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We’ve rounded up the best basement lighting options on the market, making any type of basement cozier and more functional in no time. Warehouse Lighting
Since it receives less natural light than the rest of your home, it's especially important that your basement has adequate light. Effective basement lighting can encourage family members to utilize a finished basement, or help to properly illuminate an unfinished DIY workshop. Plus, by making the basement feel like a natural extension of your home, you can potentially increase your home’s resale value. There are a wide variety of basement lighting options available too, so regardless of your specific situation, you should be able to find a fixture that fits your needs. For more home lighting ideas, check out our picks for the best lamps, work lights, and shop lights.
The first thing to consider is what type of basement you have. If it’s a rough, unfinished basement that functions primarily as a storage or workshop space, then you’ll probably want a light that provides maximum visibility, similar to models that you would use in your garage, like the Amico LED Garage Lights or the BBOUNDER 4 Pack Linkable LED. If you have a finished basement, you’ll probably want to go with a more stylish option that matches the rest of your décor.
You should also think about what type of lighting is best for your basement. Track lighting uses a long “track” with a series of lights mounted to it, and since you don’t need to install each light individually, makes for a relatively simple installation process. Recessed lights offer a low-profile solution, and since the body of the light fits inside the ceiling, these are great for those who want a minimal, understated look. Task lights usually hang down from the ceiling, and are used to draw attention to a specific area, like a bar or gaming table. The task lighting designation doesn’t always mean a piece is utilitarian, however: task lights can be single or multiple pendant lights, or larger and more ornate options, like chandeliers.
You should also think about how your basement lights will be installed. While some are easily screwed into existing bulb bases or plugged into your wall socket, others may need to be hard-wired. If you’re uncomfortable around live wiring, you’ll need to hire a professional, which will increase the overall cost of your basement lighting project.
Also, think about what kind of bulb you want to use. Some lights containing LED chips don’t use a bulb at all, meaning the lighting component contained therein can’t be replaced—something to keep in mind if you’re interested in this type of basement lighting. If you want to use your own CFL or incandescent bulbs, make sure the lights you choose can accept them.
We’ve lived in homes with both unfinished and finished basements, and have hands-on experience installing and removing lighting fixtures. We used this experience, in combination with extensive online research, to help put together this list of lighting options.
We did our best to include a wide variety of lighting products, keeping multiple basement types and styles of décor in mind while considering options. We also made sure to include a range of prices, so regardless of your budget or basement, you should be able to find a light that fits your needs.
Looking for other ways to spruce up your cellar? Check out How to Finish Your Basement and Basement Replacement: DIY Remodeling for Your Basement Floor.
If you’re looking for a large quantity of recessed LED lights at a reasonable price, this set could be the perfect fit. It includes a dozen 5-inch lights, each with their own junction box that is designed to easily connect to your existing wiring.
If you have the expertise, or are comfortable hiring an electrician, these lights can also be conveniently daisy-chained together for a relatively simple install process.
Each light uses a pair of spring clips that fit inside the ceiling and out of sight, making for a clean, flat presentation.
This track lighting from Cloudy Bay features four rotating LED heads, all mounted on an adjustable bracket, making it perfect for those who want maximum versatility. The LED chips produce a warm white light, and can be dimmed all the way down to 10% brightness.
This kit also comes with all the necessary installation hardware, and can be mounted to sloped and vaulted ceilings. It even comes with a five-year warranty and guarantees to last 25,000 hours. The white finish should blend in with most finished ceilings, but it’s also available in black if you prefer.
This 47.4-inch LED light is mounted directly to the ceiling, and its wraparound design gives it the ability to emit an impressive amount of light both down and outwards.
Despite its powerful 2,900-lumen output, this light features a relatively low-profile design that sits just 2.6 inches off the ceiling, and the modern, minimalist style should fit in with most finished basements.
This light is built to last as well: The LEDs should last for 22 years when used for six hours per day. If you’d prefer a shorter option, it also comes in a two-foot version.
If you have a specific area in your basement that you want to bring attention to, like a countertop or wet bar, a pendant light like this one could be a great option. Its matte black finish and geometric cage give it a modern farmhouse style, and the base is compatible with any type of E26 bulb. Its adjustable hanging cord allows you to customize the distance from the ceiling, from 0 to 60 inches.
They probably wouldn’t work with a finished basement, but these garage-style lights would be perfect for a workshop that needs maximum visibility. This set includes four lighting units, each of which features three LED panels that can be adjusted up to 90 degrees.
This design allows you to customize the direction of each individual panel, making these lights the most versatile option on our list. They can also be installed without any wiring, and they screw directly into the existing base on your ceiling. The lights also sit just 5.4 inches off the ceiling, giving them a relatively low profile.
If you’re looking for the high output and hassle-free installation of a shop light, this set of four suspended Bbounder lights could be a great fit. The exposed tube design allows for an expansive 240-degree beam angle, and at 48 inches long, should cover an impressive amount of space. The lights plug directly into an outlet, so no hard-wiring is required, and you can easily connect all four lights to each other, if you like.
All mounting hardware is included, including wall anchors, chains, and hanging hooks, and at just four pounds per light, these shouldn’t be too hard to install yourself.
If you’re looking to specifically light your pool table, consider this hanging Wellmet light. Its 43-inch length makes it long enough to illuminate the entire table, and the Tiffany-style shade should fit right in with a traditional bar or man-cave-style game room.
You can use CFL, incandescent, or LED bulbs in this light, and its adjustable 4-foot chain allows you to easily customize its height above the table.
It's pretty pricey, but if your priority is recreating that pool-hall look in your basement, it could be worth the investment.
This 12-inch flush mount light would be a great option if you want to add a serious amount of light to your basement on a budget.
At $27 a piece, these are a solid value, and their powerful LEDs produce an even, flicker-free light. Although it does require a hard-wired installation, this model makes the process easier than most, and the light itself simply twists into place when you’re finished.
Best of all, it sits less than an inch off the ceiling, giving it an attractive, low profile. It is non-dimmable, though, so keep that in mind.
Although not as functional as the other fixtures on our list, this neon wall light could be an eye-catching addition to a finished basement bar or game room. It’s powered via a convenient USB cord, and the sturdy acrylic construction won’t shatter like a traditional neon light if damaged.
Mounting is easy as well, you simply stick the included adhesive hooks to the wall and hang the light once they’re dry (about 10 minutes). Gamer Neon offers a wide variety of different images styles and colors too, so you can choose the perfect one for your space.
Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. His work has also appeared in Business Insider's Insider Picks, and before his writing career, he was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie.
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