Could you put LED strip lighting on the stringers of the stairs? It looks as if there might be just enough space on the side of the steps on both sides to run it down the angle. It would look like the floor lights in an airplane, and possibly provide some up lighting for the handrail.

You might also consider painting the stair risers white. It would lighten the visual weight of the staircase when you are in the basement.

Another Houzzer will have ideas about ceiling lights above the stairs, or some kind of sconces that would meet the fire code.

Painting the risers a lighter color would also bring on more light. Can low voltage recessed light be up in the slanted ceiling , run off the side sconce? Just two would lighten the stairwell from overhead.

I'd first suggest getting rid of the heavy texture on the walls and then paint the steps a lighter color (though not white, perhaps a lighter, warm grey, and the walls white or off white. The texture is making the space feel more 'cave-like' and is actually sucking up light (less reflected light).

To expand the sense of space you want to be looking at light on a surface, not at the source. That's why using the handrail as a concealed light source is a good idea as suggested. You could use an LED 'light ruler' mounted to the underside of the handrail. You'd have to get power to it from the LED driver.

It would also be great to get light on the ceiling. Another option would be small up/down wall sconces spaced evenly along the wall. If you can get j-boxes in the wall this would be an inexpensive option.

I like the idea of the light coming from under the handrail much better than having strips of lighting on the floor!!

I agree that smoothing the wall texture will help reflect more light.

Is there a garage or closet on either side of the stairs? We added a light in the wall just above the bottom of the riser by using the space under the stairs. Or if you have a garage or other room on the side of the stairs, that can work.

http://www.kichlersuperstore.com/LED-Step-Light-Horiz-Louver-in-Brushed-Nickel-p/12600NI.htm&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=OtherAccessories&utm_source=nextagca

Wow! These are great suggestions ! I will follow up on each and see what will work best. That texture is coming off- it has drawn blood more than once.I believe that the drywall which it is on will have to come down too as sanding has proved difficult (to a contractor). If that's the case, then power sources to lighting wil,l be much easier. Thank you all.

You have a sconce at the top of the stairs that I would have an electrician remove and replace with either 2 ceiling recessed cans or a track light that shoots light at the walls...paint your woodwork white and carry your basement color up the stairs. Replace the handrail with a new, beefier one that is painted white. The carpet will lighten up the area as well. Add art to the wall you look at as you walk down the steps, used as a focal wall.

Is there any way to get rid of the wall to your right when you are standing on the lowest step? Giving the stairs more width at the bottom will open it up nicely.

We will be able to cut the wall at the right of the stairs with a 45degree angle on the last step. I think this will really help. I am looking into lighting today as the electrician is coming tomorrow. All drywall is coming out because we discovered mold- (40 year old house made with plastic behind drywall.) Any suggestions on cleaning this up?

Well, we ripped out all the drywall all over the stairs and found that the ceiling going down above the stairs was false and there is alot of room above and we are able to open up the wall to the right when going down and just have a floorjack wrapped at the bottom. I will post pictures later . Thanks for all your thoughtful suggestions; they really got me thinking!

Just caught your dilemma - it has always been our first option with this kind of problem to open that stairway via removal of at least one of the wall areas. Glad you decided on the option. Its such a simple solution to the dark, tight area. Good luck with the work. If you are going to use the area downstairs for entertainment purposes, it also makes it more comfortable for people going down.

Clean up the mold with bleach and water in a spray bottle. But mold grows with the presence of moisture...you need to find the source of the moisture and eliminate it. Mold can be toxic and any findings unremediated must be disclosed at resale.

I use led lights from tech lighting. You can break off where you want

We are having a mold-busting co. clean up the mold. We will be putting gutters on in the spring. We will be checking the drainage when the snow melts since we have gardened around the house extensively with no regard to grade. Until then I will be shoveling snow away from the foundation. I hope these pictures come through so you can see that false ceiling and how moving that closet allowed the srairs to be opened.

Good news Nancy! Best way to handle a problem is to deal with it, not cover it up and hope it goes away....truth for all of life, no?

!!!, Thanks.