A fresh coat of paint goes a long way and can totally transform a room, especially in spaces that have lower ceilings and minimal natural light. Today we’re sharing our tips to select the right color for your basement, as well as a few tried and true colors for you to consider if you’re on the lookout for new paint.

The most common paint color choice to brighten up a room is white. However, in a basement, true white paint colors can look dingy and yellow with the lack of natural light. If you’re wanting a neutral feel, instead of a true white, choose a different neutral. A few of our favorite neutral options include Benjamin Moore Moonshine, Farrow & Ball Drop Cloth, Farrow & Ball Shaded White and Farrow & Ball Lamp Room Grey. As we mentioned in previous blog posts, we recommend testing paint swatches directly on the walls to really understand what option is best for your room and lighting. *Last image is a home office design by Hydrangea Treehouse

Our preference for basements, especially basement bedrooms, is to paint it a color. Adding color to basement spaces is one way to create an even more cozy environment. Your basement is also a great place to take a design risk. We’ve been loving the more muted, mid-tone color trend (read more about that on Chris Loves Julia blog post here). Don’t be afraid to go dark either - just because basements are typically dark already, doesn’t mean you can’t lean into that with a moody color. There are too many great color options to list them all but we’ll share a few from fellow designers that we’ve been saving for future projects below. When it comes to millwork, we prefer matching baseboards to the walls to keep things clean and neutral. However, contrasting millwork is a classic option that will never tire. Happy painting.