Written by Tom Scalishi | posted on January 29, 2021 at 3:58pm

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Some light in the underground space can bring many benefits to your home. Proper lighting can increase the usability of the basement, allowing you to expand this storage area while reducing clutter in other parts of the home. The best basement lighting can even encourage you to complete the basement and add more living space.

If you want to improve the lighting in the basement, this guide will help. It will point out some of the most important factors in choosing this professional lighting and provide a selection of some of the best basement lighting options on the market today to facilitate your shopping.

In order for the basement to reach its full potential, it needs the best basement lighting options that suit your style, budget and needs. There are other points to consider, and this section will outline them, so you will be better prepared to choose the best option for your basement.

There are many ways to light up your basement. All typical options are applicable, such as ceiling lamps, wall lamps, and floor lamps and table lamps. Although low-height lamps can create a comfortable atmosphere, ceiling lamps do the best at illuminating the entire space.

There are many types of ceiling lights.

One of the interesting parts of choosing the best basement lighting is to find a style and finish to complement the lamps in other parts of your home. If you tend to decorate with the theme of a country house, consider choosing a lamp made of rustic materials such as iron and copper with exposed bulbs. If you prefer modern beauty, bright metal finishes and decorative glass touches will become the focal point of the room. If you are a minimalist, recessed lighting is your best choice.

Most lighting fixtures have a variety of finishes, the most common are bright nickel, brushed nickel, bronze, black and white. In most cases, it also makes sense to match the finish of the basement luminaire with other metal fixtures in the home, such as door handles and hinges.

Basement lighting fixtures or any general fixtures usually have four main types of bulbs: LED (Light Emitting Diode), CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp), halogen lamp and old-fashioned incandescent lamp. The brightness levels of these bulbs are quantified in watts or lumens equivalent (in the case of LED bulbs). The basement is usually very dark, so choosing a bulb rated at 75 watts or higher will effectively illuminate the space. Each type of light bulb has specific functions, advantages and disadvantages.

Note: Although old incandescent bulbs use wattage as the unit, many modern light bulbs now use lumens as the unit, and the equivalent wattage is listed for reference. Each bulb type has a different lumens watt ratio, so it is important to make shopping decisions based on wattage rather than lumens (if possible).

Light bulbs usually have a color temperature, which indicates how warm or cold the light appears in the space. Color temperature is quantified using the Kelvin (K) scale, not degrees. Generally speaking, residential lighting is between 2,000K and 6,500K.

Although it may look backward, the lower the color temperature, the warmer the light looks in the space. A bulb with a color temperature of 2,000K will emit a warm and soft yellow light, while a bulb with a color temperature of 6,500K will appear cold and harsh. Some LED lamps have adjustable color output, and the temperature can be adjusted according to your space and preferences.

It is also important to note that many lamps are compatible with dimmer switches, which allows users to adjust their output. These lamps provide the ability to choose between brighter or darker settings, and also allow adjustment of light output in the space, especially according to the time of day.

In terms of installation, for DIYers, some fixtures may be more popular than others. For example, replacing old recessed-mounted lights with new recessed-mounted lights or track lights is quite simple, and usually only requires a screwdriver and a pair of electric pliers. However, if you use the junction box of the previous recessed installation lamp to connect the new recessed lighting, the work will become more complicated.

Typically, the lights include the hardware required to connect them to a pre-existing junction box. The only tools required are usually a screwdriver, a pair of pliers and an electrical tester. When installing a new light, you must access the area above the ceiling, which may require a plasterboard saw, drill, and drill bit to drill holes in the ceiling joists for wiring.

Considering the above factors, our top pick reflects some of the best basement lighting in various categories on the market today. Read on to discover a selection of products that illuminate the dark and gloomy space below.

Homeowners and DIYers who want to light up the entire basement at once should take a look at this LED recessed ceiling light from Ensenior. Each lamp in this 12-piece package can produce 1,050 lumens, which is equivalent to 110W of wattage. These fixtures have received an Energy Star rating and can save up to 88% of energy costs.

These lights require only 2 inches of clearance above the ceiling, so they can be used in basement ceilings that contain plumbing and mechanical equipment. They can also be dimmed in the output range of 5% to 100%. Installation does not require any hardware, because the spring clip of each lamp just clamps the ceiling gypsum board in the middle, fixing the lamp in place, creating a clean, modern appearance.

Basement renovations can be expensive, but saving money on lighting does not mean you have to sacrifice functionality. From LIT-Path, this recessed ceiling lighting kit includes two Energy Star rated lamps, each with a 75-watt equivalent LED output, which can reduce energy consumption by up to 85%. These lamps are also dimmable and have a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours.

