The finished basement looks much like the rest of the house. It has basic architectural elements installed over the barebones outline of the space, to enhance its appearance and convenience, such as electrical outlets etc. Unfinished basements usually have exposed concrete facing, support beams, a lack of electrical options. You generally wouldn't decorate an unfinished basement.
Basement decorating is unique because of the unique architectural obstacles you have to overcome. For example, almost all basements suffer from a lack of natural light. Obviously this is because of most basements are either completely, or at least mostly, recessed in the ground, which makes it difficult to install windows in their walls. And while there usually is a type of windows, these obscure openings usually have to be placed near the ceiling, and at this angle they aren't conducive to allowing sunlight anyway, so they are more of an aesthetic feature. So, not having natural light is the obstacle that must be overcome through your choice of basement decorating. So, when decorating, you want to ensure that there is a wealth of artificial lighting in the room.
Your choices are either: overhead fixtures, which are great because they provide the greatest illumination, but some ceilings in basements prove to be too low for this option. Floor lamps, which may take some experimenting with to eliminate weird shadows; table lamps, which can be a fun decorating element; or another thing you can do place mirrors opposite existing windows, because this will often multiply the quantity of sunlight you can transmit through the room. Another obstacle that is common to many basements is the stale feeling, both in the air and through a, the psychological feeling of being confined in the subterranean space. Your basement is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable space where you can gather, play games, and spend time relaxing.
This closed, stagnant feeling has the potential to ruin your basement by producing feelings of lethargy or depression, and creating health problems from the un-circulated air. Overcome this problem through basement decorating, as well as with a good ventilation system that keeps air flowing through the space. You can also use plants in your design, or an aquarium to put a peaceful natural feel. The use of natural materials such as wood or stone can also artificially evoke the essence of the natural and make the space more pleasant.
Basement decorating is unique because of the unique architectural obstacles you have to overcome. For example, almost all basements suffer from a lack of natural light. Obviously this is because of most basements are either completely, or at least mostly, recessed in the ground, which makes it difficult to install windows in their walls. And while there usually is a type of windows, these obscure openings usually have to be placed near the ceiling, and at this angle they aren't conducive to allowing sunlight anyway, so they are more of an aesthetic feature. So, not having natural light is the obstacle that must be overcome through your choice of basement decorating. So, when decorating, you want to ensure that there is a wealth of artificial lighting in the room.
Your choices are either: overhead fixtures, which are great because they provide the greatest illumination, but some ceilings in basements prove to be too low for this option. Floor lamps, which may take some experimenting with to eliminate weird shadows; table lamps, which can be a fun decorating element; or another thing you can do place mirrors opposite existing windows, because this will often multiply the quantity of sunlight you can transmit through the room. Another obstacle that is common to many basements is the stale feeling, both in the air and through a, the psychological feeling of being confined in the subterranean space. Your basement is supposed to be a fun and enjoyable space where you can gather, play games, and spend time relaxing.
This closed, stagnant feeling has the potential to ruin your basement by producing feelings of lethargy or depression, and creating health problems from the un-circulated air. Overcome this problem through basement decorating, as well as with a good ventilation system that keeps air flowing through the space. You can also use plants in your design, or an aquarium to put a peaceful natural feel. The use of natural materials such as wood or stone can also artificially evoke the essence of the natural and make the space more pleasant.