Recommend paint color for dark basement?

[Anonymous]

We are finishing our basement, and I'm stumped on paint colors. It needs some help as it only has two tiny windows for natural light. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Pale yellow or cream. Paint trim a bright white for contrast. Avoid super bright colors (why do people always do their basements in bright blue or red?). Avoid dark colors.

Signed interior designer

[Anonymous]

Bright white. It will make a huge difference.

[Anonymous]

Our basement has one normal sized window and a small window. Very little natural light, too. We painted our basement Mindful Gray by Sherwin Williams with white trim and it looks very nice. Clean, bright, and I love the contract with the white trim. It was painted a cream color and I I found it looked very washed out.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the suggestions! I should add, it's doubling as a therapy space for my special needs son with therapy issues, so I'd like a soothing color that simultaneously brightens the space. So woke I like it, I'm nervous about yellow for him.

[Anonymous]

white.

[Anonymous]

I think people are too crazy about finding some light neutral color when white looks better than anything. If you want it soothing, white is great. Just add nice textiles on the windows and don't put crazy harsh lighting in there.

[Anonymous]

We just painted our basement Edgecomb grey. It's a light taupe and looks sophisticated and light. White trim and doors throughout basement.

[Anonymous]

That's not too sterile, institutional? We ARE painting over some cinderblocks. Shudder, I know, but working with a heavy special needs therapy budget.

[Anonymous]

Pp, I'm referring to white as possibly being to sterile. I'm finding these gray recommendations also intriguing!

[Anonymous]

What about a pale blue color, with white trim?

I don't care for cream anything, and in our not-yet-renovated basement, cream just looks so drab and dated.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/945224/Georgette-Westerman-Interiors-contemporary-family-room-los-angeles

http://www.houzz.com/photos/2369753/stately-manor-contemporary-basement-philadelphia

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1008420/John-Willis-Custom-Homes-traditional-basement-atlanta

http://www.houzz.com/photos/301365/Basement-Family-Room-modern-basement-toronto

[Anonymous]

BM breathe of fresh air is a very pretty light airy blue color. I love it.

We just painted our basement BM revere pewter with white dove trim. It looks great IMO.

[Anonymous]

Sail Cloth - by Benjamin Moore. A beautiful off-white with warm undertones. Not quite cream, not quite white. Goes with EVERYTHING!

[Anonymous]

Jersey Cream. It's a buttery yellow. Calm, yet cheerful.

[Anonymous]

Our basement is a soft yellow with white trim and light carpets. It's really bright and cheerful!