What Color Should I Paint My Finished Basement?

In general, we recommend painting finished basements in

bright whites or very light cool greys or blues

. These lighter colors (along with great interior lighting) can help your finished basement space feel airy and spacious, even without windows.

Should I paint my basement dark?

Most people think a basement must be painted a light color to keep it from feeling like a dungeon. But in reality,

dark colors can look stunning

in a basement, as shown here by @projectrousehouse. Shipwreck by Behr is a rich, inviting blue with slightly green undertones.

What is the best color to paint a finished basement?

1. Brilliant white. Brilliant white diffuses light better than any color to make your space look brighter and appear larger. …
2. Red. Fiery red can infuse energy into an otherwise dull space. …
3. Gray. …
4. Black. …
5. Navy blue. …
6. Yellow. …
7. Sky blue. …
8. Purple.

What is a good white for a basement?

White Dove

(LRV-85-38)

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.

What’s the best paint for basement walls?

• Aqua-X Concrete Sealer.
• Kilz Interior/Exterior Basement And Masonry Waterproofing Paint.
• Rust Bullet Duragrade.
• Drylok.
• KILZ Interior/Exterior Self-Priming Masonry, Stucco, and Brick Flat Paint.
• Eco Advance EACON16CON Waterproofer.
• Rust-Oleum 261845 EpoxyShield Garage Floor Coating.

How can I brighten up my basement?

1. Repaint the Walls. One of the easiest, most affordable ways to lighten a room is by painting the walls and trim in brighter colors. …
2. Use Reflective Surfaces. …
3. Add Light Fixtures. …
4. Introduce More Natural Lighting. …
5. Raise the Ceiling.

How do I make my basement cozy?

1. Use lamps and not just overhead lighting. As any basement finishing company will tell you, overhead lighting is essential for brightening up a finished basement. …
2. Layer the floor with rugs. …
3. Dress up your fireplace.

What colors make a room look brighter?

• Bright White. This has been a classic choice for ages yet has become modern once again. …
• Off-white. …
• Light Grays. …
• Warm Neutrals. …
• Bright and Bold.

What colors lighten up a room?

1. Lavender. Lavender has warmer tones, which makes it great for adding some brightness to a dark room. …
2. Sunny Yellow. When you don’t have much natural light, yellow is a great way to recreate that feeling with artificial light. …
3. Powder Blue. …
4. Bright Orange. …
5. Soft Gray. …
6. Pink.

What color paint reflects the most light?

White

light contains all the wavelengths of the visible spectrum, so when the color white is being reflected, that means all wavelengths are being reflected and none of them absorbed, making white the most reflective color.

Does waterproof paint work on basement walls?

Do waterproof coatings work? The short answer is

yes

. We’ve used waterproof coatings in basements with great results. But careful prep work is critical; the coating can’t stop water unless it can bond solidly to masonry.

Is there a waterproof paint for shower walls?

While the best paint for a steamy bathroom ceiling would be latex-based or acrylic-based paint, you would need an

epoxy-based waterproof paint

for shower tiles to achieve a proper bond with the less porous surface.

How do I light my basement naturally?

1. Use Mirrors. Putting mirrors in strategic places is a smart strategy to reflect light inside your basement. …
2. Go With An All-White Wall. …
3. Maintain an Open Floor Plan. …
4. Install a Sun Pipe or Solar Tube. …
5. Glazed/Glass Doors. …
6. Build A Basement Light Well.

Can you finish a basement with no windows?

In most cases, the answer is

yes

. A finished basement project must incorporate an Egress window if any portion of the space will be used as a bedroom, or if you are creating another habitable space (a family room, for example) that does not already have an Egress window or a door.

How can I make my basement look bigger?

Use

light colours

and contrast: Light walls (off-white, light green, pale blue) make a basement feel larger and more inviting. Painting the trim, moldings, and ceiling a lighter shade than the walls will enhance the effect.