Basement Lighting – Creating a Moody Speak Easy with Light!

I really wracked my brain when it came to figuring out our basement lighting. I didn’t want to replace all the work I had already done down here running wire etc. (Its basically poor man’s “recessed” lighting even though its just bare bulbs.) I also, certainly, didn’t want to spend a lot more money down here. After the ceilings, the walls and the floors we were already a good $2,500 into this project and I am fully aware how we could easily spend that entire amount on just one chandelier. I am also aware that that isn’t a lot to finish 500 square feet of living space I’m just VERY frugal and wanted to come up with something creative and inexpensive…

(Teaming up in our DIY Blog Hop this month with lighting projects! If you’re a blogger interested in joining us click here for more info!)

With the florescent light in the middle of the room the basement lighting was actually ideal in its own way.

It was bright, hard core and wouldn’t have been shy of giving enough light for surgery lol – which was totally great for finishing this space but way too harsh for what we wanted!

With the speak easy feel this space was evolving into I wanted to bring some warmth and moodiness down here. Lodi brought with him a couple of Edison bulb lamps from his bachelor days and, seriously, who doesn’t love Edison bulbs?!

Actually, they seemed the perfect solution!

So that was our first decision made sitting on the basement steps, me looking over Lodi’s shoulder as he scanned Amazon for a good deal on bulbs. Edison bulbs aren’t cheap but less than $50 for almost ALL of our basement lighting is a total steel!

While he was looking he stumbled upon an Amazon deal.

Ya know how when you go to purchase something Amazon sometimes includes something else that you might consider buying with it?

That is exactly how THIS CHANDELIER came into our lives!

We didn’t look at other chandeliers. We had barely even discussed what we were even going to do in the middle of the room! But it was absolutely PERFECT and less than $80 and came with all the Edison bulbs it needed!

First thing was first: all the little white bulb bases needed to be painted out black and the florescent light needed to be uninstalled. (In its place I installed a light box and we did even more touch up painting over and around everything.)

While Lodi was working on paint touch ups I replaced all of the bulbs in the basement with 40 wat Edison bulbs and I was totally thrilled with how it was looking.

We installed the chandelier together and stepped back.

Lodi started this project in March when he moved in. When we got these lights up it was late September.

7 months of work. 7 months of feeling like we were getting this space done at a crawl. 7 months to be able to move in Lodi’s furniture from the garage and a lot of my own.

7 months to spread out and actually get to use our garage again!

It was a REALLY good moment for us and completing our basement lighting was the last step.

There’s a ton still to do down here but none of it has a deadline like this living room did. I can’t wait to show you how the space turned into our very own speak easy and theater room!

This Month’s DIY Blop Hop: LIGHTING PROJECTS! (Click here for our upcoming themes and more info on how to join us every month!)

Chas from Chas’ Crazy Creations – DIY Lampshade Makeover

Kristin from White Arrows Home – The Christmas Lighting Projects

Andrea from Design Morsels – How to Paint a Chandelier

Mary from Life at Bella Terra – How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier

Kippi from Kippi at home – DIY Wood Lanterns

Niky from The House on Silverado – Cozy Lighting Tips & Tricks

Kim from Shiplap and Shells – How to Create a Mercury Glass Lamp Base with a Twist

Amy from Health Home and Heart – The Absolute Easiest Under Cabinet Lighting