When you add drywall to an unfinished basement, or when you tidy it up in anticipation of the house being sold, the question arises: what color to choose for the paint? Basements are often treated as special cases when painting, as they typically feature low ceilings and a lack of natural light. As true as this may be, the intuitive gimmick of painting each room a light color isn't always the best solution. Learning how to choose paint colors for your basement requires an assessment of what makes them stand out in certain lighting conditions.
Steps
Step 1. Evaluate the amount of light your basement receives
The often overlooked, but crucial step in determining how the color of a paint will appear is to evaluate the lighting. If the basement receives little sunlight and generally has poor artificial lighting, it will actually be very difficult to get a light-colored paint that looks attractive. On the contrary, it will tend to look dingy and dull.
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If you have the time and money available and want your basement to look spectacular, invest in additional lighting. Recessed lights have long been the preferred choice for basements, and if you already have them installed you can simply add more.
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If the basement has ribbon windows along one or two walls, you can also encourage the diffusion of natural light by removing the walls that block the light from other rooms.
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Step 2. Orient yourself to paint colors that are strong, deeply intense
It is a common mistake to believe that dark rooms should be painted in light colors. In fact, light colors need plenty of light to express their potential; otherwise, they tend to look dull, dull and even dirty. The best way to counteract the reduced amount of light in a basement is to paint it with strong and intense colors.
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Basement paint colors don't have to be dark, they need to be intensely saturated. Hence, a very saturated mid-tone turquoise color will often perform better than a dark gray paint.
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Step 3. Paint the basement lighter colors only in spaces that receive abundant lighting
The more light the room receives, the better the paint will look, regardless of color. This leaves you more possibilities in the brighter rooms. Near windows and in rooms with abundant artificial light, you can use both white and off-white, as well as rich colors or dark tones.
Step 4. Coordinate the paint color with the existing furniture
Of course, chances are you don't want to get rid of your furniture and furnishings when you repaint. This implies that the choice of colors is conditioned by those of the furniture already present. If you are in the process of selling the house, try to work with a limited palette. Being whimsical with paint and furniture color combinations can often turn potential buyers away.
