Home Improvement Interior Remodel Basement

A Complete Guide to Basement Lighting

Types, Requirements, Design Principles, and More

Basement Lighting

JamesBrey / Getty Images

Basement lighting is a design element that can become an afterthought when building or remodeling a home. 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. Developing a solid lighting plan enhances other design elements, increases your home's value, and adds to your safety and enjoyment of the home.

You can accomplish lighting up your basement by simply placing floor lamps as needed or you can install them in the ceiling such as tray or recessed lighting. Wall lighting such as sconces or faux natural light windows are also an option.

Here is all the information you'll need to add basement lighting in your home.

Types of Basement Lighting

  1. Recessed Lights

    If ever there were a perfect match of lighting fixture and space, it's this one: recessed lighting and basements. Recessed lights work so well in basements because they tuck out of the way, which is ideal in basements with low ceilings. Nearly the entire unit is contained within the ceiling; only trim is showing.

    • To tone down recessed lights, put them on dimmer switches.
    • Create recessed light zones to keep the lighting only in the areas you want—not the entire basement. Incorporating dimmers plus zoning your recessed lights not only saves energy and money but gives you greater flexibility.
    • Recessed lights can be unfocused and diffuse. To highlight certain areas, install gimbal recessed lights. The light heads have a range of mobility which allows you to target certain areas.
    A cozy basement lit with recessed lighting,

    Design: Rae Duncan Interior Design, Photo: Cynthia Lynn

  2. Ceiling Lights

    Ceiling lights located in the center of the ceiling and controlled by a wall switch are standard for many rooms. Not only do they meet code but they provide basic lighting for any type of room. Builders usually install switch-controlled ceiling lights as the default lighting in many rooms.

    Tip

    Ceiling lights are good at providing general room lighting but aren't the best for creating light zones. If you have a ceiling light, you can convert it to a recessed light or pendant light.

    A basement lit with a striking chandelier

    White Sands

  3. Sconce Lights

    Sconce lights are switch-controlled light fixtures that are attached to the wall and usually point upwards when used for general wall lighting. Sconce lights, too, can be pointed downwards and used as reading lights. In this case, the switch may be on the light unit itself or in the wall.

    A basement gallery wall flanked by two wall-mounted sconces

    Design: Mindy Gayer Design, Photo: Vanessa Lentine

  4. Floor Lamps

    Floor lamps are individual lights that rest on the floor and can be moved around as needed. A table lamp on a surface will provide a similar effect.

    Floor lamps are the ultimate in flexibility. You can plug the floor lamp into a switch-controlled wall outlet and turn the light on or off at the door. Or you can move the floor lamp anywhere there is an outlet and use the switch on the lamp.

    The floor lamp with a new 3-way LED light bulb
    The floor lamp with a new 3-way LED light bulb Bill Lewis
  5. Tray Lights

    Tray lighting is a type of basement lighting system that uses a narrow ceiling perimeter built-in tray as the base for hidden lighting. Tray lighting is good for setting a mood within a room, and it is especially beneficial when you need the room to be mostly dark, as when watching a show or relaxing.

    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. Controlled by an app on your phone, the lights can take on any color you choose.

    Bedroom with tray ceiling and light fixture

    dowell / Getty Images

  6. Track Lights

    Track lights are switch-controlled individual, movable lighting units that attach to a solid metal or wire track. Track lights have some flexibility as the light heads can be moved easily along the track, with no tools required.

    Track lights, though, can be a visual impediment, especially for lower basement ceilings under 8 feet tall. If this is the case, locate the track to the side of the room, close to a wall. Track lights can be used for illuminating pictures, fireplaces, bars, countertops, and any other type of localized area that requires task lighting.

    Track Lighting System
    Certified Lighting
  7. Faux Natural Light Windows

    Faux windows have trim, casing, and polycarbonate panes that look just like glass. They even have sunlight streaming in—or what looks like sunlight—and can be fitted with drapes.

