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Finished Basement Ideas
: What Type of Lighting Should You Choose for Your Finished Basement?
What Type of Lighting Should You Choose for Your
Finished Basement?
by David Cooper
No matter what you do when you finish your basement, you'll need to make sure
that you have enough light. Since basement do not normally get light from
windows, it is very important that you have adequate lighting for the room you
are in. Even if it is a room you might think needs very little light (such as a
home theater system), you need to make sure that sufficient light can be
provided if it is ever needed.
Another reason why you want to make sure that you have proper lighting is that
basement ceilings tend to be lower than other ceilings in your home. This can
give the feeling of being in a cave if you also have a basement that is dark.
Having enough light will open up the space in your basement and will make the
rooms appear higher and larger.
Here are some ideas for the different types of lighting options that are
available to you.
- Recessed lighting is great for basic general lighting. You can get
incandescent recessed lights for a brilliant white light and a much
brighter look and basement areas. Another advantage to recessed lighting
is the fact that there is less of a chance that it will be broken if used
in a play area or a play room. Recessed lighting can be used when lamps or
hanging light fixtures are simply not practical.
- Surface mounted spotlights and directional lights are perfect if you
want a decorative lighting effect and you do not want to have to install
recessed lights. You can also use these types of lights when you would
like to highlight pictures or other architectural elements. Surface
mounted spotlights are great for providing lighting in areas such as home
offices where you need to direct bright light toward the desk or other
small areas.
- Track lighting is another option for brilliant white light in your
finished basement.
- Three way lights are a good way to have bright light when you need it,
but to be able to lower the lighting levels when appropriate.
- Floor lamps and table lamps are another option that can make your
finished basement seem more like the rest of your house. The only thing
you need to take into consideration is that they could be knocked over and
broken if they are in an area of the house where you could expect horse
play.
No matter what type of lighting you choose, you need to make sure that the
lights are turned off when no one is in the room. This will not only cut down on
your electric bill, but it will help make sure your light bulbs will last
longer.
If going into a dark basement area is a concern, having an occupancy sensor that
will turn a light on when it senses movement is a much better option than
leaving a light burning all the time. You can install an occupancy sensor on one
or more lights in your basement.
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