Your basement provides its own unique set of challenges when it comes to maximizing the space. Below ground, your basement may have limited amounts of light, and many basements have lower ceilings than rooms on higher floors. Most people know that despite these obstacles, it is possible to make your basement seem bigger with lighter shades of paint on the walls and ceiling. A better-kept secret is that paint is not the only way to make your basement seem bigger. We have seven ways to do so without ever picking up a paintbrush.
Keep Clear of Clutter
One of the most effective ways to make your basement seem bigger is to limit the sheer number of things your eyes can land on. This can be done without any remodeling. Make sure to keep any windows in your basement cleaned and unblocked so that natural light has an unobstructed path into the room. Leave the center of the room open. Big pieces of furniture and clutter scattered about the room has the tendency to make a basement seem tighter and more closed. When it comes to basements, knick-knacks are not your friend.
To maximize available space, try storage solutions that remove stuff from sight to let your eyes rest. Ottomans, benches, window seats, or even tables with storage abilities are great multi-purpose tools. Mount TVs and use tall lamps instead of table lamps or ceiling lighting fixtures.
Furniture Feng Shui
Your furniture might be the focus of your basement, but large furniture has a tendency to fill the space. You might consider a couple smaller pieces to break up the illusion that the room is nothing but couch. If you can see the legs of your furniture, it creates the illusion of more space. If you need more seating, consider keeping stackable or foldable chairs in another place so you don’t clutter the basement unnecessarily.
Having furniture in light tones or even in hues that match the walls will create the illusion of airiness and spaciousness. Shelves near the ceiling will draw the eyes upward, which tricks the brain into thinking that the ceiling is higher.
Mirrors and Glass
Unless you are Bruce Wayne, your basement is lit, either with natural light from the widows or artificial light from lighting fixtures. The key to making your basement seem bigger is to capitalize on that light. Mirrors, especially multiple mirrors that face each other, reflect the existing light around the room to make it seem brighter. Shiny furniture or statement pieces can have a similar effect.
Transparent surfaces as well as reflective ones can make an otherwise little basement look more spacious. Consider a glass coffee table or bar. Having glass doors between rooms in the basement or to exterior access will allow light to pass from one space to another. Tall and light curtains can help the ceiling feel higher and your windows taller.
Light Flooring
Lighter flooring is not only inviting and soft; it keeps the eyes from shifting downward. Avoid dark carpet and boldly patterned rugs. Pale carpeting or wood creates an airy atmosphere. Reflective flooring will bounce the light back into the room. This can be achieved with glossier surfaces like laminate or shinier woods.
Stick with Subtle Color
If you want to make your basement look bigger, keep your colors subtle. Furniture, curtains, and rugs should be in light shades. Avoid the use of too many colors, though pillows can provide a pop. Pieces of art should be subtle and infrequent, and sticking to one large piece of art will feel less cluttered than several small pieces. To further avoid a feeling of disorder, leave some walls free of decoration.
Work in Simple Patterns
Complicated patterns or the use of many different patterns will make your basement seem cluttered and tight, giving your eyes too many things to focus on. If you want to use patterns, vertical stripes will exaggerate the dimensions of your basement better than horizontal.
Add Greenery
There is no better way to add fresh air to your basement than to add fresh air to your basement. Including strategic plant life to your space will add an infusion of oxygen and make your basement seem bigger. Don’t overdo it; don’t fill up your floor or block your windows with plants. If you choose to add life with flora, consider plants that do not require a lot of light.
Your subterranean space doesn’t have to feel cramped, confining, or claustrophobic. Even without paint, our team at Brush Brothers can help you make your basement seem bigger. Give us a call today.
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