In addition to waterproofing, defining rooms and perhaps adding a bathroom, one of the most important things you should think about when renovating your basement is lighting. Adding sufficient natural light to your basement can make a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your basement, whether you are adding a:
- Home office
- Gym
- Entertainment center
- Family room
If part or all of your basement is above ground, consider adding as many windows as possible to capture natural light. For traditional basements that are at least partially below grade, another option is to dig window wells. This will add light, but can get costly and increase the risks of water problems.
One concern with adding a lot of windows for the basement is sometimes security. If that is a concern then one way to lessen the risk of a break in is to install glass blocks rather than conventional windows. This will not give you as much light as a standard window, however.
Once you figure out natural lighting, think about adding lights in the ceiling to improve the view. There are many styles, from track lighting to recessed or canned lights. Each can be positioned to provide a spot light in one key area or light a large section of the room.
Lighting can do wonders in any room, but is critical for making most basements more appealing. Spend some time reviewing all the options and ask a local electrician for advice as needed.