How to Live in a Basement Apartment

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By bostontech
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Maximize all available light when living in a basement apartment

Living in a basement apartment is a great way to save on rent, and it doesn't mean you have to live in a dungeon. With a few decorating adjustments you can maximize your available light and even create a "cozy" feel to your basement apartment.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Window privacy film (available on Amazon)
A long wall mirror
Christmas lights (not colored)
Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp

Step 1

Depending on the height and angle of your window, you might not need to cover it up entirely to keep your privacy

Every basement apartment has a different amount of light to offer. If you're looking at an apartment with no windows, you should check your local tenant laws and make sure it's even a legal place to live.

More than likely, you have windows, but they are smaller ones, high up on your wall, and maybe even overlook an area with heavy foot traffic.

Resist the urge to keep your blinds down for the sake of privacy. Instead, buy some static-cling privacy film for your windows (available on Amazon). These will allow you to keep the light coming in, and also prevent any passerby from peaking into your apartment. They adhere to the window with just a little bit of water, and are easy to remove if you ever vacate.
Step 2

Mirrors maximize the sunlight coming into your apartment and even give it the appearance of being more spacious

Next, find the wallspace across from the windows in your apartment. These walls are catching much of the sunlight coming through your windows. Rather than letting the light stop there, simply put up a long wall mirror to bounce the rays right back into the rest of the room.
Step 3

Christmas lights can create a cozy, atmospheric background light for your basement apartment

Even if you maximize the sunlight coming into your apartment, chances are it will still feel very dark at times. Spend some of the money you've saved by living there on some high quality lights.

Drape Christmas lights (the non-colored kind) around the ceiling to add a nice, soft lighting to your rooms. Plug them into a power strip for an easy way to turn them on & off.

If you find yourself feeling especially gloomy during the winter, consider buying a SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) Lamp. Exposure to lights like these has been proven to help combat Winter depression and lift people's spirits.
Step 4

Fans are a great way to combat some of the noisier aspects of basement living

Like it or not, your basement apartment is in the bowels of a building. You'll probably have pipes on the ceiling, with the occasional sound of water or even clanging and hissing of heat.

Grab an air purifier, white noise maker, or even just a fan for when you sleep. Turning one of these on is a great way to cancel out any strange pipe noises or clomping footsteps above.