Tag Archives | Mood Board

Design Guide: Basement Lighting Ideas and Options

(1) Recessed lights are the standard and best way of adding lighting to a basement. A false ceiling is needed to fit these lights into, and since all the light fixtures are hidden away you are left with a sleek, clean and modern styled space. You can even hook the lights up to dimmer switches to easily change the mood in the basement.

(2) Cove lighting will make a finished basement feel large and grand. Light fixtures are hidden away and bounce light onto the ceiling and into the room. One way of doing this is to install a false ceiling and have a cut out (usually circular). Another way is to install crown molding a few inches below the ceiling and have lights sit on the molding.

(3) Basements can be very dark – so a safety concern is needing lights for the stairwell (especially in unfinished basements). A simple way to do this is to fit a light to wall above the door. Hanging lights are another option and also fitting lights low down on the walls by each step – or in the steps themselves as pictured.

(4) In the day time, there is no better way to light a basement than with natural daylight shining through windows.

(5) Lighting up the ceiling and all the corners of a basement will make the space feel large. Doing the opposite, avoid lighting the ceiling, will make the space feel cozy and secluded. This can be done by using a range of table and floor lamps. Another idea is to install dimmer switches so you can turn down the ceiling lights.

(6) Mood lights are another option when it comes to basement lighting ideas. These lights can also help create a cozier basement space. Pictured is the Yantouch Jellyfish. You can make it shine a specific color or have it cycle through different colors. Use bright green to brighten up the basement, or a deep red or blue to create a romantic movie night setting.

(7) Specific areas in a basement (such as bar tops, kitchen counters, desks, etc) will need task lighting. Hanging pendant lights bring light down from the ceiling and closer to the areas. Another way of adding task lighting is to use track lights. These can be angled to face a specific spot. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

February 7, 2013 in Basement, Lighting

Designs and Ideas For a Basement Home Theater

Designing The Space

Are you going to go all out and get a projector (picture (1))or go with a large flat screen and have more of an entertainment room as seen in picture (2)? If you go with a projector, and you have the space, then it would be ideal to close off the basement home theater and soundproof the walls (3).

Creating the Mood

If the theater is going to be in an enclosed room, then you’d want to have it in an area that doesn’t have any windows as the light would wash out the image. Blackout curtains would be a way of blocking off any windows. When it comes to lighting, wall lights make a space feel grand and would feel right at home in a basement theater setting (4) – as well as cove lighting (Design Guide: Basement Lighting Ideas and Options). A dimmer switch hooked up to the ceiling lights would let you control the level of lighting in the room. Or how about installing a fiber optic constellation ceiling (5).

Seating Choices

When it comes to seating choices there is the traditional theater seating arrangement (rows of recliner chairs) or there are more informal ideas like having a pit or a cushion mountain (6).

Going All Out

(7) Ideas for special touches include having a popcorn stand or movie memorabilia decorating the walls. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7

February 7, 2013 in Basement, Living Room

Basement Ceiling Ideas From Cove to Fiber Optic Embedded

The Drop Ceiling: The best way to make the basement feel like any other space in the house would be to use a drop ceiling. This will create a cozy setting, and also allows for recessed lights to be fitted (Design Guide: Basement Lighting Ideas and Options). A more stylized version of a drop ceiling would be a cove ceiling, which has light fixtures hidden away but bounces light onto the ceiling and into the room creating a grand setting – and making the room feel larger just like in picture (1). Or how about breaking up a basement layout by having a multi layered drop ceiling like in picture (2).

Unfinished: For unfinished basement ceilings, painting the beams, piping, wiring, and anything else up there one color will create a uniform look as seen in picture (3). For more ideas on what to do with an unfinished basement: Unfinished Basement Ideas For Making the Space Look and Feel Good.

Finished: Simply painting the ceiling is one idea (have a look at our post here for color combinations: A Palette Guide To Basement Paint Colors). To get a bit more advanced you can go for a textured painted effect as seen in picture (4). For example you can create a marble look by sponging the paint, or create a linen texture with a special brush.

Large beams in a finished basement can also be painted. To add more style, crown molding can be fitted around them just like in picture (5).

Other Basement Ceiling Ideas: Other ceiling design options include having exposed wooden beams for a more rustic feel (Rustic Décor Ideas For a Basement) or use wooden panels. If you are planning on having a home theater in the basement, soundproofing the ceiling would be a good idea as well as having a fiber optic constellation ceiling – seen in picture (6) and in our Designs and Ideas For a Basement Home Theater post. 1/2/3/4/5/6

February 7, 2013 in Basement

Turning a Basement Into A Family Room: Designs & Ideas

A Fun and Comfortable Space (1): Some ways to make the basement family room more fun and entertaining would be to have a pool table (2) or a pit, pillow mound, or beanbags in front of the TV area seen in picture (3). If you want to turn your basement TV room into a home theater have a look at our post here for ideas: (Designs and Ideas For a Basement Home Theater).

Snacks and Drinks: A bar countertop is something to have in a family living room (4), along with a small refrigerator for drinks and snacks. If you want to go a step further there is the option of a dry or even a wet bar (8 Different Basement Bar Ideas and Designs).

Dividing Into Rooms: If you have a large basement space it can be divided up to create multiple rooms. Or even just hanging curtains can be used to hide away different areas:

Gym (Ideas for Setting up a Home Gym in a Basement)
Home Office (Ideas For Turning a Basement Space Into A Home Office)
Kitchen (Looking at Basement Kitchen Ideas and Designs)
Wine Cellar (3 Ideas for Basement Wine Cellar Designs)
For kid friendly ideas like having a chalkboard wall have a look at our post here: playroom (Fun Basement Playroom Ideas: From Softening the Floor to Swings)

Storage: Just like any family room, it will need storage. Built in or free standing? Have a look at our post here for ideas (In The Basement: Storage and Organization Ideas).

The Nook (5): Some unique basement family room ideas revolve around the nook under the staircase. A lot of people have turned that space into a cozy office, playroom, or storage space – The Space Under The Stairs: Ideas and Designs.

Lighting: Lighting is also an important part in making a basement feel like a comfortable space. For ideas on how to light the basement the best way have a look at our post here (Design Guide: Basement Lighting Ideas and Options). (6) Windows are one way to do this, as it brings in sunlight during the day – some places will require you to have certain types of windows fitted into a basement because of fire concerns.

The Walls: (7) For ways on decorating the walls of the basement have a look at these two posts: (Decorating Basement Walls: Ideas from Stamped Concrete to Chalkboard Paint) (A Palette Guide To Basement Paint Colors). 1/2/3/4/5/6/7