LIT-Path LED lights are made of polycarbonate, frosted spheres and white painted, rust-proof aluminum base. They are suitable for humid environments and are a practical choice for basement environments.

The installation only takes a few minutes. These units can be connected to existing wiring without complicated diagrams or ballasts. In addition, as long as the junction box is in place, the only tools needed are a pair of pliers and a screwdriver.

The flexibility and modern style of this Globe Electric 6-lamp foldable track lighting kit makes it an attractive choice for chic basement environments that require a lot of light. The track system has two rotating arms, and each arm has three positionable lights to accurately locate the lights that are most needed. The lamp is also dimmable, using a halogen bulb, which can produce 50 watts of light, a soft 2,700K color temperature and a 3,000-hour lifespan.

The kit includes the mounting hardware needed to install the track quickly and easily.

High-end basement decoration usually requires special lighting in home bars or countertops, which makes products like hykolity's chandelier ceiling fixtures an attractive option. The luminaire provides four height-adjustable chandeliers with LED bulbs. All in all, these lamps produce 1,950 lumens, provide 150W of power equivalent to 4,000K neutral lighting, and can be dimmed between 5% and 100%.

Both the base and pendant of the lamp are finished in chrome. The outer layer of transparent glass surrounds each pendant, and the inner layer is bubble glass, creating an interesting modern feel.

The kit also includes hardware for installing the lights, making installation quick and easy.

There is nothing more disturbing than the dark basement. Use Lighting EVER's recessed ceiling lamp to illuminate the dark space below to solve this problem. With a single luminaire, this recessed installation light uses a 15-watt LED bulb to produce 5,000K bright white light equivalent to 120 watts. The bulb has an expected life of 20,000 hours and can save up to 85% of energy costs.

This kind of luminaire can not only illuminate the basement, but also waterproof, which means that the damp space below will not adversely affect it. The installation is of course in the DIYer's cab, because the kit contains the parts needed to install it on a variety of surface types, including wood ceilings, plaster, plasterboard, or metal junction boxes.

If ceiling height is an issue, Ensenior ceiling lights are a flush option that provides plenty of light. When you want to create a more style statement, please consider using hykolity pendant lights and add a touch of modern charm to the space.

Basements usually have varying levels of lighting requirements, from low ceilings that require embedded units to maintain an acceptable headroom, to dark, dim spaces that need to be retrofitted with bright lamps. Our research has uncovered the top choices in various categories that shoppers often look for in basement lighting. We carefully provide options to meet these different needs. They are all equipped with energy-saving bulbs and are relatively easy to install.

Our recommendation list also includes a variety of products, from cost-effective devices that can get the job done, to more sophisticated options for shoppers looking for more individual items to complement the bar or entertainment area. Regardless of the price, we make sure that all our preferred materials are made of high-quality materials that can withstand years of use and varying degrees of moisture, as some basements may encounter this problem.

Even with a comprehensive foundation on basement lighting, you may still have some questions. Below are some frequently asked questions about the best basement lighting and their corresponding answers.

LED lights are generally best for basement applications because they can illuminate the entire room with the least amount of energy. Halogen lamps and CFL lamps are less popular, but they are more popular and easily available than incandescent lamps.

Not only is every basement different, but every type of bulb (LED, CFL, and halogen) offers a different lumens watt ratio, so there is no hard and fast rule on how many lumens you need. Since basements are often very dark, look for lamps or bulbs with enough lumens to produce the equivalent of 75 watts or more.

If recessed lights are your only light source, you need to install them every 4 to 5 feet, keeping them about 3 feet away from the wall. You can also consider installing them in a bar or lounge area.

Bob Vila has been an American handyman since 1979. As the host of the beloved groundbreaking TV series, including "The Old House" and "Bob Villa's House", he is very popular and has become synonymous with "do it yourself" home improvement.

Throughout his decades-long career, Bob Vila has helped millions of people build, renovate, repair and live better every day-a tradition that provides expert but easily accessible home advice at the heart of BobVila.com It continues to this day. Today, the Bob Vila editorial team distilled the information they need to know into project tutorials, maintenance guides, tool 101, etc. Then, these family and garden experts thoroughly research, review, and recommend products that support homeowners, renters, DIYers, and professionals in their to-do lists.

Tom Scalisi is a freelance writer specializing in the home design, architecture, tools, and automotive industries. He has been in these industries for more than 15 years as a contractor and commercial construction mechanic. Tom writes for several online blogs and magazines, including Next Luxury, The Drive, Car Bibles, and PowerTüls. In addition to his career, Tom also enjoys mountain biking, camping, beekeeping and fishing. Tom is also an avid racing and baseball fan. He lives in the Hudson Valley in New York with his wife, three children and three dogs.

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