Are you thinking of redesigning your basement and you need to pick out the right colors to paint the walls? Your basement is probably one of the darkest rooms in the house and picking the right colors to paint, along with basement lighting, it is very important. The color(s) you choose can determine whether your basement becomes the warm exciting room you envision or the gloomy underbelly of the house.
When you sit down to choose your basement color ideas, you may want to think about these ways we respond to different colours:
Black
Black usually stands for darkness and despair and it is often associated with death. The color black absorbs light and unless you want your basement to be a depressing place, black should be used sparingly.
White
Much the opposite of black, white reflects almost 85% of light. White tends to make rooms seem brighter and larger than rooms painted with other colors. Unfortunately, white walls are easily the most vulnerable to scraping and marking.
Red
The darker shades of red create a sense of warmth. Red also acts to stimulate and energize so it can be a very exciting and vibrant color for a basement. The brighter reds may counterbalance the neutral colors and add life and excitement to the room.
Orange
Orange has some of the same characteristics of red. The brighter the orange the more lively the room becomes while a softer orange tends to make the room more warm and welcoming.
Green
Green can work to balance red and orange. For a basement, a darker shade of green will work much the same as black. It is probably best to stay away from the darker greens and and stay with the lighter shades.
Blue
Blue is said to calm the nervous system and can soften bright rooms. Much like green, if a very dark shade of blue is used it ends up with the same effect as black. The lighter shades of blue make people feel peaceful and comforted.
Yellow
Yellow is a fantastic color that is cheery and stimulating. Lighter yellows work to make rooms feel larger but if overused, it can be too stimulating. Yellow is best used in combination with another color.
Best Basement Color Ideas
Basement Design for Do It Yourselfers
Today in 2008, basements are no longer viewed as that extra area under the house. If a basement has the right interior design, it will add extra space for you and your family to use. It will also add significant value to your home. Some creative basement design ideas will help you find the right solution for your unused space in the basement.
The most important part of remodeling your basement occurs well before you ever touch a tool. In your planning it is best to view the unfinished basement as an empty canvas and be able to freely create anything new in addition to your basic living needs.
Are you a do-it-yourselfer interested in getting help planning or designing your basement? Several designers have made a career out of basement design and it is big business today, but you may want to design the room yourself.
One of the first things you have to consider in a basmetn idea or redecoration is the lighting. Not enough overhead lighting can spell doom for the design and the room. Since basements do not normally get a lot of natural lighting, you might want to make sure your basement design has plenty of overhead lights so the basement is not so dark when you are trying to enjoy that area.
You will probably want to carpet the basement floor and the stairs that are accessed from the inside of your home. This will make the basement feel more "livable". When finishing or remodeling your basement, make sure you paint the interior surface of the basement wall with a high quality waterproof and mildew resistant basement wall paint. Basement design ideas point out the suggestion of using bright colors for the walls, furniture and accessories.
The best basement design idea will make sure that the end result is a room that does not look like a basement. Remember, that great basements improvement design can increase the value and ambiance of your home and the quality of you life.
Basement Ideas – His and Hers Basement Office
Many people have offices in their homes now days and what better place to put them than in the basement. One of the better basement ideas is make the basement into a “his and hers” office.
One of the advantages with this basement idea is that it moves the workplace away from the family and the family rooms. Too many people let their jobs and business interfere with their family life and by moving the den or office(s) into the basement you effectively separate the two.
You will need to make your basement into a home office that you and your spouse can enjoy and get work done in. Some tips to make this basment ideas into reality are:
Great Lighting – You need great basement lighting if you are going to make your basement into an office. You do not want to be in a place that is too dark and strains your eyes when you are looking at papers, reports, or a computer screen.
Ample Shelving – any basement office need a generous amount of shelves to organize your things. Shelves help you utilize your space and keep things in order. Basement ideas like this one are great because you can move many of the things that clutter the family rooms into the basement away from everyone.
Paint – Choose your paint carefully: you want a color that is professional looking to remind you that you are in your basement office. You don’t want to use a paint that is a dreary color but instead you want a paint that makes the basement idea look neutral.
Furniture – Comfortable chairs and desks are vital for a good work environment. Don’t necessarily get the same chairs and desks for both of you as each one of you might have a different idea of what is comfortable. It is a good idea to get the best ergonomic chair you can find that you each like. The important thing with this basement idea is to make sure that both parties are happy with their basement office and want to spend time there.