If you have a basement, consider yourself lucky! You have a great place to gather, make your own man cave or turn into an extra bedroom. Many people rely on this extra space for a laundry room or to store extra items that aren’t used all the time.
Even if you need to use some of the extra space for storage, you can still have more living space if you divide your basement into two sections. One part to be used for storage and the second area that you can finish and use as an additional living area.
The area that you will use for storage, can stay unfinished if you are on a tight budget but the “living” area should be finished with tile, laminate flooring or rugs, unique design elements and a fresh coat of paint.
Once you decide to finish your basement, you need to give some thought as to how the finished basement area will be used. There are nearly endless uses for a finished basement:
- If you have a subterranean bathroom, you can use the space as an extra bathroom or “mother-in-law” suite.
- Your basement is the perfect place for a man cave or alternatively, a crafting area.
- If you’re a sports enthusiast, you can transform your basement into a sports room where you can hang memorabilia and emblazon it with banners and logos from your favorite teams. You can also add a big, oversized TV or add several TV’s so you can watch all your favorite sports teams at once and never miss a thing.
- If you have or add a fireplace and some warm lighting, your basement can become a cozy extra room, so mom and dad have their own place to watch their favorite movies or listen to their favorite music, away from the kids. Add a wet bar and wine refrigerator and kegerator and mom and dad may never leave.
- Your finished basement can be turned into a playroom or young children or a bit more sophisticated for a teen “social” space, where the teens can gather, do homework and play games.
- If you work from home, you may want to build in some shelves, add a desk and computer equipment and work supplies and you’ll have a great place to get work done without interruption. Just make sure that you have good internet access to be productive.
When you determine how you will use your basement, you can begin by deciding on your color palette, furnishings, flooring and decorations. Many find that the color green, with its wide variations of tones, is the perfect choice for their wall color. From the most subtle mint, to mid-range sage, to deep forest green, you will have an endless choice of green hues to choose from.
On top of that, you will always have a place to hold your yearly St. Patrick’s Day party.
Related: Green Paint Options Family Room | Green Paint Options Kids Bedroom | Green Paint Options Primary Bathroom | Green Paint Options Dining Room | Green Paint Options Primary Bedroom | Green Paint Options Living Room | Green Paint Options Guest Bedroom
I. Consider What You Have to Work With
The first thing you need to decide is whether or not you can utilize your entire basement, or whether you need to partition it off for storage or other uses. Once you know how much room you have to work with, you can determine the best use for the space.
You should also take into consideration the light sources you have available. For instance, some basements are completely sub-terranean, with no natural light. Others have half or full windows, while some have sliding glass doors that allow in plenty of light.
If there is not enough natural light in your basement, you need to consider what type of artificial lighting you will use to illuminate the room. After determining the lighting, you can then begin the task of choosing the wall color.
If you have skewed down your color choices to a few, you may want to get paint samples to try on the walls to see how they appear during different times of the day and with different lighting.
Once all these tasks have been completed, you’re ready to choose your color!
II. Light, Dark, or In-Between, Just Make It Green
Green is a great choice for your finished basement because there are so many different tones to choose from. Bright and dull, bold and subtle, light and dark. All you need to do is get some samples and figure out the best color for your walls.
A few things to remember:
- Darker green shades can add drama, warmth or a cozy tone.
- Light green can be energizing and fun.
- Medium green shades are calming.
- Bright shades like lime green make a bold statement.
Additional tips:
- Don’t use too many different colors. Many designers utilize a 60-30-10 rule. The dominant color should be applied to 60 percent of the room, such as the walls. Thirty percent should be a secondary color, this may be home furnishings, rugs, and other accents. The final ten percent should be an accent color that is used sparingly. These colors can be bold or darker than the other two colors.
- Use a glossier finish. Glossy finishes resist stains and reflect. Beware though, glossy finishes show imperfections more than matte or satin finish paints.
- Consider your lighting. If you don’t have natural light and depend on artificial light, consider using lighter colors on your wall instead of darker tones. Remember, if you don’t have natural light; you will need to determine what type of artificial light you will install such as recessed lighting, lamps, lighted fans, spotlights, etc.
III. Some Great Green Tones to Choose From
Some of today’s most popular paint manufacturers like Sherwin-Williams, Behr and Benjamin Moore offer nearly endless different colors of green to choose from. Here are some great choices for you to choose from, listed from the lightest to the darkest under each manufacturer.
A. Sherwin-Williams
1. Green Glaze
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is a very subtle green, not as bright as mint but a very light that has undertones of grey. This is a neutral tone that would look great in a room that artificial light because it would add a needed lightness. (SW 7128)
2. Lighter Mint
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is a versatile tone with a truer green than the previous color. Also good for finished basements that have little natural light. This is a versatile tone that could be used for a finished basement no matter how you plan to use the room.
