What color to paint the basement ceiling: timeless hues from Behr and Dulux
One may assume the basement does not require much attention when it comes to interior design. Still, it is a constituent part of the house and should keep pace with the overall design approach. It serves as an extension of your living space, particularly if you set it as a separate area to spend your time in, which makes you pay even more attention to its appearance.
Let’s start with the basics: the paint colors. Today, we will speak about the color approach to the basement ceiling, tackling such a subject as what hues work best for such spaces, offering you clear examples from renowned manufacturers, providing you with a few tips, and even inspiring you for a change. As a starting point, it is worth mentioning that such neutrals as white, gray, and black are the most applied options in this sense, although bolder accents are not to be skipped as well. Let’s discuss it in more detail!
Aspects to consider beforehand
- Overall effect. Think in advance about the effect you want to achieve. Is it to brighten up the space, make it feel cozier, or add a few inches to the ceiling height? An appropriate color will always keep you on the safe side.
- Color undertones. While some of the most commonly used paints in this sense were mentioned above, it is worth noting that undertones play as much an important role, pointing out the appropriate shade to be applied so that it can cooperate with the neighboring colors;
- Monochromatic palette or eclectic combination. Consider matching the ceiling with the walls for increased comfort or different colors for a striking contrast.
- Dark or light colors. Go with darker paint colors for a sense of safety and coziness, while a lighter one will surely enlarge the space and add a feel of ease.
Classic White
White is a classic when it comes to ceiling paint, and the basement is not an exception. Furthermore, it ensures the space with an additional source of light, considering that such colors have a high reflectance value and expand the space borders. It sounds like an ideal companion for a basement. One should note that white is not that easy to work with, requiring a flawless surface so that the paint can bloom to the fullest even in such seemingly closed spaces like the basement. Nevertheless, a few more layers of paint can solve the problem. Let’s see what Behr and Dulux have in store for us!
Behr
- Nano White HDC-MD-06 – cool white diluted with a few drops of gray;
- Night Blooming Jasmine YL-W10 – soft shade of white penetrated by a few particles of soothing peach;
- Spun CottonYL-W09 – warm white merged with a few drops of soothing orange, offering it a pleasant calming effect.
Dulux
- Cliff Walk – frosty shade of white, whose base is penetrated by soothing notes of gray;
- Fine Cream – off-white shade with a slightly perceived creamy base that impresses with its combination of freshness with softness;
- Moon Shimmer – crispy white diluted with a few notes of coolish gray.
Neutral Gray
If you are unsure which color to go with, gray is a 100% successful option; it is not too light nor too dark, perfectly pairs with other shades, doesn’t need to be applied in more layers, and serves as a great compromise between white and black. Besides these benefits, gray can also hide particular defects without risking the brightness of the space. And the best part: gray is a trendy option and will keep your basement up to date.
Behr
- Hematite N460-6 – a quite dark shade of gray that blooms in a whole new way when paired with white;
- True Taupewood PPU24-09 – medium gray with a slightly creamy base that brings in a balanced sense of softness;
- Chinchilla PPU24-03 – dark gray with a subtle foggy effect that sets a contemporary feel within the environment.
Dulux
- Basically Black – a dark shade of gray that nearly reaches the category of black shades, enriching the space with a strong industrial feel;
- Timeless – very light gray with a soft creamy base that hypnotizes with its perfect combination of light gray and beige;
- Milky Pail – another brilliant pairing between a light shade of coolish gray and a subtle touch of creamy notes.
Sleek Black
Although it doesn’t suit everybody, black paint for the ceiling is halfway to a contemporary result. Besides adding a sleek feel of modern air to the basement, a black ceiling combines outstandingly well with other neutrals, enhancing the effect. It serves as a perfect neutral source that directs all the attention to the bright accents of the space. The only drawback of this color is that it exposes the dust and cobwebs, which become more visible on such a background.
Behr
- Carbon Copy PPU25-01 – neutral black devoid of any undertones with a slightly foggy effect;
- Black – classic shade of black, nor too dark yet devoid of any sparkles of light;
- Little Black Dress PPU24-23 – intense shade o black penetrated by a few particles of dark blue.
Dulux
- Rich Black – a very intense shade of black that works perfectly as an accent;
- Black – classic black with its entire range of intense notes devoid of any undertones;
- Almost Black – black shade slightly diluted with a nearly noticeable foggy effect.
Natural Green
The environment can feel pretty draining in the basement. This is why an outdoors-inspired color feels like a breath of fresh air, and green is one of the best options to consider. Of course, we don’t mean bright shades that rather disturb the calmness than enhance it. We suggest you consider soothing shades with a slight hint of bright green to add visual interest while keeping it within limits.
Behr
- Vine Leaf N400-7 – coolish shade of dark green slightly penetrated by particles of fog with an impressive natural appearance;
- Cypress Vine N390-7 – cold shade of dark green with a surprising gray resemblance;
- Seaweed Salad S370-6 – pale shade of dark green with slightly visible warm undertones.
Dulux
- Green Glade – a very pale shade of neutral green that seems more like gray with subtle green notes;
- Crushed Aloe – another pale green resembling gray with green undertones enriched with a few warm notes;
- Everglade Forest – dark green, impressively natural and exceptionally cool.
Deep Blue
A perfect alternative to white that brings an additional sense of depth and enriches the environment with new splashes of calmness is undoubtedly blue, particularly the light shades. It is interesting to discover that both lighter and darker shades preserve this mysterious feature that redefines the style. Does it sound too fancy for a basement? Not if you spend a great amount of time here and want to set an indeed special environment.
Behr
- Midnight Blue N480-7 – dark blue with slight soothing notes for an exquisite sense of depth;
- Blueprint S470-5 – intense shade of blue with a quite soothing base and dark notes to add a slightly bold yet balanced accent;
- Sparkling Brook M420-1 – very light blue diluted with a few light green splashes for a fabulous effect of natural freshness.
Dulux
- Breton Blue – fascinating shade of dark blue, perfectly resembling naval blue in its full intensity;
- Sapphire Splendour – very dark blue with hypnotizing deep notes that will instantly spread all over the space;
- Frosted Lake – pale shade of light blue covered by a frosty veil of cool scents for a breath of fresh air.
Vibrant Yellow
One may assume it is pretty bold to go with a yellow ceiling in the basement. It seems this way only the first time you hear the idea. Once you find out what opportunities this bright accent brings and see how it works in practice, you simply fall in love with this design solution. Even an overly simple design that puts an accent on functionality will be filled with energy and positivity, although without risking the overall minimalist arrangement. One should note that such a color works particularly for those who want to make a playing area for their children out of their basement.
Behr
- Laser Lemon P290-7 – an extra bright shade of yellow with juicy scents and eye-catching notes;
- Radiant Sun P310-6 – a slightly soothing variation of a bright yellow shade that feels both vibrant and soothing;
- Solarium P310-7 – a shade slightly darker than the previous one that impresses with its pale notes, which are not that peculiar to bright colors.
Dulux
- Spring Breeze 3 – pastel yellow devoid of undertones yet full of invigoration and ease;
- Sun Dust 2 – pastel yellow with a few slightly more intense hidden notes, pleasing to the eye but not devoid of its boldness;
- Banana Dream 1 – soothing shade of yellow replicating a pale variation of a ripe banana.
