Many homeowners need more living space. Some add an enclosed porch or deck, but one of the best ways to optimize space may be right below you, your basement.
Today, basements are used for much more than just storage space. Here are some ideas:
- Craft, dance or photography studio
- Home office
- Playroom
- Game room
- Sports Bar/Wet bar
- Extra bedroom
All you need to do is think about what needs you have for the room, get creative and then put that creativity to work by creating extra, useful space in your basement. If you have a large space, think about sectioning off the basement for multi-use projects. Use a part for a home office and the other part for a home theater or game room.
Another thing to remember about finished basements, you will likely be able to ask more for your home when it comes time to sell.
The Importance of Light
Choosing the color for your finished basement is an important decision.
Determine how much light the basement gets. If you have very small windows or no windows, you will want to choose bright tones. Whites are always a good choice. If you do get natural light from either full-sized windows or a glass door entryway, you can choose one of the beautiful white tones with bold undertones to give your room a personality of its own.
White is Always Right
First of all, let’s get this straight, white is not boring! There are so many different tones of white that you will be shocked by how many choices you have.
There are warm whites, cool whites, and whites that impart grey, green, blue, tan, pink and coral tones. All these whites are versatile and often rely on the accent colors to make their statement. When you decide on painting your basement a white tone, you have a blank slate to accent it with a variety of different colors to suit your personality or to highlight the use of the room.
For example, if you’re looking to add a bar and create your own sports bar, you have neutral walls to hang all your favorite collectible items or highlight your favorite sports team.
Sherwin-Williams
Extra White (SW 7006)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is a light, bright white with just a hint of bluish-green in the background. Extra white is a great choice for a basement that doesn’t have a lot of light. Its’ bright tone works well with turquoise, smokey greyish blue and dark charcoal.
High Reflective White (SW 7757)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is a bright shade of white with pale green and grey undertones. This color works well with accent colors like tan, grey or green, so you can be creative with furnishings and décor options.
Incredible White (SW 7028)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
While this is considered white, it is a very pale grey color. It is cool and calming and is a great color for a downstairs basement, especially one that doesn’t have a lot of natural light. With grey being a popular, trendy color these days, it makes the basement a hip color choice, which can be accented with darker grey, black and bright white.
Nebulous White (SW 7063)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is more like a smokey white than a true white. This would be a pretty color for a basement bedroom and bath suite. It is so versatile than you can play up the other colors in the room. With a charcoal grey print bedspread, rugs and curtains, you can turn an unfinished basement into one of the most beautiful rooms in your home.
Whitetail (SW 7103)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This white has ivory and tan tones. It is warm and crisp, just perfect for a basement that may be craving extra light. The ivory tones make it a great color to pair with sand, brown, ivory and even light gold tones, adding even more warmth. Any of these colors would make great accent walls added even more warmth.
Aged White (SW 9180)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This is just a tad away from being a creamy tan color. With the proper lighting, this color can be glorious so if you don’t have a lot of natural light, you should consider the type of lighting fixtures you will need to showcase this color. Accent tones in tan and chocolate brown would complete the look for a man cave or bar room with dark wood furnishings.
Cotton White (SW 7104)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
This should be called Cotton Candy, as it is very pale with a subtle pink and cream tone. Because it is so neutral, you can choose a myriad of different colors to pair it with. You can choose darker tan, pink and even a smoky blue. This bright color is like a blank slate, you should choose your décor and artwork that makes a statement like oversized furniture in a bold print to liven up the neutral wall color.
Spinach White (SW 6434)
Source: Sherwin-Williams
As the name suggests, this is white with a greenish tint. It is not overpowering but lends a subtle greenish hue. It pairs perfectly with grey and green. It would be a great color for a bedroom, bright and perky—the perfect color to start the day with!
Behr
Snow Day (HDC–WR16-01)
Source: Behr
Imagine looking out your window at a beautiful snowfall, that’s what you’ll be reminded of when you choose Snow Day as your basement wall paint. It’s sunny, cheery and will make even the darkest basement light and bright. Depending on your light, this paint can take on both grey and green tones. You can furnish your room with colors like beige, tan, green and grey.
Ballet White (PPU3-04)
Source: Behr
This color will remind you of a satin ballet slipper. If you have an aspiring dancer at home, this would be a great choice to section off your basement for a personal barre room. All you need to do is add a wooden floor, a barre rail, and some great overhead light and you have a great ballet practice room, without using your entire basement.
White Flour (OR-W10)
Source: Behr
Have you ever thought of having your own wine cellar? This would be a nice choice for your private wine room. And the best part is, you don’t have to use your entire basement, but just a section. All you need to do is determine the area you want to use, add some walls, a coat of White Flour paint and line the walls with wine storage racks. The deep color of the wine racks will work well with the bright color of the paint. Add another little touch by having a tasting table and chairs for a true wine-lovers paradise.