3. Retro Mint
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is the color we think of when we think of mint green. It will remind you of your favorite mint or pistachio ice cream. It’s bright and bold and will surely make a statement. It is a bright, cheery color that would be great for a kid’s playroom or even a tween/teen gathering area. It just yells out FUN! (SW 9036)
4. Julep
Source: Sherwin-Williams
If you’ve ever had a mint julep, this color perfectly captures the color tone. Bold and “in your face” this color is not for the faint of heart. This color may be too much or an entire basement, but you may want to add it to one or two walls as an accent color with a lighter color on the other walls, so it isn’t so overpowering. (SW 6746)
5. Vegan
Source: Sherwin-Williams
Not quite mint and not quite sage, this color falls right in between. It’s bright but not overpowering. This would be a great color for a playroom, uplifting, energizing and ready to foster creativity. (SW 6738)
6. Nurture Green
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is a muted tone and in the safe color family. It is very calming and would be great for a basement bedroom or office. With upscale furniture in ivory or white tones, this is a sophisticated color choice. (SW 6451)
7. Inland
Source: Sherwin-Williams
A calm color, this would be another great choice for a basement bedroom as well as a room that has natural light to brighten it up during the day. If you are fortunate enough to have a fireplace, the color would be great for a romantic suite where mom and dad can get away from the kids. (SW 6452)
8. Shamrock
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This dark, bold green is similar to hunter green. It means business. That said, it is a natural choice for a home office. Accompanied by rich wood accent pieces like a desk, chairs, and bookcases, you will have a great place to get the job done. (SW 6454)
B. Behr
1. Moss Mist
Source: Behr
This is a bright refreshing color with a lot of white. It is great for a lower level bedroom or basement room. It’s very versatile and can be accented with a variety of different colors. It works well with both natural and artificial light. (S380-1)
2. Airy Green
Source: Behr
Pretty light and full of grey tones. It is versatile and can be used in a variety of different ways. With this tone, you can accent the wall color with either muted green or grey furniture and accents. It’s very pretty, but a bit non-descript. It won’t yell at you when you walk into the room. (MQ3-48)
3. Gingko
Source: Behr
This is a bright greenish tone with blue undertones similar to seafoam green. It’s bright, inviting and is versatile. Whether you’re planning a basement bedroom, game room or kids’ playroom, this is a great color that will work for just about any room. (M390-4)
4. Fresh Artichoke
Source: Behr
This is the opposite of bright and exciting. It’s a bit drab but would work well in a basement bedroom because of its calm tone. Try it first to make sure that you’re happy with the color before you paint the entire room. (M340-5)
5. Fresh Guacamole
Source: Behr
This is another muted shade, but this tone is great if you’re thinking of turning your basement into a sports bar or man cave. It’s calming and not in your face. It would be a great backdrop for your favorite sports memorabilia. (M360-5)
6. Early Spring
Source: Behr
This is getting close to lime, but a few tones darker. It’s similar to mint with an attitude. This is a great color if you don’t get a lot of natural light. It’s bright and energizing and may help get you motivated if you decided to scrap all other ideas and put in a home gym. (MQ4-46)
7. Laurel Tree
Source: Behr
This is pretty and versatile. This green hue would be perfect for a home sports bar or man cave. It has some deeper undertones, giving it a calm color that you’d want in a gathering spot. (S390-5)
8. Scallion
Source: Behr
This is a great green, dark but very pretty. This would be a great accent color, to be used at the bottom half of a chair rail wall or on an accent wall. Unless you have a lot of natural light, I wouldn’t paint an entire room this color. (PPU10-01)
C. Benjamin Moore
1. Irish Spring
Source: Benjamin Moore
Light, bright and just gorgeous! This color will make you happy. It is a great hue for a playroom, extra bedroom or game room. It is soothing, yet bright. It’s a great choice no matter what the purpose is your room has—except for perhaps a man cave. (LRV 86.62)
2. Spring Breeze
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is similar to seafoam, a greenish-blue tone that is bright and cheery. You could accent this color with turquoise tones to make a bold statement in your room. (LRV: 76.57)
3. Soothing Green
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is a pale sage tone, very cool and calming and very attractive as a wall color. You may want to use brighter tones on accent walls especially if you don’t have natural light. It is very versatile, not too bold, but certainly not boring. (LRV: 68.97)
4. Elemental
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is an interesting shade with just a hint of green, it has greyer and is beautifully neutral. Great for a variety of different uses, not just in your basement, but throughout your home. (LRV: 39.63)
5. Tropical Seaweed Green
Source: Benjamin Moore
Wow! It’s hard to miss this bold, lime green. If you need to rely on artificial light, this is a great color for you. You would want to tone done your furnishings to avoid clashing with this bold, bright tone. (LRV: 28.01)
6. Very Green
Source: Benjamin Moore
Yes, it is! It is a bold true green. Unlike Kelly green, it has more blue tones, like a deep turquoise. This is a great color if you’re looking for a beach theme as it will blend it with blues, and lighter greens. (LRV: 13.92)
7. Timson Green
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is a dark but bold color, similar to olive green. Unless you have plenty of natural light, you will need a lot of artificial light to keep the room warm and inviting. It has some bold golden tones so furniture with gold accents would work well. (LRV: 14.87)
8. Buffet Green
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is one of the darker tones with many of the same hues as hunter green. This would make a great color choice for a man cave or sports bar. It’s sophisticated and very masculine. (LRV: 8.47)
