Is bigger always better? Not always. Sometimes “bigger” can be “overbearing,” and this is often true of large oversized basements that can feel more like a bat cave than a welcoming living space. A large basement can feel vast, cold and unfriendly. Here are some suggestions on how to make it feel cozy and welcoming.

Walls and Flooring

Dark colors create a sense of intimacy. Just as lighter walls and carpeting would open up a basement and make it seem larger, darker colored walls and flooring would have the opposite effect. And if you are trying to make a huge basement seem cozier, that is a good thing! But keep in mind that very dark colors, like black or dark blue, would seem very dark, even in a big basement since basement windows tend to be small and natural light is limited. Choose medium range colors, such as sage green, denim blue or terra cotta. These will provide a warm wash of color and an excellent backdrop for furniture and accessories in deep rich tones. Choosing large patterns for furniture, carpet and wall art, such as bold contemporary floral patterns or swirling paisley, will also have a downsizing effect in the visual impact of the space.

Light colored flooring will make the space seem larger as well. If your flooring or carpeting is light, use area rugs to add deeper color, pattern and definition to different zones of the basement. Anchor seating areas, define a computer work station or an area for listening to music or watching videos with area rugs that repeat colors and patterns.

Think of windows as extensions of wall. If windows are small it’s important to choose curtain panels or vertical blinds that extend ceiling to floor to keep the windows visually in scale with the rest of the room. This will draw less attention to the windows and they will appear full size.

Choose the Right Lighting

In the past, minimalism was the rule of thumb in basements, and lighting was often limited to lengthy tubular fluorescent light fixtures, or incandescent light bulbs. While these methods were cheap and efficient, they failed to make a basement seem very cozy.

When selecting lighting for large basements, you should first determine how you’d like the room to function. Perhaps you want the room to be a recreation room with a pool table, a family room with a sofa and entertainment system, or a playroom for your kids. You might even want your basement to be a combination of all those purposes.

Using several light sources rather than just one or two, will help make a cavernous basement seem cozier. A mix of track lighting, floor lighting fixtures, table lamps, and wall sconces will let you control lighting as needed. Lighting up selected areas of the basement rather than the entire basement, will make the space seem more inviting.

Go Big with Furniture and Accessories

One of the general keys to making a huge basement appear smaller is to fill empty space. When filling up the room, one of the most practical ways is to use larger furniture. Add large, comfortable pieces sofas and recliners. If you want to transform your basement into a recreation room, then consider installing a pool table or ping-pong table. Such items will consume a big chunk of space, causing the basement to visually “shrink.” Use furniture to create zones for different activities – such as an entertainment/bar area, game area, seating and conversation area and a wide screen TV viewing area. This will make a big space more human in scale.

A large basement can support large wall art decor that is in scale with large expanses of wall space. Choose oversize canvas art or canvas wall panels, metal wall art or wrought iron wall art, or framed posters and photographs to create a focal point wherever one is desired. Large pieces that repeat colors, shapes and themes throughout the space will pull the eyes inward, making the space feel tighter. Avoid small wall art that will make the walls seem even more distant; or, if you wish to use smaller pieces, group like pieces close together on one wall to make them appear as one large wall decor. Another trick for small wall art: Paint a ‘frame’ behind it on the wall in a color that accents the art and is deeper that the base color of the wall.

All text copyright Shanel. Photo from Flikr - "Basement Lounge" courtesy of JAGwired.