Being in Texas, I have never seen a basement. But I do have to have windows to see out. Each morning I go about the entire house and open all the blinds to let the light in. I think I would get claustrophobic in an enclosed room. My house isn't large enough for a dedicated sewing room, so I have commandeered our guest room for setting up my quilt frames, they straddle the guest bed, and a card table set up against the wall holds my sewing machine. When I need to iron and cut, I use a table in my utility room. I get great light there as the back door exits that roon and it has a glass storm door on it. This also enables (forces) me to get up and down frequently when I am piecing which is better than setting for long hours at a stretch. I hope your basement works out for you.