Room layout - Ceiling height question

Kinda depends on the size of your screen and projector, Probably pushing the smaller end of things, though

Have you looked through the projector calculators? Coderguy has this one
http://www.eliteprojectorcalculator.com/

Welcome to the AVS Forum, I am a newbie myself. I have received many good ideas from my threads, and they have saved me $$$$. I find it interesting to see how people adapt pre-existing rooms to home theaters, as I had to do.

Your room is still doable with a fairly large screen, and you have several options. 1)One option is to put the projector on a ceiling mount behind the soffit- so it hangs down below and behind the soffit- and you possilby project a larger screen surface. But your projector would be hanging low, so don't bump your head our run into it. 2)You could mount the projector in a tall bookcase- where you could also mount your rear speakers. A wide bookcase to hold the projector and speakers would also visually separate the viewing area from the rest of the basement. As below, you have to ensure ventilation of the projector. 3)You could mount the projector between the soffit and the screen, but you would need a really short throw projector in that case to get a large screen. 4)You could place the projector on a coffee table like stand low on the ground- be sure to ventilate the enclosure however and make sure your projector has lens shift and keystone capability. I am liking the coffee table option a lot- no having to run power or HDMI cables in the ceiling, they can be run under the floor or under a rug/carpet.

Good luck, send pictures!