Basement Lighting

The majority of basements are subterranean—underground. This impedes, if not negates, the option of installing large windows. Some basements, if they are constructed on a slope, may have large windows or sliding glass doors, which can help let in natural light. However, many basements are restricted to small light inlets, which will not accomplish much on their own for letting in light.

Another problem is the lack of enough artificial lights. People may not realize that more light is necessary in the basement; after all, if only a few lights are needed upstairs, why would downstairs be different? The abundance of natural light in the upper levels of a house add a great deal to the illumination of the upstairs, but since this is considerably reduced in the basement, artificial lights need to make up the difference.

Especially if your basement is one of the main living areas in your home (maybe an entertainment center, or a home office), lack of light can be detrimental to the general atmosphere. A skillfully-lit basement is inviting and is more convenient for activities. Even if your basement is small and you only use it for storage, well-placed cellar lighting can help you find your way around boxes and other stored items without tripping or fumbling in the dark for that lost box.

Natural light is the least expensive and most efficient way to light up any room in the house. The problem with most basements is that most are built underground, and large windows are simply not an option. Some basements have long horizontal windows; if so, try to let in as much light as possible without obstruction on either side of the window. Even better are basements built onto slopes, or those with glass doors. Letting in as much natural light as possible will help lend an appealing atmosphere to your basement, especially if it is used as a living area.

If your basement is partitioned, consider using double-wide or glass-paned doors to allow light to flow from one room to another. Glass-paned entry doors from the upper rooms of the house will also help let natural light filter to the lower level. Also, simply painting your walls a light color will help accentuate any natural light that enters the basement. Semi-transparent curtains will lend a glow of natural light while retaining privacy.

Artificial lights will be the dominant source of light for most basements. The inherent lack of natural lighting means that careful consideration must be placed in artificial light sources. Lighting fixtures must be bright enough to make up for the absence of natural light. Too many lights, however, can create a cluttered appearance. Strategic use of light sources can fully illuminate an otherwise dark basement, and can also cast an appropriate mood depending on how the basement will be used.

Office spaces may benefit from artificial light that mimics natural light. Halogen or fluorescent lights may be good for office rooms, hobby tables, and workstations. These provide very bright sources of light and are well suited for work and business functions in a basement. However, fluorescent lights may not be as suitable for basements that are used as a living area. Halogen lights with dimmer switches may be more suitable for entertainment centers, or just for relaxing on an overstuffed sofa.

Recessed lighting in the ceiling will help give the basement a roomier atmosphere, and can provide great illumination. Recessed lighting fixtures also allow for activities such as table tennis, with little risk of balls hitting exposed light bulbs. With dimmer switches, recessed lights offer a relaxed atmosphere to a basement set up with a lounge area or entertainment center.

Floor lamps can also add a fine touch to a basement. These are also relatively inexpensive, and can provide adequate illumination, if spaced strategically around the room. They also provide excellent light for reading, as will smaller desk lamps. Finally, lamps may be set up behind wall semi-transparent draperies, illuminating the entire wall and giving a classy look to the basement. This method is good for general lighting, but you will still want to have a few more sources of light outside the curtains.

All kinds of artificial light fixtures are available at hardware stores, and can be quite inexpensive depending on the type. Go ahead and shop around a little to make the choice that is right for your basement. You may find good deals on the Internet, as well.

The mood of the basement is certainly worth considering when deciding on your choices for lighting fixtures. Will this be a cozy room for relaxing in front of a wood stove? Or will this be an office space? Or will it be an entertainment or gaming room?

For the best lighting, light colors like white or cream will help maximize the light output from your artificial and natural sources. Light curtains will let in some light from outside through the windows without compromising privacy. Furniture and accessories in the basement may also be as light colored as possible to amplify all the light. If you spend your time working in the basement, whether for a home business or for a hobby, you may want to cast your basement with a light colored theme. Some types of games and gaming tables may also require as much light as possible.

On the other hand, subdued colors match a more intimate atmosphere. A TV room or a den may benefit more from darker colors, like greens or browns. Dimmer switches on your artificial light fixtures will add a lot to the general mood of a darker color theme. Furniture may have darker leather to add to the cozy atmosphere. In this setting, pay attention to what kind of lights you install. Fluorescent lights match a high activity room; whereas, they may not be as appropriate for a room intended for more relaxed activity.

