One of the biggest shortcomings of the basement is light. Basements can be so dreary and gloomy unless they are properly lighted. The ideal solution to this is the addition of daylight windows, but that can be a bit of a task if you are on a tight budget. So the best alternative is light, lots of light.

The first thing to figure out when lighting your basement is; what are you going to do with your basement space? Are you turning your basement into an entertainment area with a bar? Will your basement be a workout room, romp room, an office or just ordinary living space? The kind of lighting you install will depend on the kind of room you want to create.

Since most basements have little to no natural lighting, soft, but penetrating lighting is important. The lights should be illuminating but not harsh. Recessed or track lighting is often the preferred method of professional re-modelers because they do not crowed into the living space. A lovely chandelier would just be out of place hanging in a low ceiling room.

The one exception to hanging, chandelier-like lights is a bar. Stylized, hanging lights will help to create a very authentic bar atmosphere. Installing tiny lamp-shaded, hanging lights will add visual appeal and artistic flair. Because they come in so many colors and styles, these hanging lights are sure to brighten both the mood and theme of a basement bar.

If you are creating an entertainment area in your basement, the instillation of diming lights would be prudent. A dimmer knob or switch will allow you lower the lights for a movie so that the film can be enjoyed but people can still see to get refreshment. Dimmer switches are easy to install, fairly cheap and will give you flexibility when it comes to lighting your basement.