If I have a basement rec room in my new home then I'd like to have a wide, square coffee table like the one above. I like to work while I watch TV and I like to spread out when I'm working, so a table like this facing a wall mounted TV would be perfect. I picture a sofa where the wooden bench is now.
In back of the sofa (above, lower left) I'd have a long, shallow table or desk that would enable me to peek over the sofa and work or eat a meal while watching TV. The picture from a book that illustrates this only shows a corner of the table so I'm so I hope the idea gets across okay.
In the part of the country I'll be moving to it's common to leave basements unfinished, so the ceilings of rec rooms are often made of exposed wood. If that's the case then I'll sand and varnish the ceiling and add natural wood pillars like the ones shown in this Reggio Emilia school room above.
