How to Brighten Your Basement Bedroom

There are benefits to having a basement bedroom. It’s often cooler in the summer months and can offer privacy away from the rest of the living area. The problem with a basement bedroom is that it can often be void of natural light, creating a dark, gloomy effect.

To make your basement bedroom feel bright and cozy, you’ll have to have a keen eye for design. Here are some trendy tricks you can try to brighten your basement bedroom.

Use Bright or Neutral Paint

According to https://sleep.guide, a cool, dark room with a high-quality mattress is ideal for getting a great night of rest. However, turning your basement bedroom into a cave by painting the walls dark can create feelings of claustrophobia and unease. To offset these feelings and make your space feel bigger, use bright or neutral paint to lighten the room.

For those who prefer dark colors, you still have the option to accessorize with darker shades. Your comforter, furniture, and artwork could capture your love of navy blue, emerald green or black without detracting from the space you’ve created with light paint. In a basement bedroom, curtains should be kept dark as your window is accessible to passersby.

Create a Faux Window

If you find yourself missing the morning glow of an upstairs bedroom, create a faux window with artificial sunlight. Get an old door or window and frost the glass. Adhere tube lights to the back, around the edges of the panes. Mount the door or window to the wall using wood backings and enclose with curtains. Set your lights on a timer and enjoy the “sunrise” from your basement room.

Not only does this addition brighten your basement bedroom, but it also makes a lovely headboard or over-the-bed accent piece. The project can be put together with relative ease, and an old window adds a lovely rustic touch to your decor.

Warm Lighting

Forget the recessed LED lighting that is often used in basements. Instead, use warm toned light bulbs in stylish floor lamps or wall sconces. LED lights work well in the upstairs of a home because their cool glow is offset by warm, natural light coming through the windows. In a basement, LED lights only add to the cold, sterile effect that is prevalent in many homes.

If it’s possible, have a few outlets in your bedroom wired to your light switch. This way you can enjoy the warm light of your lamps without having to fumble around in the dark to turn them on at night.

Take a Minimalist Approach

As basements often have low ceilings, it can add to the feeling of claustrophobia caused by too much clutter in a room. Rather than purchasing furniture that dominates the space, take a minimalist approach. Cut back on extras like nightstands and bulky decor, opting instead for modern, streamlined furniture.

If you feel compelled to use bulky furniture, look for multipurpose pieces that will help you simplify your storage. For example, a bed frame with drawers underneath can be used to store some clothing, making a large dresser unnecessary.

Use Mirrors

Mirrors aren’t only a beautiful piece of decor; they also create the illusion of extra space. Try to incorporate mirrors where possible. Having mirrored closet doors is an effective way to make your room look substantially larger without taking up wall space. Having a large mirror at the head of your bed rather than a piece of art will also make the room look bigger, and can be paired with surrounding lighting to improve the overall brightness of the room.
The trick to brightening your basement bedroom is to make it appear larger and more spacious. With the right ambiance, you’ll see your basement bedroom as a well-loved retreat.