9 tips to turn a dingy basement into a bright modern kitchen

1. Embrace clean, white walls. It will keep your below-grade space feeling airy and light.

2. Choose one or two areas to splurge on, like the backsplash, to elevate the overall look of the space. Just because it’s a basement doesn’t mean everything has to be budget.

3. Replace solid exterior doors with windowed ones to increase the amount of natural light in the space.

4. Use a combination of under-cabinet and pot lights to illuminate the kitchen. You’ll get the light you need without taking up precious ceiling height.

5. Go custom when you need to. Cumbersome bulkheads are a factor in most basements. Instead of relocating them, which can be costly, think about working them into your design. Here a hood vent — essentially a five-inch stainless steel box — was custom-made to cover an exhaust fan.