Discount Wall Art: Creative Ways to Enlarge the Look of Small Finished Basement Windows

Few of us would enjoy a view of dirt when looking out our home’s windows. Yet if you were to install windows in basements that are entirely below ground-level, that is the view you would have. For those basements that are not entirely underground basements, very little room exists for installing windows. Ergo, basement windows tend to literally be quite small. The small windows are beneficial when we need to let in some sunlight or fresh air. However, the same windows can cause the basement itself to seem smaller. Here are some innovative tips to increase the appearance of basement windows:

Be Careful with Window Treatments

When selecting window treatments for windows, avoid selecting those that are either too large or too heavy for the windows. While theoretically picking huge window treatments would make the basement windows look larger, it is important for them not to be overly big or heavy. Instead, select treatments that are light and fresh, which will significantly improve the look of the windows.

Failing to use window treatments for basement windows can give the basement an aura of confinement. Thus, when selecting window treatments for windows, it is important to see the light about light. Basement windows are small and near ground-level, already limiting the amount of light that enters the room. Thus, it is important to pick window treatments that are light (both in hue and in weight). This will help to minimize the amount of light that the treatments block.

Just as with the other windows in your house, it is important to maintain privacy with your basement windows. You have several options, including mini blinds that you can open and close whenever necessary. Curtains are another excellent option, which let in light while allowing enough privacy in your home. Whichever method you choose to make your small basement windows seem larger, remember to maintain privacy. Part of what makes a house a home is the serenity it provides via an escape from the public world.

Psychologists suggest that wearing bright colors on rainy days can make those around you more cheery. Similar to overcast days, being in a basement can create the feeling of being in a cave. Fortunately, we can take some basic steps to lighten and brighten up a basement. One of the simplest ways is to use lighter colors in the room. You can paint the largest surfaces (i.e. walls, ceilings, big furniture pieces) hues of red, yellow, or orange. You can also use dark furniture pieces and wall decor (such as discount wall art) to contrast the lighter large surfaces. When attempting to enlarge the appearance of small basement windows, use lighter colors to contribute to the basement’s facelift.

The Benefits of Blinds

Blinds can provide several benefits. The most obvious ones are keeping out meddling eyes and a rude awakening via early morning sunshine. However, blinds can also increase the appearance of small basement windows. They are a better option than shades, which can actually make a window “disappear” altogether rather than appear larger. Always select white or light-colored blinds, to boost how large the windows look. If you want the height of the window to appear taller, then choose white or light vertical blinds. Meanwhile, if you want them to look wider, then select white or light horizontal blinds.

By choosing the right curtain and doing some experimentation regarding its placement, you can give the window a larger appearance. If you only have a valance to conceal the curtain rod, then consider how its placement will impact the appearance of the window. Install the valance above the frame of the window, and then lengthen it past the window frame’s sides. To increase how wide the window looks, only extend the valance past the window frame’s sides. And to increase the height, position the valance bar above the window frame. You can also use a combination of a valance and curtain panels to cover the top and sides of the window frame, respectively.

Use Decorations to Enhance the Windows

Try adding mirrors across from your windows. This will actually make the entire basement (including the windows) look larger. The process is very simple, but the results will be fantastic. Place a huge decorative window directly across from a basement window. When sunlight enters the room, it will reflect off the mirror, into the entire room. The additional light will create the illusion that the basement is larger than it actually is!

Regardless of which type of wall art you use, when you place the right pieces rightly, you can expand up an entire room. Consider how a landscape painting can basically open up a room as much as a window can. Likewise, you can use wall art, such as metal wall plaques, to make a small window appear larger than it actually is! Place one or more wall art pieces directly below a window, to make the window appear taller. Likewise, you can position pieces of wall art on both sides of a window, in order to stretch it out horizontally. If you want to increase the appearance of the window’s overall size, then install wall art both vertically and horizontally around the window.

Consider using molding either atop or underneath a window. This will have the same effect as molding on walls, adding depth and opening up an area. Similarly, by adding molding to the window, you can create an optical illusion that makes a tiny basement window appear larger than it actually is!

Due to the location of the basement within a house, basement windows are by nature smaller than most other house windows. However, the aforementioned tips provide a window of opportunity to make small basement windows seem to expand without changing.