A warm basic neutral like "Carrington Beige" from Benjamin Moore (HC-93) would work with lots of other neutral decor items like dark brown leather, sisal rugs, bamboo blinds at the windows, black-and-white photos (mat in creamy white and frame in darkest brown); dark toned baskets and dark brown shelving units.

Then add sparkle with dark wood-framed mirrors; silver lamps of all sorts and kinds (very important!) Oil-runned bronze items would work well too.

THEN -- if he wishes to add warm toned colors like saffron; olive green; darkest garnet red .....

Don't forget to check sources like Pier One; Craig's List; Ikea; T.J. Maxx etc.

Hope this helps to create a warm and welcoming home! :)

Jan

I don't know if you can pull up episodes of "Designed to Sell" but there was an unbelievable transformation of a basement apartment/condo in D.C. of all places. It belonged to a young man.

The gal who did it was that ditsy new one, not the tall blonde or the little brunette who's been on the show for years. I've hated every make-over she's ever done except this one.

She had it looking like something Candace Olson would have created. Used some silver like Jan was talking about. And that show's limit is $2000.

It was very cool.

I love this look for a guy. This is a basement apartment.
( link below) also for some lighting Ideas hang a couple door mirrors side by side, than hang up some nice thin drapery with a decorative rod. Inbetween the curtains and the mirror hang string X-mas lights. Get alot of floor lighting with brighter lights. Something like this is nice http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30124301

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

Here's a pic with the Xmas string lites idea

Here is a link that might be useful: faux lighted window

My brother had a basement apt. in DC too years back. He got a lot of stuff on sale, but what I remember liking most was the black and white photos in black or silver frames. Definitely get a lot of lighting, and my feeling is not to be afraid of some color in a dark space, just add enough lighting to offset it. To me, deep color in a dark space looks better than off white which ends up looking dingy.

Here is a pic of my almost finished basement family room in RH Dusk, a mid tone denimy blue. Ceiling will be black, trim will be a light tan, floors are light and carpet is light. It feels very cool and cozy.

We still need to do the ceiling, trim and add the overhead lights. All the furnishings were things we had. (The crazy lamps were bought at Target for $5 each and the rug was $125, it's wool and 8x10, from Home Decorators OUtlet!)

(Excuse my clean laundry on the couch)

Thank you all for your responses. Thoughts about paint color are especially useful as he will be painting before moving in and it's an easily affordable first step.

parma42, I found a link to the "Designed to Sell" episode and actually found the unbasement link before cindyxeus suggested it and the IKEA link is appreciated. Thanks for the simple rules teacat, he'll be able to keep those in mind. soshh: also good ideas for him for places to shop and the laundry reminds me of when he and his siblings were home!

Sorriso, have you looked in the Gallery? I've posted literally hundreds of pictures of gorgeous rooms in there, grouped by type of room. Plus there are color threads where folks have posted beautiful room pics telling you the brand and name of the paint they used. Very helpful! Here's a link for you...

Here is a link that might be useful: Gallery