If everything is in as good condition as it looks, I think the only thing you need is more and better lighting. I wish my basement looked as good.

Helene

Hi!

Go to HGTV rate my space, click on basements. You'll find more inspiration and pics that you can imagine! That is where I went when we designed our basement.

Elaine

I was expecting to see a dungeon!! Lots of potential. I would paint all the trim/woodwork in a nice crisp white. The current trim/wood color looks peachy or band-aid colored ... is that the look in person? With white trim you would have a lot of choices for the wall color.

Thanks for the tip on HGTV! I always forget about that one. @chispa - I am definitely thinking white trim. And YES the current trim and walls are band-aid beige - blech!

With white trim, would you go for a neutral wall color (something in the browns because of the floor color - or maybe even something intense or even accent walls) - I would be happy to work on accessories to add the colors. I am leaning toward red/aqua, kind of a Jonathan Adler vibe. Or maybe Missoni... but that is too pricey unless the Target line has some good home stuff I can use!

Most basements are tragically underlit. Light light and more light.

Whatever you decide to paint, use the same color for the top and bottom of the wall, rather than the two tones you have now. Right now, the strong horizontal lines bring the ceiling down visually and make the room look cramped, even though it is spacious.

White, cream, soft yellow, soft green for the walls are all good possibilities to brighten up the room.

Really wonderful spaces!!! :)

A BIG vote for basic but Fresh white walls and trim. And yes -- keep the walls in one color! Then add additional accents colors and patterns with fabrics etc.

Add LOTS of lamps -- both standing and table lamps.

Check out designer Candice Olsen's website -- and see if you can find the earlier episodes from her TV show HGTV's Divine Design that featured basements.

It just happens that I've recently been involved in rehabbing a basement (in a Sunday school, not at home) in which some of the floors (vinyl tile) are almost exactly the color of yours.

To my eye, the main thing in your basement is that the color palette is too narrow for the space to feel lively. (It's not exactly monochrome, either, but as large an open area asthis does not need a monochrome color scheme to expand the space.)

A volunteer who is a professional interior designer chose the colors for us, and one of the rooms with a brown floor is especially lovely. It has three walls in Pittsburgh Paints Antique Buff (an off-white that is similar to Behr "Weathered Sands" or Sherwin-Williams "Biscuit", and one wall in PPG's Donnegal, a muted blue-green (or a bluish grey-green), with a white ceiling and fluorescent lighting.

I'm mentioning this because we often think of warm colors for basement rooms, especially in cold climates, but a cool accent wall, as long as it is not too intense, adds a nice contrast.

@dgmarie - I plan to add lamps to the basement - currently it has a lot of recessed lighting - the photos make it look darker - they must have had it on a low setting when they took the pictures? I want it to be more of a living room/family room space along with the playroom and make it more fun for everyone to be down there.

@sureo and teacats - thanks for the idea of doing the trim and walls the same and in white/cream - I love that idea. I have been struggling with finding a "wall" color and it was feeling choppy, so that is exactly what I was looking for but didn't know it.

@okmoreh - you are so right, too! The space just isn't "lively" nor is it even cozy in a dark cave-like way. It's just downright depressing for me! Love the bluish-grey-green color.

Any ideas about that house?!! Should I paint that the same white as the trim?

Thank you so much for your ideas!!