No More Basement Blues
Where I grew up many years ago, basements were dark, sometimes damp, and never really welcoming. The washing machine and dryer lived there, along with a chest-like overflow freezer with food that would probably never get thawed, but we had, just in case. The appliances didn’t mind the drear of the basement. But even with some extra space that my folks outfitted with a couch, a throw rug, and a few lamps, it didn’t appeal even to me and my teenaged friends. Nowadays, basements can be multi-use, bright and comfortable living spaces! These actual underground rooms have come a long way from their dank beginnings and modern technology lighting has a LOT to do with that advancement.
Despite their often windowless walls and low ceilings, basements are enjoying a renaissance in recent years. Any extra space around the house is being transformed into home offices, secondary living rooms, and even teen or in-law apartments. Basements offer an astounding amount of space, and if designed well, can nearly double the usable square footage of your home. To make the space as bright and livable as possible, adequate lighting is a must! The best way to achieve the perfect amount of light for any situation is to layer your light sources from top to bottom and employ the use of ambient lighting like recessed cans, task lighting including undercabinet or track lighting, and accent lighting like fun strings or spheres. And don’t forget to incorporate a variety of controls (e.g., switches, dimmers, motion sensors, occupancy sensors, etc.). This strategy will ensure full mastery over the light output.
While layering is crucial in your basement lighting plan, another key consideration is zoning. In other words, section off your light sources so that when you flip one switch, it doesn’t light up the whole space. Instead, it turns on only the overhead light in the playroom, or the hallway, or the laundry room. Creating these visible boundaries with zoning helps to make the space more livable and functional. Not to mention it saves you money by only lighting the area you are using. And if energy-efficient, low-maintenance fixtures are high on your priority list, be sure to check out all the LED bulb offerings on 1000Bulbs.com.
By their very nature, basements are always accompanied by staircases. For both safety and aesthetic reasons, be certain to accentuate stairs with light. In addition to general overhead lighting for visibility, staircases are a great canvas to experiment with tape or rope lighting. You can even consider adding puck lighting or recessed lighting into walls or stair risers for an even more dramatic effect.
Everything you need to overhaul the lighting in your basement project is available from 1000Bulbs.com. Well, everything but your professional, licensed installer! Remember, if you just need some advice or tips and tricks before getting started, reach out to our lighting experts at 1-800-624-4488 or use the convenient pop-up chat feature at the bottom right corner of our web pages.
