Decorate windowless basement room

[Anonymous]

I’ve always heard that you should place a mirror in the spot you’d like to have a window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion those dark rooms do not work for a windowless basement. You need natural light to pull off dark rooms. Otherwise it’s just an uninviting dark closet.

^this. Every example OP posted had a window.

I was just coming back from looking to post this very thing. Those examples both have big windows lurking just out of sight (and in the first instance, actually casting a fair bit of light into the room).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion those dark rooms do not work for a windowless basement. You need natural light to pull off dark rooms. Otherwise it’s just an uninviting dark closet.

I disagree. Haven't you been to a dark and moody bar? They are incredible, atmospheric spaces and typically have no windows. They use lots of lights sources, mirrors, and textures:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y17n5AAqa5dD_8g7alrALZczYyE=/0x600/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4140670/Bar_Three_Piece_3.0.jpg

https://www.sdcm.com/wp-content/uploads/syrah-bg.jpg

https://mudvilleflats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Noble-Experiment.jpg

Besides, all the examples OP linked to can also look great at night. It's all in the lighting scheme.

Well, yes, but none of these places are designed for working, which is presumably what OP wants to do in an office. The lights will need to be fully on, and the problem with such a dark space is that there is no reflected light. That makes it hard to light the room enough for reading, IME. (I have a finished porch with the original dark wood ceiling, unpainted, and one wall unpainted brick, and getting the lighting right at night for anything other than watching TV in dimness has been a challenge.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion those dark rooms do not work for a windowless basement. You need natural light to pull off dark rooms. Otherwise it’s just an uninviting dark closet.

I disagree. Haven't you been to a dark and moody bar? They are incredible, atmospheric spaces and typically have no windows. They use lots of lights sources, mirrors, and textures:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y17n5AAqa5dD_8g7alrALZczYyE=/0x600/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4140670/Bar_Three_Piece_3.0.jpg

https://www.sdcm.com/wp-content/uploads/syrah-bg.jpg

https://mudvilleflats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Noble-Experiment.jpg

Besides, all the examples OP linked to can also look great at night. It's all in the lighting scheme.

Well, yes, but none of these places are designed for working, which is presumably what OP wants to do in an office. The lights will need to be fully on, and the problem with such a dark space is that there is no reflected light. That makes it hard to light the room enough for reading, IME. (I have a finished porch with the original dark wood ceiling, unpainted, and one wall unpainted brick, and getting the lighting right at night for anything other than watching TV in dimness has been a challenge.)

Do you really think all the spaces OP posted are only usable before sunset? They're just daytime rooms? I don't have any rooms like that. You don't use ambient light for reading, BTW. You use task lights. The right lighting scheme is crucial, OP. You don't need to bring the light levels up to a factory floor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could do one of these to make it seem like a window

https://www.ballarddesigns.com/bd/598065?listIndex=0&offers_sku=WN211%20CHA%205436&intlShippingCtx=US%7CUSD&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=New%20-%20PLA%20%7C%20Brand%20All%20Products&SourceCode=BDG008&kclid=_k_EAIaIQobChMI_9yjoafs7gIVEYizCh0JXgt7EAQYASABEgKdAPD_BwE_k_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_9yjoafs7gIVEYizCh0JXgt7EAQYASABEgKdAPD_BwE

+1

A great suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion those dark rooms do not work for a windowless basement. You need natural light to pull off dark rooms. Otherwise it’s just an uninviting dark closet.

I disagree. Haven't you been to a dark and moody bar? They are incredible, atmospheric spaces and typically have no windows. They use lots of lights sources, mirrors, and textures:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y17n5AAqa5dD_8g7alrALZczYyE=/0x600/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4140670/Bar_Three_Piece_3.0.jpg

https://www.sdcm.com/wp-content/uploads/syrah-bg.jpg

https://mudvilleflats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Noble-Experiment.jpg

Besides, all the examples OP linked to can also look great at night. It's all in the lighting scheme.

Well, yes, but none of these places are designed for working, which is presumably what OP wants to do in an office. The lights will need to be fully on, and the problem with such a dark space is that there is no reflected light. That makes it hard to light the room enough for reading, IME. (I have a finished porch with the original dark wood ceiling, unpainted, and one wall unpainted brick, and getting the lighting right at night for anything other than watching TV in dimness has been a challenge.)

