IMO no variable color for bulbs get LEDs 4000K thats it. As for the rest that alone will help bring the true color out from the carpet . BTW gray is IMO still a huge contender for people who like cool as compared to warm colors It seems to me that is what you like so why not a nice soft gray it will actully bring out the blue .

You didn‘t mention what color your seating is; if appropriate look at a blue/grey, but undertone and intensity are important factors. If using warm white, be sure to inject lots of blue when accessorizing.

The opposite color on the color wheel will intensify a color.

It would help to actually see the room with the carpet

4000 k led in the basement. Yes........great for the tool shop behind the renovated space. . Are you doing surgery down there?

Get some nice 3000k led, and don't go higher or lower : )

My GAWD. It's not the operating room.

As to paint? You need to select in conjunction with the FURNISHINGS...... The fabrics ,leather, or whatever else is down there. A room, ( any room ) is more than the four walls and a rug.

Put an area rug overtop of the carpet and treat it like a background colour that can even change with the seasons.

If you want cozy use some table/ floor lamps with fabric shades. Exclusively using ceiling lights is best for a garage.

Thanks everyone! The major piece of furniture is a medium/french blue sectional that I love, and it does bring out the blue in the rug, and a dark grey media cabinet. My dilemma was do I go with a greyish/blue paint, which was my first impulse, and suggested by many of you, or a warm white with more "orange" undertones since the orange is opposite blue on the color wheel and would therefore potentially enhance the blue in the rug. But I definitely don't want the walls to look orange. Can't do photos yet as it is early in the construction phase- just framed out. Thanks for the lighting concern, I will have at least one lamp down there, but we are investing in high end recessed so it should be pleasant, and not like a garage or workroom. I also understand that other design elements will make a big difference, but we are talking about 1100 sq ft of carpeting so it will be a dominant part of the design. Just looking at swatches (carpet swatch next to paint swatch) I like BM Beacon grey... but am concerned it will read baby blue once up on the walls...

You're going to have to wait until the carpet is installed and then sample various colors. To me, the carpet you describe and Beacon Gray paint sound too similar unless you like the idea of a blue gray box. I think you were onto something with a warm white, although if you go too warm it will clash with the carpet, that's why you need to sample. Depending on the layout of the space, maybe there's an opportunity for a darker blue accent wall? Just be aware that you can't just paint any wall a darker color and call it an accent wall. When it works, it's great, but if it's applied randomly it looks odd. If you're set on painting before the carpet goes down, bring home a sample and get some Samplize paint samples and look at them together in your light with the sofa as well.

Agree that its hard to choose before the room is done but also understand wanting to start to put together some ideas - we did our basement in SW Honied White and it reads white but not stark - we have a blue denim sectional down there and the white looks great with it - i am sure there are lots of contenders for great colors but just wanted to throw out an option to put in the consideration bucket

It would help to show us pics of the room so we can see the actual carpet in question.

Are the light bulbs in this room warm? Before you do anything else, swap them out and see how much that cools your carpet undertone. Personally I think 4000K is too cool, but many here disagree. So experiment with 3000K-4000K and see what you like the most.

Wal color: I agree that the opposite color will intensify the blue. I've seen SO many posts on houzz saying "help, I got warm white _____ and now my _____ looks blue!"

However, I don't think a warm toned wall is going to look good with a cool toned grey carpet. That's just me.

Do you really need to bring out the blue tones in the carpet? I think a blueish color would look better, like the Nimbus Grey that Maureen posted. Even if it makes your carpet look more grey, that combination would work well.

It's very difficult to pick a paint color when you don't have the fabric swatch and actual rug, especially if you are trying to enhance a particular color. Here are some rooms with grey blue rugs and blue walls. I was surprised that the grey looked so good.

You will have to get tons of paint samples and look at them at all times of day and night. It's basically a process of elimination.

Dulux Bright Skies ^ ^ ^

BM Hale Grey ^ ^ ^

Interesting to see this warm grey (with red undertone) and how it livens up the blues ^ ^ ^