How much and what kind of lighting to finish a basement?
mastermind asked:
I am finishing half of my basement to use as a play room for the kids. I need to know what style and how much lighting I should use.
Walls are already drywalled. I will be installing a drop ceiling.
Size of the room is 21′ x 10′
There are no windows to the outside.
I am finishing half of my basement to use as a play room for the kids. I need to know what style and how much lighting I should use.
Walls are already drywalled. I will be installing a drop ceiling.
Size of the room is 21′ x 10′
There are no windows to the outside.
Thankyou
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Flourscent lighting would work very well for your space. i would sugesst 2 rows of 2×4 lights with 4 lamps in each light.5 lights in each row for a total of 10 lights.With 4 32w lights this would give you enoigh foot candles per sq. ft. .
I hope this helps [who] Racheal B
I agree that fluorescent are the best choice.
I would suggest you use daylight bulbs rather than cool white bulbs. They are available at any home center or lighting center.
Daylight fluorescents should not be confused with some full spectrum bulbs used in plant nurseries. [who] oil field trash
Fluorescent is a cheap option, but is often depressing, unpleasant lighting (and sometimes noisy/irriating), and just plain looks bad. Go for mixed pot/can lights and track lighting.
Use 3 pot lights on each of the short ends of the room, three feet from each wall in the corners, and one in the middle (2 ft from the next). I’d suggest putting each side on different switches. Lighting the corners and small walls is important since you have no windows and the room is so long and narrow.
Track lighting has gotten a bad name, style-wise, but it is very versatile and you can find it in stylish models now. The best thing about it is that you can direct the lighting and move them to wherever to you need them if you change the purpose of the basement later…. Mount track lighting in the center of the remaining unlit room (15′ by 10′) — you can do this in any configuration (straight, Ls/Ts, curves) and length that you want (though your options may be limited if you want in-stock lighting). Set the lights 2-3 ft apart (this includes 2-3 ft from the pot lights); if you do that with a straight track, you’ll need 9-10 ft of tracking. However, I’d suggest placing some center track lighting (on a circle track or base) and an S-curved 3-4 ft track on each side. The center part will give a center “anchored” look, but will also allow good lighting in the center of the room and yet still be flexible as to where to direct the light. Place the S-curves so that the end is about 2 ft from the center potlights. I’d say put the side tracks on 1 switch and the center on another, so you have maximum light flexibility (especially if the play room later morphs into a media room).
Total — 9 light installations, 4 switches.
btw, use a mix of incandescent/fluorescent bulbs so the lighting is lower wattage, but still similar to sunlight and pleasant to be in.For the halogen route, be aware that, while very bright, they also get very hot so make sure that there is sufficient air conditioning and that your kids cannot touch them. [who] ulmets