The goal of basement lighting is to create an inviting space in a traditionally cold area.
A finished basement is a common way homeowners expand the living space within a home; however, due to the subterranean environment, proper lighting can be difficult. Since most basements do not feature windows, the type of lighting used needs to provide proper illumination while still invoking comfort for your family and guests.
Traditional Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting is used in finished basements to provide large circular pools of light, which are ideal for lower-level rooms. This type of basement lighting can be custom-designed to provide a unique appearance within rooms. The number of recessed lights used depends on the size of the room and the desired brightness levels. Use incandescent lights to provide vivid white light, which brightens the basement and prevents it from feeling like a cave.
Surface-Mounted Lights
Surface-mounted lights are just that, lights that are mounted onto a surface within the basement. These lights can be attached to the ceiling or walls of a basement to create dynamic and warm lighting. One of the main benefits of surface-mounted lights, compared to traditional recessed lighting, is cost. Recessed lighting requires invasive installations while surface-mounted lights are simply attached to a wall and wired to the electrical box. Surface-mounted lights range in size and , which gives homeowners more options for lighting a finished basement.
Use Mirrors
The use of mirrors in a finished basement can dramatically enhance the brightness of the room. If the basement features a window, a strategically placed mirror bounces light around the room; if no windows exist, mirrors can bounce light from recessed or surface-mounted lights. Mirrors are not only effective at distributing light, they also can make a smaller basement room feel larger by "extending" its perceived size in its reflection. This keeps the basement from feeling like an enclosed area.
Sliding-Glass Door
One way to create natural light within a basement is to install a sliding glass door at one end of it, either at ground level under a home's upper stories, or at the bottom of exterior steps that lead down to a subterranean basement. Surface-level or below-grade basements with this type of door installed receive natural sunlight through the sliders, which allows sunlight to brighten the basement during daylight hours. To install a sliding-glass basement door above or below grade on your property, hire a contractor to determine if this type of installation is possible and safe.
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