Strategic placement of lights can do wonders to the mood of a basement. With careful attention to shadows and light brightness, you can create the perfect living area for relaxing in the evening with a book. If your basement is large enough, it may even serve as a great place to entertain guests. In this case, floor lamps and desk lamps with stylish covers may add a lot to the feeling of a general living room or lounge. For an entertainment center with a TV and a sound system, more imaginative light sources like lava lamps, string lights, or neon lights may give your basement an added touch of fun.

If you intend to use your basement as an office space or a hobby room, you may want as few shadows as possible. Full illumination will cast a more active atmosphere in the basement, with plenty of light for gaming, working on the computer, or precision hobby work such as with models or woodworking. Incandescent track lighting, with fluorescent bulbs, will provide very bright light for a whole room, and are energy efficient, but are suitable mainly for work and gaming rooms. If you want to give a more decorative feel to the basement, you could opt for surface mounted spotlights.

Take the color of your furniture, carpet, and wall paint into consideration. Darker colors will contribute to a more relaxed atmosphere; whereas, lighter colors will aid in bright illumination of a work space. Decide what works best for the purpose you intend to use your basement.

Most basements have eight foot ceilings, a standard height. Rarely will a basement have a higher ceiling than the upper rooms of a house. Further, the basement may only be accessible through stairs. All this means that you may want to consider placing your light fixtures in areas that will be out of the way. Lights that are too large may add to a crowded feeling in the basement. Usually, ceiling mounted lights will not be an issue, unless they are extra large spotlights. Spotlights mounted in the ceiling directly above the landing of a staircase may add to a cramped feeling, however, so you may want to consider a recessed light, or another smaller light fixture.

Hanging lights may be perfect for gaming tables or work stations, providing focused bright light. However, they may get in the way for other activities, such as table tennis. Decide how you will use your basement to make the right choice for lights.

People use their basements for a wide variety of reasons, and each requires a different kind of light scheme. You may be using your basement simply to store your extra things, in which case simple lighting fixtures will be fine. Consider installing a few additional lights in order to be able to find your stored items without difficulty. In an unfinished basement, a few simple incandescent light bulbs mounted directly into the ceiling with a pull chain switch may be sufficient. Fluorescent track lights will provide extra illumination for larger rooms.

If you plan on using your basement as a gaming or entertainment room, there are numerous lighting options. A pool table with a single billiard lamp hung over it will create a relaxed atmosphere. A table for card games can also benefit from a single bright lamp hung over it. A focused light source can also hide any unfinished areas in the basement, instead drawing attention to the finished areas.

The electrical hazards in a basement can be slightly different than in the upper rooms of a home. If you live in an area that is at risk for flooding, consider buying a flood alert monitor to warn you to cut off electricity to the basement. Floor lamps with cords lying on the floor are the prime risk for this kind of problem, so it is best to take this into consideration when purchasing the appropriate light fixtures for your basement.

Another issue is the risk of fire. Electrical fires in the basement can be very devastating to the rest of the house, because the fire will travel upwards quickly. Make sure all cords are in good repair, and replace damaged or frayed wires. If you are installing lights in the ceiling, consider hiring a professional electrician to ensure the wires and connections are installed properly.

A far less dangerous risk is the potential for any ceiling lights to have a short life span. This possibility stems from high activity directly above the basement ceiling. Since the upper level floor and the basement ceiling are interconnected, vibrations from walking on the upper level may cause wear and tear on light bulbs, decreasing their longevity. The solution for this is to install vibration pads into the light fixtures, or to use extra-life bulbs. Either solution may not completely eliminate the problem, but they will help reduce the time spent in replacing burnt out bulbs. Of course, if you would rather not address this problem, you may simply place several floor lamps in the basement and install few ceiling lights or none at all. Another solution is to mount ceiling lights in areas not directly below a high traffic area in the upper room. This can cut down on damaging vibration.

It does not take a great deal of skill to successfully illuminate a basement, and this can be done relatively inexpensively. The goal, to light up an otherwise dark room, can be done efficiently and with some class, depending on your preferences. All the necessary tools, and the lights themselves, can be purchased at a large hardware store, with instructions for how to do all the work yourself. With the proper lighting, you can simply add extra light for your storage space, or completely transform it into an attractive living room that you will be proud to show.