Honied White (YL-WO3)
Source: Behr
This is a subtle white with strong tones of peach and tan. It is warm and inviting and would look great in a room where you may have exposed natural brick to give it some earthiness. If you’re really brave you could use the stone to create a custom arch that opens up into your den, wet bar or man cave. Add a big TV and you have a great gathering spot for family and friends.
Cottage White (13)
Source: Behr
There are tan and yellow undertones to Cottage White. This is a cozy, calm color that will go with just about any color combination. It’s great for a kids’ playroom because you can choose a primary color with furnishing and rugs. All the brightly colored kids’ toys will fit right into with the pale, neutral wall color.
Antique White (23)
Source: Behr
This is hardly white, but more like a pale tan with grey/beige tones. It pairs perfectly with green and blue tones, light/darker tans and brown. Antique White is great for a subterranean sports bar. It’s very warm and inviting. Because it goes well with dark brown, you can get a masculine feel by adding a darker accent wall.
String Cheese (M260-1)
Source: Behr
It’s a funny name for wall paint, but the color is great. It shows several different undertones depending on your lighting. It can look beige or grey depending on what time of day it is and how much light the room gets. One thing for sure, this color is a keeper. You could use this color in any room in your house.
Breakwater White (47OE-1)
Source: Behr
This beautiful tone is like a super pale seafoam with tones of blue and green. Because this color works well with deeper greens like sage green or a true seafoam, it would be a nice tone for a man cave or game room. It is warm and inviting and would be a cheery color for a gathering spot, especially when paired with a darker hue, to give it a bit of a sophisticated flare.
Evening White (N460-1)
Source: Behr
Like some of the other white hues, this gorgeous hue combines a vibrant white with delicate undertones of pale blue and green, with just a hint of grey. Having such an expansive palette makes it a great choice for low-light rooms that scream for some bright accents. Choosing a light green for a pop of accent color can turn this room from “ho-hum” to just plain fun for a great, light and bright playroom for kids and a gathering spot for tweens and teens.
Benjamin Moore
White Dove (LRV-85-38)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is a bright pristine white that can work on your walls and is also a good choice for ceilings and baseboards. It is illuminating and very versatile and will certainly add a brightness to any room, which is especially important in basements which may not have a lot of natural light. Because of the subtle blueish grey tones, you could use darker grey, blue and black as accent tones to give the room a personality of its’ own.
Mayonnaise (LRV: 90.49)
Source: Benjamin Moore
Mayonnaise is nearly a pure white with the most subtle hint of cream in the background. It doesn’t have a lot of personality on its own but does the trick when it comes to introducing lightness to a room. You may want to add an accent color, some bold dark ceiling beams, and dark trim to make a statement. You could use this color for a family den and game room and use furniture and décor to make your statement on this pristine tone.
Adobe White (LRV 85.44)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This color belongs in a little girls’ playroom, which is the perfect choice for unused basement space. It’s soft and welcoming with hints of pink and terra cotta tones. It would also make a great wall color for a basement bedroom. It is calming and warm and would look great with grey, blue, brown and darker shades of terra cotta. A very user-friendly color for those looking for a neutral tone to accent.
Powder Sand (LRV 89-28)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is such a pretty neutral tone; it will go with just about anything you choose. This is a great color to use if you have a special feature that you want to draw attention to in your room, such as a fireplace. It’s light, bright, airy and is a great backdrop when you want to catch the eye. A bold fireplace, piece of artwork or special memento will stick out when added to Powder Sand. Coordinates colors include warm beige, grey and brown.
Collector’s Item (AF-45)
Source: Benjamin Moore
Now this is a white with some personality. Still in the white “family,” Collector’s Item features tones of lilac and blue. This is a great color for a basement den, study or game room. Because of the undertones, you can complement this color with a bold blue color like Santorini Blue or a bold purple such as Exotic Purple. Both add a pop of color to this pretty white.
Grandma’s China (CSP – 365)
Source: Benjamin Moore
This is more of a pearly grey tone, which was recently one of the top colors for just about any room in the house. This would be perfect with grey flooring and accent tones like darker grey or black. Grandma’s China is a great color palette for a home office, with dark black furniture and some grey overstuffed chairs. The pearly grey tone is comforting and calming even for the most stressful workdays.
Celery Salt (938)
Source: Benjamin Moore
If you’re looking for a bolder tone, this may be it. It’s not a wimpy white, but a pretty hue with a bit of grey which lends itself perfectly for a game room, den or bar area. You can either play up the grey tones or add brown and tan tones, as Celery Salt will work for each. Because it isn’t overpowering yet still shows some color, it would be the perfect backdrop for some sports memorabilia, sports jerseys and other favorite collectibles on the walls for added personality.
Knitted Cape (CSP-965)
Source: Benjamin Moore
Pale fawn tones come through making this a great color for warmth. Add a fireplace, some cozy furniture and you’ve just transformed your boring basement into a classy den area, perfect for entertaining or watching your favorite sporting events. For added warmth, you can choose to accent a wall or two with other warm tones like Approaching Autumn or Dark Chocolate. Keep in mind how much light your room has and avoid very dark colors unless you have a good natural light source or plenty of other lighting.
