We’re talking about your basement. It’s that forgotten dungeon of a room under ground where no one is brave enough to go these days. Today, however, many homeowners are finding added space by finishing out their basement area to create family rooms, play rooms for young and old, and even additional living quarters. We’re sharing some painting ideas for your basement that will help you do the same and add valuable living space that can help increase the value of your home.
Painting Ideas for your Basement
When you start to compile painting ideas for your basement, there are a few important aspects to consider. You should ask yourself some important questions:
- How will my family use the space?
- What kind of space will add the most value to my home?
- How much is my renovation budget?
- How soon do I want to sell my home?
The answers to those four questions will really narrow down the painting ideas for your basement, but they shouldn’t limit your imagination. Let’s go over them one by one.
1. Determine the Use of Space
Our first question when looking for painting ideas for your basement is, “How will my family use the space?” There are tons of ideas here. Some of the most popular uses of basement space are:
- Additional Living Quarters/Rental Apartment
- Play Room
- Family Room
- TV Room
- Entertainment Area
By determining the use of your space, you can better find those painting ideas for your basement because color and texture will all come down to how the space will be used. Although it’s a good idea to keep your remodel versatile, don’t be afraid of letting the use of space dictate how you decorate.
2. Adding Value to Your Home
Some basement renovations will automatically increase the value of your home because potential buyers will also see value. Other less popular basement plans, not so much. If you were to use these painting ideas for your basement and turn your basement into an entertainment area with a bar and big screen TV, there will probably be buyers who see that value and will be more apt to put in an offer on your home. But, if you’re looking to start an in-home daycare and you use daycare painting ideas for your basement, such as bright walls and circus decals and playpens in every corner, that renovation will not likely appeal to many potential buyers. That’s because they see a lot of work in their future if they were to buy your home. You just have to weigh the pros and cons of functionality and resell.
3. Stay on Budget
When looking for painting ideas for your basement, it’s important to stay on budget. Before you begin, make sure you have a clear budget with cash on hand to get you through the entire renovation. If not, it’s easy to go thousands of dollars over what you intended on spending. Painting ideas for your basement don’t have to break the bank.
4. Selling Your Home
Finally answer the question, “How soon do I plan to sell my home?” The answer could really have a bigger impact on your painting ideas for your basement. That’s because you won’t need to think about how you might use the space, but instead how the majority of potential buyers will use the space. If you’re planning on selling your home soon, neutral painting ideas for your basement might be the best option for you to take.
Keep it Light and Bright
Now, let’s dig a little deeper into painting ideas for your basement. If you ask the experts, they will tell you to keep things light and bright. That’s because, as we mentioned earlier, your basement is already underground and dark. If you have access to natural light, you’re lucky. Chances are, you have small windows sitting towards the top of your walls, which reach just above the ground. Keeping a cool color palette when looking for painting ideas for your basement will help the space feel open and large. Many basement spaces are actually large because the space is an open footprint of your home above. There aren’t walls to close things in. Add walls with purpose and caution. An open concept will really help you keep your basement functional. Cool neutrals, light blues, and greens will give a natural feel to the space.
Maintain Your Focus with a Focal Wall
Even if you keep your new basement space light and bright, it will help to maintain focus on a focal wall or feature. This could be a fireplace with natural stone, built in bookshelves with a splash of rich color or even accent colors used with purpose. Here are a few painting ideas for your basement:
- Built-in Bookshelves – Paint the actual shelves in bright white to highlight the feature while using your accent, bold, or rich color on the interior back facing of the shelves. Depending on the lighting, placement and density of the books you store, and the accent pieces, you choose how much bold color to shine through.
- Fireplace Masterpiece – You could opt for a bold choice of artwork to hang over the basement fireplace to bring in a few of your favorite rich colors without over using these colors in your space. You don’t even have to pay for an expensive piece. Just buy a blank canvas in the size of your choice at your local craft store and make it a fun family art piece.
- Pops of Color – You see the professional designers pull it off all the time on TV. What might be showcased as a bland room full of natural colors and hues, but add pops of colors in accent pillows, art pieces, and sculptures and you now have a happening place.
Painting ideas for your basement don’t have to be boring. Long gone are the days of flannel and paneling in your dreary basement. Today’s underground spaces are full of harmony and happiness thanks to bright and cherry remodels. Don’t forget about the value you could add to your home when you pull off a well-planned makeover.
