Basement Lighting – No limitations, only possibilities.

One of the most challenging and often overlooked areas in basement design is lighting.

To compensate for the usual lack of natural day light, most people resort to bright overhead lights that will spread light evenly throughout the room, to prevent it from looking like a dungeon.

While that approach might make sense for a basement gym, a play-room or a workshop, there are many other ways to use light to create fabulous basement rooms for every purpose.

In that sense, the lack of natural day light should not be seen as a limitation, but as an asset, as it opens the doors to a myriad of possibilities to create the perfect atmosphere for your basement room.

Keep in mind that basement lighting requires wiring and, because ceilings are typically low, enclosed fixtures work better than hanging ones. This is why decisions about lighting should be done quite early in the project.

There are two other ways, besides the typical bright overhead lighting, to distribute artificial lights in a basement room. And since in the typical basement there is little to no interference from day light, the result is usually more even and well controlled.

Task Lighting – Light with a purpose.
Whether it is a home office, a wet bar or a game room, task lighting allows you to create task oriented areas. Whether it is the stained glass fixture hanging over the pool table, or a row of recessed lights over the counter, a lamp over a reading chair, or a reading light over the guest bed, task lights create soothing, visually organized rooms.

Ambience Lighting – Create drama.
Ambience lighting is most commonly used in high-end basement Home Theaters and Media Rooms, mostly to recreate the feel of an actual movie theater.
However, virtually any room can benefit from some added drama. Guest, meditation and spa rooms can be turned into soothing sanctuaries. Lighting can also visually divide a big open room into smaller ones, each with a different feel.

Coordinating lighting and color palettes can add personality and drama. Because colors look at least two shades darker in a basement, we always suggest using a light, neutral tone on the walls and then add color with other architectural or decorative elements.

Lighting alone can transform a drab, plain basement room into a fabulous setting you will love and be proud to show to your friends.

I put together a Houzz Idea Book with great samples of lighting use in basement design.