• Your basement does not have to feel like a dungeon anymore.sous-sol ch?¡éteau de valencay image by melanieleleu from Fotolia.com
  
  Basements do not have to be dreaded dungeons that have no better use than storing things you no longer want or need. In many homes, the basement has as much square footage as the main level of the house. This unused territory becomes a clean slate for new basement design ideas that add an extra bedroom, family room, bathroom, laundry room and storage space to a house.
  
  

Colors

• Do not be afraid to add color to your basement walls. Traditionally, basements are colored in cool neutrals that make them feel like dark and dreary spaces instead of a bonus part of the house.
  
  New basement design ideas approach paint color for a basement with the same palette as the upper levels of the house. They even go a step further in using the basement as a showcase for bright and bold colors that really pop--colors that may be too bold for the rest of the house. As Basement Remodeler recommends, "Stick with light colors for the walls. Using light paint colors will effectively brighten the gloomiest basements!"
  
  But do not dominate the basement with an overwhelming amount of bold color in a monotonous way. Instead, use it on an accent wall and incorporate complementing colors and neutrals to soften the effects of a dominating bold color.
  
  In selecting neutrals for the basement, stay away from the cold tones. Whites with warm yellow, peach, orange and red family tints will warm up the feel of the basement.
  
  

Lighting

• In order to make a basement no longer feel like a basement, add more lighting to compensate for the lack of natural lighting that a basement typically receives. According to House Energy, "Many basements are unappealing because of lighting."
  
  Evenly distribute several recessed lighting units throughout the basement's ceiling and use low-wattage light bulbs, such as fluorescent bulbs, to save on your energy bill. For an accent wall, install small spotlights that shine directly onto the wall. These lights will not only give the basement an art gallery feeling, they are sure to accent any wall art or furniture that goes along that wall as well, making the basement feel larger than it really is.
  
  

Flooring

• Updating a basement is an efficient way to extend a house's living space, but when it comes to flooring, carefully select water-resistant flooring solutions that will not be damaged by a moisture problem.
  
  A long-term flooring solution--and the most water-resistant--is to tile the basement floor. Ceramic tile is an inexpensive flooring solution amongst the tile choices. And you probably would not want to use more expensive material for your basement floor. Ceramic tiles are sold in many colors and styles. Select a light neutral color to make the basement feel more expansive.
  
  To soften and warm up the basement floor with carpet, use area rugs instead. These can easily roll out over the tile, and they are easy to remove in a water emergency.