what to paint my basement

Kimberley · 07-25-2006, 02:46 PM

what color should i paint my basement? i have green speckled carpet, and beige furniture, and a huge stone fireplace that has flecks of gold in it. now i want something that will make my fireplace stand out, but not a dark color. also the basement is huge. and i also would like osme advice on window coverings. shoudl i jsut go with curtains or get blinds or what? i want them to look nice, but not to country. i would like contemporary country. anyone have any ideas? and what color curtains/blinds? HELP ME!!! i am so style challenged its not even funny.

momof2boys in il · 07-25-2006, 02:51 PM

What color of green??? Dark forrest green? Teal green? Blue-ish green? I have been redoing rooms now for the past month. Every other weekend, I am taking a bedroom, and redoing it. My goal is to get my entire upstairs done before X-mas. The kids rooms are done, my room is next!

Are the windows standard size windows? Or little itty-bitty basement windows?

hindsight2020 · 07-25-2006, 04:42 PM

I'm a visual person, so if there's any way you would post "before " photos, I'd love to help you think of what to do to get the "after" result!

Kimberley · 07-25-2006, 05:51 PM

its a dark green burbur(sp) carpet. the windows are smaller windows. i will take pics and post em for ya'll to see so you can give me tons fo suggestions!!!!!

NottheMomma · 07-25-2006, 06:03 PM

You have only a couple options... generally... directly across a color wheel for drama, or in the same family/value to tie it all together... but I am usually wrong when it comes to colors.

debellafunk · 07-25-2006, 06:50 PM

are you looking to cover the windows for privacy, sun or just for decor. Also what size are the windows.

Kimberley · 07-25-2006, 08:00 PM

this is a pic of the wall right beside the fireplace. and that is the size of the windows. i just want them covered for decoration/keeping the sun out.

obviously this is the fireplace. it has silver and gold twinkles in it.

this is the wall directly across from the fireplace.

Kimberley · 07-25-2006, 08:02 PM

this is directly across from the tv. the couch and the space behind the couch.

this is the space right beside/behind the couch. there is a ton of room in our basement. i would love to cut it in half and make a new room, but its not gonna happen.

hindsight2020 · 07-25-2006, 11:26 PM

So, are you painting the paneling? I personally would suggest painting any and all wood (paneling, trim, doors)-- like designer Christopher Lowell says "Just because it's wood doesn't mean it's good!" In your case I suggest it just because the basement is dark enough...and wood really sucks light. I don't want to seem snotty about it, I would just really recommend it -- I think you would be pleased with how much lighter it would feel in there. You would need a heavy-duty primer for glossy surfaces, but other than that it's just like painting drywall.

My suggestion for the walls is for a sage/moss green -- but stay away from any shade of mint or it may come off "cold." You want to go slightly brown in the green family. Silver Sage by Restoration Hardware is a favorite of some designers' columns I read, if you don't have a RH near you I can give you Benjamin Moore paint color names as well.
For the windows I would suggest shutters with adjustable slats in a size that would visually elongate the windows, making them look like "normal" size windows, but still allow light to enter as needed (as well as control it when you want it dark). I think curtains would be unnecessary with shutters. I would definitely go with white for the shutters (all trim, actually).
If there's room in your budget consider getting an area rug in a lighter beige to define the sitting space in the room.
I hope that wasn't too much info -- I don't want to seem like the decorating diva...I just like to think of new ideas for rooms!

Kimberley · 07-26-2006, 12:02 PM

the paneling will definately be painted. i hate paneling. if there is wood in a room it should be real not cheap manufactured crap that look utterly fake. i don't want to do a green color becuase my kitchen and hallway are green lol. my house would have to much green in it. i really like the shutter idea on the windows. we don't have a rh here, but if oyu give me the benjamin moore paint colors i can check em out and see what i think about em. i just might decide to do more green lol. i was thinking we would white trim, i like the look of white trim in a room. there is alot of trim that i will be gettuing rid of. the previous owner put reall thin cheap trim around the ceiling, so that will be going. i have never seen trim around the ceiling before and its looks so stupid the way they did it. so that will be changed as well.