Do you really think all the spaces OP posted are only usable before sunset? They're just daytime rooms? I don't have any rooms like that. You don't use ambient light for reading, BTW. You use task lights. The right lighting scheme is crucial, OP. You don't need to bring the light levels up to a factory floor.

Of course not, but the rooms OP posted do not appear to be **offices**. They appear to be places where people read in an easy chair (with a reading lamp), watch TV, or enjoy a stiff drink. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't enjoy working in dim lighting. If OP does, then it looks like she's on the right track.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion those dark rooms do not work for a windowless basement. You need natural light to pull off dark rooms. Otherwise it’s just an uninviting dark closet.

I disagree. Haven't you been to a dark and moody bar? They are incredible, atmospheric spaces and typically have no windows. They use lots of lights sources, mirrors, and textures:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y17n5AAqa5dD_8g7alrALZczYyE=/0x600/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4140670/Bar_Three_Piece_3.0.jpg

https://www.sdcm.com/wp-content/uploads/syrah-bg.jpg

https://mudvilleflats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Noble-Experiment.jpg

Besides, all the examples OP linked to can also look great at night. It's all in the lighting scheme.

Well, yes, but none of these places are designed for working, which is presumably what OP wants to do in an office. The lights will need to be fully on, and the problem with such a dark space is that there is no reflected light. That makes it hard to light the room enough for reading, IME. (I have a finished porch with the original dark wood ceiling, unpainted, and one wall unpainted brick, and getting the lighting right at night for anything other than watching TV in dimness has been a challenge.)

Do you really think all the spaces OP posted are only usable before sunset? They're just daytime rooms? I don't have any rooms like that. You don't use ambient light for reading, BTW. You use task lights. The right lighting scheme is crucial, OP. You don't need to bring the light levels up to a factory floor.

Of course not, but the rooms OP posted do not appear to be **offices**. They appear to be places where people read in an easy chair (with a reading lamp), watch TV, or enjoy a stiff drink. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't enjoy working in dim lighting. If OP does, then it looks like she's on the right track.

Just because the walls are painted a darker color doesn't mean you can't see when the lights are turned on. Nothing sounds worse than working (on a computer) in an over-lit white basement decorated in typical "office" aesthetic. I think OP's idea is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my opinion those dark rooms do not work for a windowless basement. You need natural light to pull off dark rooms. Otherwise it’s just an uninviting dark closet.

I disagree. Haven't you been to a dark and moody bar? They are incredible, atmospheric spaces and typically have no windows. They use lots of lights sources, mirrors, and textures:

https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Y17n5AAqa5dD_8g7alrALZczYyE=/0x600/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4140670/Bar_Three_Piece_3.0.jpg

https://www.sdcm.com/wp-content/uploads/syrah-bg.jpg

https://mudvilleflats.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Noble-Experiment.jpg

Besides, all the examples OP linked to can also look great at night. It's all in the lighting scheme.

Well, yes, but none of these places are designed for working, which is presumably what OP wants to do in an office. The lights will need to be fully on, and the problem with such a dark space is that there is no reflected light. That makes it hard to light the room enough for reading, IME. (I have a finished porch with the original dark wood ceiling, unpainted, and one wall unpainted brick, and getting the lighting right at night for anything other than watching TV in dimness has been a challenge.)

Do you really think all the spaces OP posted are only usable before sunset? They're just daytime rooms? I don't have any rooms like that. You don't use ambient light for reading, BTW. You use task lights. The right lighting scheme is crucial, OP. You don't need to bring the light levels up to a factory floor.

Of course not, but the rooms OP posted do not appear to be **offices**. They appear to be places where people read in an easy chair (with a reading lamp), watch TV, or enjoy a stiff drink. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't enjoy working in dim lighting. If OP does, then it looks like she's on the right track.

Just because the walls are painted a darker color doesn't mean you can't see when the lights are turned on. Nothing sounds worse than working (on a computer) in an over-lit white basement decorated in typical "office" aesthetic. I think OP's idea is great.

Yeah this is kind of what I’m thinking. And I won’t be doing a ton of work here.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the suggestions and thoughts everybody!