Basements can be huge or small, depending on how much space you have. After all, there are places where it’s not possible to keep basement space and it’s not worth dealing with flooding for more than half the year. However, if you have a basement or cellar (or a basement flat), it is likely to receive the least amount of natural light of any room in your house. This poses particular problems when it comes to drawing up a lighting plan.
What you do with your basement depends entirely on its size and the environment it provides. Although basements are most often used for storage or washing, it’s still necessary to make sure they’re properly lit, whatever function you intend to use them for.
Lighting styles
Unless you’re moving into a new home or doing a major refurbishment, the sockets and light fitting locations are almost certainly already fixed. With new, smaller lighting options available, you can easily make the most of what you already have while adding extra lights that weren’t possible before.
The amount of lighting you’ll need depends on the size of your basement and how you plan to use it. If you have a smaller space or plan to use it primarily for storage, a workshop or laundry room, you should focus on these two forms of lighting:
General lighting, usually in the form of lamps above, provides ambient or general light throughout a space so you can enter and move around comfortably without tripping over anything. To get an acceptable amount of light into a small room, you may only need one general lighting source. Otherwise, you’ll need several sources placed evenly around the area, such as track or pendant lights if you have the space.
Choose slim-profile fixtures, such as recessed luminaires or LED panels, for a basement with little vertical space so they don’t encroach on the little vertical space available and create a cluttered environment.
Task lighting is a type of lighting that builds on general lighting by providing a focused, brighter light source, such as a moving task or reading lamp. Task lighting is needed in areas where you work in a basement, such as around washing machines, desks, DIY or craft tables and workbenches.
If you have a larger space or use your basement for other purposes, such as a living room, games room or TV room, you should consider adding the third type of lighting :
Accent lighting adds interest and depth to your lighting scheme by drawing attention to essential elements of the room such as artwork, architectural details or furniture, such as a wine rack. Track lighting, sconces, photophores and other directional fixtures can help you improve the lighting and highlight key elements of the room.
Choosing bulbs
The type of bulb you use is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing the right lighting for your basement. When choosing the best bulb for the job, consider the following factors:
Type
Personal preferences and what suits your fixtures determine the type of bulb you choose. As incandescent bulbs are being phased out, there are two main types to consider:
CFLs
When CFLs first became commercially popular in the 1990s, they had a bad reputation. At first, people were reluctant to accept these bulbs because they were slow to start and had a cold colour, despite their energy efficiency. These bulbs have come a long way since then. They now come in a range of intriguing colour temperatures and designs, making them ideal for bare bulb pendant lamps, in addition to their longevity and energy efficiency.
LEDs have a lot to offer as an energy-efficient, durable and inexpensive bulb with a cool operating temperature. When LEDs were first marketed, the initial cost was exorbitant and many were reluctant to spend. However, as prices have come down considerably and there is a wider choice of shapes, sizes and colours, LEDs have become the preferred option.
Brightness and colour
Whether you choose CFLs or LEDs for your basement, the colour and brightness (lumen level) should be chosen according to the tasks you perform there. Most people prefer a warmer colour temperature that resembles incandescent bulbs, but it’s up to you:
For mood lighting, we recommend a light that’s warm and bright enough to fully illuminate the room, but not so bright that it’s glaring, especially with bare bulb fixtures.
Choose a task light that’s a little cooler and closer to daylight. Something with a calorie number of 3500k or more will keep you alert and focused on your work.
You can use warm or cool accent lighting, but choose a bulb brighter than the rest of the light in the room to really draw attention to the areas you want to highlight. If you’re lighting artwork, choose a bulb with a high CRI:
Dimmable bulbs and dimmers
When choosing bulbs, whether compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, look for a product that specifies whether they are dimmable. Dimmable bulbs and dimmers give you greater lighting versatility, and while you may not think you’ll need them in your basement, it’s always good to have the option in case you find another use for the space later.