Home Decor Wall Art: Creative Ways to Make a Dark Finished Basement Lighter and Brighter

The term “basement” often brings to mind those cramped, dark storage spaces that your family never cleaned when you were a kid, but today's basements are becoming a place for entertainment, where games are played, and as such need the proverbial “spring cleaning” to bring them up to par with their surroundings. Indeed, basements can be a cozy place where we watch television, play billiards, or operate computers. However, due to a basement being underground, it can be quite challenging to make the area seem brighter or lighter. While basement windows can certainly help, being positioned near ground level limits the amount of sunlight that shines through them. Fortunately, we can still take steps to make finished basements seem lighter and brighter. Here are some of the most creative methods to use:

Create a balance of light and dark colors

You do not have to use light hues exclusively in order to make your basement seem lighter and brighter. For instance, use dark home decor wall art to contrast light walls. You could also place molding with dark colors or patterns on walls and the ceiling, in order to contrast large light-hued surfaces. You could position small dark furniture pieces (i.e. stools or end tables) nearby larger light pieces. You should paint big surfaces in the basement with lively colors, to liven up the room. For instance, you could use light hues of reds, oranges, yellows, and white for the walls. Use warm and bright designs for furniture pieces such as chairs and sofas. Another method is to place bright or light tiles or rugs on the floor, in order to add some pizzazz to the lowest point in the room. All of these techniques will create more balance of dark and light colors in your basement.

Create Pleasant Surroundings

You could consider removing structures such as pillars, columns and even walls, in order to create more space in your basement. Creating additional space will cause the appearance of the room to brighten. However, it is important to seek the advice of a structural engineer before you start knocking down things, to ensure that the ceiling would not collapse as well! The key is to remove any unfinished appearance from your finished basement. Here are some techniques you can use to give your basement a more inviting look:

• Conceal exposed wood on suspended ceilings, by covering them with painted drywall
• Use painted drywall to “soften” the appearance of wood paneling or exposed walls
• Paint exposed duct pieces with paint or hide them using plants, wall décor, or furniture.
• Use ceiling and wall systems that are both waterproof and mold-proof

If you intend to use drywall in your basement, ensure that the room is totally dry throughout the year. Why is drywall a poor choice if that is not the case? Drywall has a tendency to soak up moisture like a sponge, and serves as a breeding ground for mold. As an alternative, you should select ceiling systems and wall systems that are both water-proof and mold-proof.

Brighten up the Basement with Lights, Mirrors, and Decorations

In addition to infusing oxygen into the air, plants can also lighten the mood of any room—including a basement. While all artificial plants can “live” in a basement, not all live plants can. Thus, you should do some research to determine which types of plants can survive with a minimum amount of sunlight.

help to open up space in any room of your home (including the basement) by reflecting light. If there are basement windows in your basement, consider placing mirrors alongside them. This will make them effective home accents. Reflecting the sunlight will be particularly beneficial in creating the appearance that the basement is roomier than it actually is!

While fluorescent light bulbs seem to last forever, they are harsh on your eyes. To create a more inviting environment, consider either full-spectrum light bulbs (which simulate real sunlight) or soft-white incandescent light bulbs. Both of these light bulbs provide a sufficient amount of light, without punishing your eyeballs. Furthermore, full-spectrum lighting can also brighten your mood. It can “treat” those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which a lack of sunlight during the wintertime causes.

While hanging lights on the ceiling may seem harmless, it poses a few major problems. Hanging lights can make the size of a room seem to shrink—which is not an ideal situation for underground basements. Furthermore, hanging lights can literally be harmful since basements tend to have relatively low ceilings—creating a hazard for tall visitors. Instead, consider installing floor lamps, recessed lighting, table lamps, or wall sconces. This will help with your lighting problem, but will also increase the aesthetic value of your basement. Using these items will help to create the aura of a room that is completely above ground.

Some wall décor can make any dreary wall—even those in a basement, to come alive. One of the most basic methods is to simulate the natural environment outside the home. For instance, consider using paintings or mirrors with plant or sunburst designs. How can you be certain that this approach is effective? Consider how sunshine and plants can give you a cheery demeanor. Even if you cannot enjoy much natural sunlight or many plants in a basement, the next-best-things are images that remind you of them.

While this may seem like one of the most obvious methods for adding light to a dark basement, it is effective (and inexpensive). Furthermore, since lamps are mobile, you can move them to different positions in the room, to determine where they most effectively lighten and brighten the space.

Although basements are partially or fully underground, you do not have to feel like a groundhog. By taking these basic aforementioned steps, you can turn a finished basement into basement with a pulse. You can lighten and brighten it up!