5 Designer-Loved Paint Colors That’ll Make Your Basement Feel More Inviting

It’s not hard to have high hopes for a basement. These lowly spaces, which are often far less inviting than their counterparts upstairs, can be a willing canvas to anyone with even the slightest bit of design inspiration. Perhaps it could serve as a secondary living room, or as a guest quarters whenever family is in town. Maybe it could even act as a speakeasy where friends and neighbors gather, or a spot to do crafts in a quiet cocoon. Whatever the vision may be, getting started is often the hardest part. But when you settle on a paint color, it becomes a whole lot easier to turn high hopes into a reality.

“A basement has endless possibilities—it could become anything,” says designer Sasha Basso, of Capiz Studio. “But rather than a basement that harkens back to That 70s Show, you can make a basement a place where you really want to spend your time.”

David Quarles IV, principal designer of Studio 417, agrees, and says that a basement can meet the modern era in a number of ways. “In today’s world, where multiple income streams are encouraged or family and friend structures in housing can be more accommodating, basements are an opportunity to design spaces that not only look like, but feel like home.” A basement can be more flexible in a way that the rest of a home cannot, and paint can help set that tone of focus, togetherness, or a mix of both. Read on as these two designers share the five paint colors they’d suggest to make a basement meet the moment. 

What to Consider Before Choosing a Basement Paint Color

Basements typically don’t get much natural light, and that can be one of the biggest reasons why they often become storage units rather than livable square footage. Basso and Quarles have an easy solution for this fact: Embrace the lack of natural light. It can be cozy.

“While natural light is what I crave for most living spaces, a lack of light is actually perfect for a media-centered family room,” Basso says. “I’m envisioning these spaces with movie or binge-watching shows as their central purpose, but with a luxe twist.”

When light is hard to come by, Basso usually aims to “color drench” a space—otherwise making it so the ceiling, trim, and walls are the same shade. In the case of a basement, she’d lean into the surroundings and choose a dark shade. “I’d pick plush couches and a rug that are a tonal match to the paint,” she says. “But I’d offset the saturation of color with brighter coffee tables in marble or concrete and lighting with alabaster or fabric shades.” If darker hues aren’t your style, don’t worry. Quarles says the same technique applies to brighter paints, too.

“With basements having lower ceilings and more times than not lacking windows, you don’t want it to feel cramped,” he notes. “Color drenching a room in light or dark colors makes the surfaces of the space feel infinite.” Since there wouldn’t be clear lines defining the basement—as would be the case if more than one paint were used—color drenching would end up making the area feel more comfortable and inviting in either palette. Whichever direction you choose, Basso wants you to feel confident in your choices.

“A basement is a bonus space, so don’t be afraid to decorate it in a way that is a little more over the top than the rest of the house,” she says. “It’s on a completely different level from the rest of the house and so it doesn’t necessarily have to be cohesive. Think of it like a bigger version of a powder room, where the design rules are different, statements can be louder, and whimsy is the name of the game.”

Designer-Favorite Colors to Paint Your Basement 

When you’re ready to turn your basement into a stylish hangout space, start with a fresh coat of paint. These are the five shades designers recommend for an elevated look.