Bringing Light to Your Basement

One of the most challenging parts of decorating a basement is lighting.

Many finished rooms have rather low ceilings, and this can cause the room to appear dark and almost cave-like.

Another fact to contend with is that many basements are entirely underground, therefore not even having the option for windows. This lack of natural lighting only adds to the cave-like issue.

So what can you do about bringing light into an otherwise dark room? The first step is to accentuate any natural lighting that is available. If you do have even one lone window, make sure your window treatments allow you to access any available sunlight.

Use pale, partially translucent curtains that are easily tied back, or decorative blinds that pull up or to the side.

If you have one room in your basement with windows and one without, consider the placement of the door between them and how much light can be transferred through the doorway.

Perhaps the opening can be broadened into a double doorway to allow more light to pass through. And doors with clear windowpanes work really well in between such rooms to allow any natural light to travel into the further regions.

Another way to make the most of the lighting you have is to paint the walls a light color. Not necessarily white, just light. While at first this may not sound too interesting in the decorating sense, it can really help with your lighting challenge.

And the walls in a basement can become a backdrop for artwork and other decorative touches in the room.

Once you’ve capitalized on all available natural light, or if there is not any available, what next? Because of the low ceilings mentioned earlier, recessed lighting is a great option in a basement.

These lights can be placed to give off a lot of light without taking up valuable headroom in your basement.

Recessed lights can also be strategically placed over the areas of most use, such as seating areas, tables, or workspaces.

If you don’t have room in the ceiling for recessed lights, track lighting can also work well in low ceiling spaces such as basements. Track lights can be placed in areas of low walking traffic, and aimed at areas of high use such as the seating or work areas mentioned before.

With track lighting, as with recessed lighting, you can put light just where you need it.

For practical workspaces such as study areas and worktables, halogen or florescent lighting works well. Florescent lights give off a lot of bright light so they may be more tempting to use in basements, but halogens may be more practical.

Halogens can be put on dimmer switches to allow you to choose how much light you need by what activities you are doing in a particular area. Halogen lamps can also offer you more decorating choices than florescent lights.

Getting the right light is definitely the first step to decorating your basement area. After all, what good is the rest of the decorating process if you can’t see the room?

Home lighting is arguably the most important element in home interior decorating. It is instrumental in setting the mood of any room.

It can convey warmth and intimacy or create the right atmosphere for entertaining.

To ensure that you will achieve the desired effect for your rooms, it is important that you first understand the four basic types of home lighting.

1. Ambient or general lighting - illuminates the whole room. You probably notice it from recessed and track lighting. Certain wall sconces are yet another example. I recommend that you install a dimmer with your track and recessed lights so that you have the added flexibility in adjusting the brightness.
2. Task lighting - provides sufficient light to help you perform the task at hand, e.g., reading, cooking, shaving, etc. Task lighting should be glare free. And it should make things easy to see without tiring or straining your eyes.
3. Accent lighting - is focused lighting that is used to illuminate a sculpture, piece of art, or architectural element in a room. Accent lighting is about three times as bright as ambient lighting.
4. Natural lighting - comes through windows, doors, and skylights. Depending on the time of day, season, or weather, it can vary in brightness and intensity.

As with all of your decorating efforts, do a little planning before you rush out and purchase your home lighting fixtures. Think carefully about the activities that will occur in each area of the room.

Don't be afraid to use multiple types of interior lighting in a room. In fact this is highly desirable and will create very dramatic effects.

Lighting can also be helpful in making a room look larger or smaller. For example, if a room seems too narrow, then wash one wall with light to visually expand it.

If a ceiling is high, but you want the room to have a more intimate and cozy feel, don't allow much light to escape beyond the height of the light/lamp shade.

And if you want to make a small room look larger, try up-lighting the ceiling.

If you're searching for home lighting ideas and fixtures, I recommend that you check out Bellacor. Their selection of home lighting fixtures is quite impressive. There are many items to satisfy all decorating tastes.

Room-By-Room Home Lighting Ideas

You'll find that there are literally hundreds of home lighting options for your home. Think of lighting from two aspects….functional and aesthetic.

Functionally, home lighting needs to provide the correct type of light in sufficient quantity for the intended purpose. Aesthetically, it can be configured to create the desired mood through its intensity and color.

Below are some ideas for lighting the various rooms in your home. And if you're interested in learning which light bulbs are best suited for your lighting fixtures, click here... Home Lighting Fixtures. Living Rooms

• Place a lamp behind every reader's shoulder…about 42 inches above the floor. Click on this link for ideas on re-energizing outdated Table Lamps.
• Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
• Use accent lights to illuminate book or display shelves.
• Install recessed lighting as your general lighting or to bring out beautiful wall textures (use a dimmer)
• Slim strip lights come in just about any length and can stick to the edge of shelves or ledges to highlight displays or provide a soft wash to a wall

Kitchens

• A grid of recessed ceiling cans will provide great general lighting
• Install individual recessed down-lights as task lighting for the sink and range
• Place halogen pendant lights over bars and counters
• Under-cabinet lights make excellent task lighting

Dining Rooms

• A chandelier over the dining room table creates a beautiful setting (use a dimmer)
• Highlight a framed piece of art with halogen track lighting or by attaching a picture light
• Install halogen strip lighting your china cabinet to highlight china or collectibles
• If a chandelier is not your taste and you have a long table, try a trio of pendant lights

Bedrooms

• Place table lamps on your bedside tables. (For children's rooms, avoid halogen lamps which can get very hot.)
• Wall sconces can provide good general lighting without being too bright
• If there is not much space, consider recessed lights or pendant lights
• Don't forget candlelight if a romantic setting is what you have in mind

Bathrooms

• Use shadow-free fluorescent or incandescent lights around mirrors for grooming
• To avoid heavy shadows, place mirror lights on the side rather than directly overhead
• Don't forget to install a nightlight