Here is your trxt to make it easier for the folks to answer: We have a 1920's home with a drop ceiling basement and brown 70's paneling in most the living area, but the laundry room itself is open wood beams on the ceiling, with pipes, conduit, vents, etc. running in every direction, unpainted. The walls are exposed cinder block previously painted and dreary looking, along with some sad amateur looking shelves. The "living areas" with the drop ceiling - we will be spraying the drop ceiling black. I realize this may make the ceiling look shorter, but such is life. The drop ceiling is old and dingy looking, we've put enough money in this house and don't want to spend a great deal in this area, but it definitely needs a face lift. The paneling will be painted as well. While the rest of our house is traditional, our basement will be decorated more contemporary as our old furniture from our apartment living days is contemporary, but I think the key is to stay with warm colors throughout. The exposed beam ceiling in the laundry room will probably be painted BM Linen White, just to give a clean brighter look in there, but I'm guessing this will be a huge undertaking as I have to figure out how to paint around all those pipes. Not sure if the pipes should be painted or not - galvanized steel, copper, cable wires, vents, etc. I am looking for suggestions on a wall color for the laundry room, and for the other living areas. We'll also be adding some custom wood shelves in the laundry room which is a workshop/laundry area all in one, and I'm trying to decide if I should paint the shelving the same colors as the wall or the ceiling. Should they blend or stand out? We tiled the basement floor with alternating charcoal and light grey ceramic tiles that we got on clearance at a discount warehouse years back, a decision on a whim, so we're stuck with that. Going back, I wouldn't have chosen grey. I would consider this a cool/neutral color, though I prefer warm colors on the walls. Regardless, I have oriental rugs everywhere, so it will have a somewhat eclectic look I suppose. The laundry room floor is not tiled, but it will be painted with a floor paint. Suggestions? Has anyone done this? I have a can of black floor paint that I've never used. Too dark? The rest of my house has warm colors throughout. I like yellows, but nothing canary-ish. Some examples are P&L Popcorn, Caramel Tint & Bay Rum. Also SW Viva Gold. My friend has BM Pine Brook in her living room (interior decorator), and it's fabulous, I'd love to try in my basement, but I fear it will look too dreary as it's a deep color. I dislike MOST pastels, pinks, blues, light green and beige/neutrals. I love rich colors, nice deep reds, but again I fear it will be too dark. I was looking at my paint cans in the basement, and the colors throughout my house that look good upstairs, don't look the same with the basement lighting, and that's what I've read everywhere about choosing colors for basements, the light doesn't reflect the same. We have glass block windows that let some light in, but not really a bright basement by any standard. Most of the lighting is fluorescent (unfortunately), but may eventually be replaced with canned lighting...not sure at this point in time. My original thought for the paneling was BM Philadelphia Cream (a historical color), as I think this is a great combo with the black, but undecided as of yet. I'd like suggestions for paint colors, and pics would be spectacular to give me ideas. My basement really needs a facelift.

We are remodeling the basement, and it's come time to select the paint colors. Here's what we have: carpet: http://www.carpet-wholesale.com/item_142562/Rolls_Of_Carpet/Coronet/Easy_As_Pie/Creamsicle.php cabinets: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10141448/#/70038368/ sectional sofa: color is a moss green, very similar in color to BM 518 (on the same color strip as Baby Turtle). I need three coordinating colors, Benjamin Moore brand. One in the green family for the largest section of the basement. This color will be closest to the cabinets. I was thinking BM 514 Flowering Herb, which looks great with the carpet. I need a second color for the TV area, where the sectional will be, and will be seen from the rest of the basement. Something yellow, or taupe?? The last color is for the powder room, which also has a medium brown colored vanity and a neutral counter top and tile floor. I was thinking of a nice red? Any recommendations for a non-fire engine red? Any other thoughts for the powder room? Lastly, the only natural light will come from one small window in the sectional sofa area. The rest of the lighting will be recessed CF, so the lighting will be pretty consistent throughout the day. The painter wants to come in the next week or so, so time is of the essence in selecting my colors. Thanks for any and all help/advice!

I narrowed it down (with your help) to Cancun Sand, Raffia Cream, Cozy Cottage. I made my husband pick----------and he chose Cozy Cottage. (Raffia Cream was quite similar to Cozy Cottage- and Cancun Sand though very nice was a tad too yellow). I love blue of all sorts, but that' s me personally and our basement is a true basement - underground and no windows to shed light much less walk out. (Palladian Blue sounds heavenly) So it's Cozy Cottage!! Thank you- you have no idea how helpful you are. as I said, I can usually drag a decision such as this into weeks if not months and here it's done and settled in a matter of hours.

Hi folks, I just moved my office down to the basement. It is a large room and in addition to my office will serve as an additional TV room. There is a big TV, sofa, chair along with my desk set up on the opposite wall that I want to paint. The room is currently a grayish cream. I want to paint the wall that will be behind me. The wall will be decorated with shelves and art in the next few weeks and would love specific suggestions with the brand and number. The sofa is red and the chair will have a nice gray cover (it is currently green).