Overhead lighting is often the choice in which you can choose incandescent, fluorescent, and metal halide options.
These fixtures should be placed evenly to ensure there is consistent glow throughout the entire work area.
Of course, you will have to decide if these options are what you need for your work space.
Some areas of your workshop may be better if you have focused lighting.
Let's say you have a workbench or even a saw in the basement.
A spot or flood light over this area will guarantee the area is well lit and you can avoid a dangerous situation.
You will also want to make sure, when installing this option that the lights are placed so they provide lighting at an angle or you may have shadows, which are certainly not your friend when you are working with tools.
Of course, if you paint the ceiling and the walls you can make a dingy basement even brighter, which will help your lighting choices, make the entire brighter.
The best choice in color is white as it will reflect the light and make the room seem brighter.
With overhead lights, you may also wish to use sensor lighting.
As you have your hands full of tools or material heading down the stairs to the workshop, searching for the cord or light switch is not always a good idea.
On the other hand, if you have at least the overhead lights on a sensor system, the lights will come on automatically.
This way you can see to go down the stairs without any hassles.
Other lighting in the room can be on switches but the main lights leading into the basement would be best if they were sensor lights.