    Mounted directly on the wall and plugged into standard electrical outlets, faux natural light windows won't fool anyone into thinking that these are real windows. But they do add an element of fun for a relatively low cost.

    A spacious basement lit with a massive window

    Design: Dan Brunn Architecture, Photo: Brandon Shigeta

Basement Lighting Design Principals

Define Usage

Most areas of the home have clearly defined uses—kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom, office. So what about your basement? Function defines design.

For instance, a basement that's largely a media room or theater will have different lighting than one that's an apartment for a family member. Does the basement have a laundry room? You'll need strong general lighting, along with task lighting on the countertop or folding table.

Decide on Brightness

When building or remodeling the basement, err on the side of having more illumination potential than less. Sconces, ceiling lights, recessed lights, and more are hardwired behind walls and ceilings. Adding more lighting is far easier to do in the building or remodeling stage, when walls and ceilings are open, than later on when the walls are closed up.

Build In Flexibility

Permanently installed lighting can be made flexible with a few alterations:

  • Set up lighting zones.
  • Add dimmer switches.
  • Install switch-controlled receptacles.
  • Use wi-fi lighting and smart bulbs to extend lighting to areas not serviced by electrical wiring.

Coordinate With the Room Design

The size, color, and configuration of the basement heavily figure into basement lighting. Basements segmented into many rooms need several types of lighting. Lighter colored basement walls are more reflective, so they require less lighting.

Create or Expand Basement Natural Lighting

With the upper floor and surrounding earth encroaching on the basement, bringing in natural light requires extra planning. While it's more difficult to introduce natural light than artificial light to the basement, the payoff is well worth it. Natural lighting is free and it gives this space a warm, relaxed feeling.

Sun Tubes

Sun tubes, light tubes, or solar tubes are large reflective tubes that collect sunlight at the roof and send it down to the basement for low-intensity natural lighting. 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 run the tube downstairs invisibly.

Basement Windows

Basement windows are usually smaller and higher than windows found on the upper floors. 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. Consult a contractor or structural engineer to avoid structural failure. Window openings in shallower basements can be cut into the wall stud system and are supported by appropriately sized window headers. This project is much easier and simpler than cutting into foundation walls made of poured concrete or concrete blocks

Create a Daylight or Walkout Basement

Daylight basements have full walls at ground-level and are usually found in houses on sloped terrain with an opening created by the downslope side of the house. Creating such a basement can be a costly and elaborate project but can improve the quality and intensity of the light and increase your home's value.

Making a daylight basement in a house on mostly level terrain requires excavating a section of the earth next to a wall and shoring up the earth with a retaining wall. A water management plan is a necessary component to prevent water from pooling up in the excavated area and flooding the basement.

Basic Basement Lighting Requirements

Basement lighting must be to code. Code differentiates between uninhabited and habitable basements. An uninhabited basement, generally, is one that's empty or is used for storage or for vital services and utilities. A habitable room is one that's used for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking: essentially, the definition of a basement that's finished or developed into a living room, home theater, bedroom, or apartment.

When Uninhabited or Used For Storage

According to the electrical code, you must provide at least one light per room. 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. If it's a small utility room, you can create the same configuration or even have a ceiling light that turns on and off with a pull chain.

When Used as a Living Space

If you intend to fully finish your basement, the code requires at least one lighting outlet controlled by a wall switch in every habitable room as well as in hallways and stairways. In rooms other than kitchens and bathrooms, one or more receptacles controlled by a wall switch are permitted instead of lighting outlets. 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.

FAQ
  • What type of lighting is best for a basement?

    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. Installing them thoughtfully with the correct placement and spacing can help make the entire basement appear well-lit naturally without occupying vertical space.

  • Are LED lights good for a basement?

    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. They also don't burn as hot as incandescent lights which may be helpful in a smaller basement space that heats up easily or has a tendency to feel stuffy. LED lighting comes in a wide range of color temperatures from warm to cool.

  • What is the best color light for a basement?

    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. Warmer temperature bulbs will provide more ambient lighting and give an inviting and relaxing feel if you tend to use your basement more as a recreational space.