Home Design & Decorating Decorating Walls & Paint

12 Best Basement Paint Colors to Transform Your Space

Find the right color to take your basement from dull to delightful

best basement paint colors

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest ways to give your neglected basement an instant makeover. Choosing the best basement paint color will depend on the layout of your underground space, how much natural light it gets, and how you plan to use the room. 

Your basement may be light and bright with a walkout door, or it could be a dark space with a few small, high windows. Paint a basement with plenty of natural light in a pale neutral such as white, beige, yellow, or gray for a home office or a guest suite. Try a soothing shade of sage green for a home gym or crafting room. Choose a bolder primary color for a light-challenged rec room or kids’ hang-out space. Embrace the moody atmosphere of a dark basement with a deep shade that will complement a TV room or man cave that the whole family can enjoy.

Here are 12 of the best basement paint colors to give your underground space a lift.

Tips for Choosing a Basement Paint Color

  • In a basement with zero natural light, consider painting walls in a shade of white to make the space feel brighter. 
  • Other light neutrals such as pale gray, soft beige, or pastel shades of blue or green can have the same brightening effect while adding a touch of color.
  • Choose a paint color that corresponds with the intended use for your basement, the mood that you want to create, and the type of decor you plan to use. Try a coastal palette of white and blue for a guest suite decorated with natural wood and rattan furniture; bright jewel tones for a rec room filled with a pool table and colorful games and gear; or a deep shade of blue, green, brown, or matte black for a man cave or home theater decorated with leather furniture and dark wood tones.

Overview

Color Family: Neutrals with a twist

Complementary Colors: All colors here are versatile enough to live well with other colors

Pairs Well With: Most colors work well with existing decor

Mood: Use lighter tones to create a relaxing retreat, brighter yellows for a kids' playroom or a teen's social space, and darker choices for a media space

Where to Use: Use on the walls, ceiling, and/or floor

  • 01 of 12

    Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray

    Sherwin-Williams Mindful Gray paint swatch

    The Spruce

    If you foresee your basement becoming a second living room, go for colors that are soothing and relaxing. Sherwin-Williams' Mindful Gray (SW 7016) is an incredibly versatile shade with cool blue undertones. It's just light enough to brighten a space, but not sterile or industrial, and goes beautifully with pearly white trim and light gray accents.

    Tip

    To choose just the right paint color, be sure to sample the ones you're considering, and take the time to adjust your lighting once the color you pick is up on the walls.

    Continue to 2 of 12 below
  • 02 of 12

    Magnolia One Horn White

    One Horn White Magnolia paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Variations of white will lighten your basement and mimic the look of natural light. That said, you want to ensure you don't pick a sterile or overly pure white that will make the space feel too cold. Magnolia's One Horn White meets the criteria. It's a warm off-white that feels cozy in any space, but especially so in a basement that needs an extra dose of brightness. If you're creating a basement bedroom or den, this is a great color to keep a light palette but add a little bit of comfort.

    Continue to 3 of 12 below
  • 03 of 12

    Benjamin Moore Morning Sunshine

    Benjamin Moore Morning Sunshine paint swatch

    The Spruce

    If your basement is truly lacking sunshine, reach for the artificial kind. Benjamin Moore's Morning Sunshine (2018-50) can amplify the feeling of whatever light is coming in and works well for an office, guest room, or playroom. This medium warm yellow hue keeps everything looking light and bright.

    Continue to 4 of 12 below
  • 04 of 12

    Clare Paint Good as Gold

    Good as Gold from Clare Paint is a warm glowing mustard shade that will brighten up a basement that doesn't see a lot of natural light while remaining more subdued than a brighter shade of yellow. Try this earthy hue in a basement apartment.

    Continue to 5 of 12 below
  • 05 of 12

    Sherwin-Williams Manitou Blue

    Sherwin-Williams Manitou Blue color swatch.

    The Spruce

    Blue is a popular color for basements, but it is important to choose a blue that does not overwhelm the space or make it feel too dark. Sherwin-Williams' Manitou Blue (SW 6501) provides just enough color to energize the space without being overly saturated. Try it in a basement kitchen, bathroom, or guest room. A brighter white paint trim, ceiling, and decor with this blue would make a basement feel crisp and fresh.

