and a spot to plug in my electric throw and foot massager! In floor heat under those tiles would certainly have made it cozy. Maybe you should consider that when you redo the floors.

The song 'Where have all the Flowers gone?' well I deleted them....

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If 2 sofas have end tables near, that'd keep middle of room open. Swivel chairs face either end of room. People moving/ playing need space around a table, so I think the way you have it might work.

Thank you everyone for the ideas!

My first impression is that you have lots and lots of room but all your furniture seems jammed up tight at one end. Plus all the furniture is right where you enter the room from the stairs, making it difficult to pick your way into the room.

If you must keep the current furniture, I’d use one couch facing the fireplace and the other one closer to the gaming area. Buy two rugs and anchor each one with a couch. But really, if the room already has a cold feel, you need cozy upholstered couches that you can snuggle in to, not slick clammy leather. And fluffy soft pillows and a fuzzy throw or two.

And take full advantage of your view! You can hang drapes that you can close when it’s really really cold, but don’t put furniture there.

We actually aren’t going to put any tv there. Since it’s a cottage we want to use it as a place to unplug, play board games, maybe pool.

What a lovely room and how fortunate to have this extra living space. Cottages are my jam so forgive me for going a bit overboard here. Unfortunately your existing sofas are just too large for the space. Something smaller like the sectional shown below gives you a bit more flexibility. You can place it against the stairs so that you take advantage of the lake view or buy the reverse model and place against the window which would be more balanced with your fireplace. The round coffee table allows for easier traffic flow (no bruised shins) and a great surface for playing board games. The log rack positioned to the left of the fireplace would help visually centre it in the room (although it could be a gas fireplace). Hanging the mirror on the staircase wall reflects both the light and the view back into the room. A sisal rug pulls together the living area and warms up the chilly tile flooring. Drapes will help keep the room cosy at night. An entertainment unit against the far wall in the games area creates a focal point, a place to sit while watching the games awaiting a turn as well as storage for board games and books.

Thanks for indulging me and have fun!

Other version has no muted blue-green in it [just muted cream and folksy browns].

https://www.houzz.com/products/safavieh-serenity-ser208d-rug-cream-turquoise-8x10-rectangle-prvw-vr~104247767

and quilted -

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Marni, I just thought - if window's sofa stayed there - would a smaller item but sized to balance the sofa work? [cushion on a bench for example]

Then other sofa on the currently empty wall on opposite side of room - people could sit and watch the action.

This type layout seems possible - build a cozy booth on far wall - at sides maybe open shelves or closed storage -

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Or of course 2 chairs and lamp -

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2 or 3 chair option by fireplace - [sofa on other end of room]

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Tiled floor for now and ok too -- what about warming up the ceiling -- if possible to frame the edges of the 2 sections of the ceiling like this --

maybe hidden LED lighting within the frames - good for mood.

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Far wall with long seat and side sconces built in -

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Sometimes I love browsing on houzz. These photos gave me idea for partial wall built from floor up like 1st photo -- or built to jut out from middle ceiling beam. Extend it as far into room as you want and can.. maybe same as fireplace's left.

Course these cost money, but if planned well and done to your liking, it'd serve you for a long while.

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I wish I could stop in to see the basement, but not sure there is a 'con' involved in partitioning it.... maybe that people wouldn't see much of the others playing beyond.... photo of DR but for you it could be a sofa or other piece and a bit of a corner too.

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Again, you could fill almost half of the fireplace area with window bench, game table and chairs like here ...?

The walk-through function has essentially decreased the size of that area- and fp is to the side also - I think furniture or most of it can be in front of fp, and the window. A 'wall' might start with drywall to right of window - or measurement at which fp is [from window wall].

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