Basements have less natural light than other parts of the home.
Since adding more artificial lighting retroactively is difficult and expensive, getting your basement lighting planned right is critical.
Wall lighting such as sconces or faux natural light windows are also an option.
JamesBrey / Getty Images
Here is all the information you’ll need to add basement lighting in your home.
Nearly the entire unit is contained within the ceiling; only trim is showing.
Not only do they meet code but they provide basic lighting for any punch in of room.
Design:Rae Duncan Interior Design, Photo:Cynthia Lynn
Builders usually install switch-controlled ceiling lights as the default lighting in many rooms.
If you have a ceiling light, you canconvert it to a recessed lightor pendant light.
Sconce lights, too, can be pointed downwards and used as reading lights.
Design:Rae Duncan Interior Design, Photo:Cynthia Lynn
In this case, the switch may be on the light unit itself or in the wall.
A table lamp on a surface will provide a similar effect.
Floor lamps are the ultimate in flexibility.
White Sands
Building the tray and seamlessly merging it with your basement is often the work of a skilled carpenter.
But adding the lights to the tray is simple.
Rope lights or LED tape lights can be fitted in the trays.
Design:Mindy Gayer Design, Photo:Vanessa Lentine
Controlled by an app on your phone, the lights can take on any color you choose.
They even have sunlight streaming inor what looks like sunlightand can be fitted with drapes.
But they do add an element of fun for a relatively low cost.
The floor lamp with a new 3-way LED light bulbBill Lewis
So what about your basement?
Does the basement have alaundry room?
You’ll need strong general lighting, along with task lighting on the countertop or folding table.
dowell / Getty Images
Sconces, ceiling lights, recessed lights, and more are hardwired behind walls and ceilings.
Basements segmented into many rooms need several types of lighting.
Lighter colored basement walls are more reflective, so they require less lighting.
Certified Lighting
Natural lighting is free and it gives this space a warm, relaxed feeling.
Sun tubes aren’t true skylights, so direct sunlight rarely reaches the basement.
Using sun tubes can save money on artificial lighting during the day.
The sun tube must pass through the upper floor.
Sacrificing some closet space can help launch the tube downstairs invisibly.
Basement Windows
Basement windows are usually smaller and higher than windows found on the upper floors.
Design:Dan Brunn Architecture, Photo:Brandon Shigeta
Even so, a little fenestration goes a long way in sun-starved basements.
Adding windows is certainly the best way to achieve natural lighting.
When the basement is deep, a window must be cut into the foundation wall.
Basic Basement Lighting Requirements
Basement lighting must be to code.Code differentiatesbetween uninhabited and habitable basements.
This light can be controlled by a switch on the light itself or on the wall.
The wall switch must be near the entrance to the room.
A ceiling light and a wall switch will also meet code requirements.
Additionally, any entry to the basement must have an exterior light.
Motion sensors must be located where a switch would normally be and have a manual override feature.
Recessed lighting is the best and most popular to illuminate a dark space without much natural light.
These lights take up minimal space in the ceiling and can illuminate the entire basement evenly.
There are many benefits to LED lighting in any room in the home, basement included.
These lights last longer and use about 75% less energy.
LED lighting comes in a wide range of color temperatures from warm to cool.
It depends on what your basement space is primarily used for.
Cooler lighting is brighter and more vibrant than warmer lighting making it better for working and completing tasks.
