As an ASUC registered company in London providing specialist basement solutions, we have seen basement conversions become increasingly popular over recent years due to their versatility. A basement construction or conversion can add much-needed additional space in a property, providing flexible living areas or bedrooms without moving house. However, due to the nature of the construction or conversion, it’s important to consider the lighting to ensure the basement is not too dark.
Here are some ideas to help you brighten and lighten your basement:
Lighting in Your Basement:
As in any room, lighting plays a crucial role in both illuminating the space and creating atmosphere, but because basements have limited natural daylight, it’s even more important to select your lights carefully during basement construction.
The specific lighting solutions you opt for will depend upon what the space is to be used for, but generally speaking, a selection of various sources works well to light all areas of the basement, rather than limiting yourself to one source or type of light. For kitchens, think about a mixture of spotlights for efficient lighting and creating an overall bright room, in addition to low hanging pendants for specific task lighting and to create atmosphere. For bedrooms and living spaces, consider wall lights and lamps as well as ceiling lights, to ensure a cosy, but well-lit space.
Choosing your flooring:
The type of flooring you choose can be a major decision when converting your basement. Flooring must be suitable for a basement and practical, reflecting how the space is to be used, but flooring can also be used to add warmth and comfort to the room as well as helping to create a light and airy space.
Choosing flooring that is too dark can make the entire room seem dark so, where possible, opt for lighter shades of flooring. Carpets in creams and light neutrals will create a sense of comfort without dominating the room. If a hardwood floor is required, for a kitchen or bathroom, for example, light coloured wood floorboards or tiles are an excellent choice to keep the room light and airy.
Wall Colour:
Opting for pale-coloured walls will certainly help to keep a basement conversion looking light and bright. White and colours such as soft creams and pastels will help to reflect light around the room and prevent the space from looking too dark or gloomy. That’s not to say you can’t use strong colours, however, as a carefully chosen wall with deep colours in the form of paint, wallpaper or even artwork, can make a great feature in the room, while allowing the pale walls to create an overall sense of light. For kitchens and bathrooms, light coloured tiles will create a brighter space and if the surfaces are reflective, they will help bounce light around the room. The use of mirrors on the walls can greatly increase the sense of light in a room too.
Using Glass:
In order to allow the space to be as light as possible, consider using glass bricks where suitable, to allow light to flow through the room. Also consider using glass doors, as even opaque glass will let precious light through.