    Continue to 6 of 12 below
  • 06 of 12

    Sherwin-Williams Watery

    Sherwin-Williams Watery paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Sherwin-Williams Watery (SW 6478) is a universally appealing blue, with just a hint of a green undertone. It gives off a spa-like vibe and feels relaxing in any basement space. Reach for this shade if you're hoping to create a little retreat downstairs.

    Continue to 7 of 12 below
  • 07 of 12

    Behr Moss Mist

    Behr Moss Mist paint swatch

    The Spruce

    Behr's Moss Mist (S380-1) is a lovely shade of light green that appears more white in larger, open spaces where there may be more streaming natural light. The cool, earthy feel helps keep the color grounded and mature, but the slight hint of color adds personality. Try it in a downstairs office or bedroom to add just enough color to brighten up the basement.

    Continue to 8 of 12 below
  • 08 of 12

    Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn

    Peppercorn paint swatch by Benjamin Moore

    The Spruce

    If you love the idea of a swanky media room or lounge in your basement, Peppercorn (SW 7674) by Sherwin-Williams hits all the right notes. Peppercorn is a warm dark gray paint color that can anchor a basement without making it feel like a cave. Use it as an accent wall, a half-wall stripe, or even an all-over color with the right lighting.

    Tip

    The secret to using a deep, bold color is to accept that the room will be dark until it's lit properly. Choose adequate lighting for the activities in the basement, adjusting the lights and bulbs until you get just the right effect.

    Continue to 9 of 12 below
  • 09 of 12

    PPG Fuzzy Unicorn

    PPG Paints Fuzzy Unicorn

    The Spruce

    Turning your finished basement into a playroom or a bedroom demands a precise welcoming color. PPG's Fuzzy Unicorn (PPG1076-1) is a pale almost-white neutral with a subtle reddish-pink undertone. Paired with darker tans and greiges, this color creates a soothing, yet bright environment even if it is below ground.

    Continue to 10 of 12 below
  • 10 of 12

    Benjamin Moore Lyon's Red

    Benjamin Moore Lyon's Red

    The Spruce

    If you're planning a basement bar, get the party started with a red accent wall. Benjamin Moore's Lyon's Red (CC-68) is not too dark, not too bright, and pairs well with dark woods, black accents, and creamy white bar seats.

    Continue to 11 of 12 below
  • 11 of 12

    Clare Paint Coffee Date

    Clare Coffee Date

    The Spruce

    In a basement media room or lounge bar space, try painting the walls in an enveloping shade of dark brown to create a calming, grounded feel. Clare Paint Coffee Date is a richly pigmented shade of warm chocolate brown that can be paired with shades of green, brass or copper accents, or a brown velvet sofa for a textural and tonal look.

    Continue to 12 of 12 below
  • 12 of 12

    Farrow & Ball Off-Black

    Farrow and Ball Off-Black swatch

    The Spruce

    And for those who want to embrace the darkness and paint the basement walls black but fear it will be too harsh, choose a softer shade like Farrow & Ball Off-Black. This popular shade is classic for a reason, ideal for an effortless modern media room or paired with white for a crisp basement kitchen.

Determine how much paint you need with The Spruce's Paint Calculator.

FAQ
  • What color is the best for painting the basement floor?

    Many people choose gray as a default color when painting the basement floor because it mimics the color of the concrete floor. But you can paint your basement any color that you want using concrete paint. Choose a dark neutral for a media space, a bright primary color for a game room, or a pale neutral for a home gym.

  • What is the best paint for painting basement walls?

    The best paint for your basement walls is waterproof masonry paint that will help to keep mold and mildew at bay. But experts caution that even waterproof paint may not be enough to keep some basement walls from eventually peeling and flaking due to excess moisture. Be sure to repair any cracks and prime your basement walls before painting for the best result. 

  • What color is best for painting a basement with concrete walls?

    White is a go-to color for painting concrete basement walls to brighten up the natural light-challenged space. But you can achieve a similar effect with softer shades of beige or gray as well as pale blues, yellows, and greens. Or embrace the darkness with a moody shade of dark blue, green, charcoal, chocolate brown, or black to create a cozy home theater or basement bar