Color suggestion for basement piping

11 years ago

I'm currently fixing up an older basement and it's some work off before it's time to paint, but I've begun thinking about colors. Throughout the basement there is piping beneath the ceiling and in one room running down the wall.

My idea is paint the pipes in all the rooms the same color, as to create a sense of cohesion in the design, so I'm hoping for a few suggestions or guidelines on what to consider. Lowering the ceiling is not an option, so my reasoning is that you can't simply hide it, so might as well make it be a feature of its own; as if to "admit" having them, instead of trying to hide it by painting them the same color as the wall/ceiling.

While no colors have been decided for walls or floors, there are a few things to keep in mind. In one room, there is brown, dark wood paneling on the walls, which will stay. In general, I expect to use a fair amount of white to maximize the daylight that comes in through the windows (long, flat ones hanging relatively high up on the walls).

I hope you'll help me and I'll check back later to answer any questions that may arise.
Thank you for your time :).

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Comments (5)

ritting28
11 years ago
Paint the ceiling pipes the same color as the ceiling. Paint the other pipes a fun accent color used elsewhere in the room.
Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
11 years ago
I agree with prior poster to paint the ceiling same color as ceiling. Good for you for using white to brighten up the space! Another way to do that is to add lots of reflective surfaces including mirrors, lamp bases, mirrored furniture, art frames, vases, and knick knacks. A color such as light yellow may brighten up the space as well.
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Mark
Original Author
11 years ago
The ceiling pipes being the same color as the ceiling may not be a bad idea, it will make sure the vertical pipes can stand out and it won't feel random. Is that the reasoning behind it, or is there another one?

Regarding "fun accent color", do you have any suggestions that works with many colors? I'm not opposed to using bright colors, but I would like a very adaptable one that works both in a living room/bathroom/hallway and again, works not just in one color combo.

There were a lot of things in storage (read: things to throw out that was never thrown out), including several mirrors that I expect to use around the place.
The basement has windows directly to the outside, they're about 40 cm (15,7 inches) tall, and varies in width. It brings in some natural light, but I definitely want to bounce it around to maximize the way it's used :).
btydrvn
11 years ago
The success of a fun accent color is dependent on so many factors that are unknown especially without pictures ...are they interesting enough or located well to call attention to? Would boxing them in a thin material be a better option? Is the decor open to an artsy paint job..stripes or camouflage or wood grain for example? Could they be re-purposed with lighting? Perhaps clip on or uplights to increase ambiance and general brightness in the room? One last remark regarding the paneling...do you love the dark wood? If not consider painting it a lighter color
Mark
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for some things to think about. I realize I haven't supplied the most detailed post, but having these things to consider helps.
Once I get to painting, I might consider painting the paneling, but as it is textured and not just entirely smooth, it seems like annoying work (and I'm doing this project alone in my spare time). I don't hate the dark wood color, I just don't love it. But it is a rare thing to have paneling here in Denmark, and family members likes it, so I think it will stay like it is, for the time being anyway.

I'll walk through and think about the pipes placement and whether it will draw your eyes anywhere worthwhile or if it might be better to try to blend them into the background.
Boxing them in.. wouldn't that just result in having a box instead of a pipe running through the room?
Using them for lighting may be a good option, however, but that still makes me wonder if they should be accent colors or blended into the background and let light take the stage.

I don't have any pictures right this moment, but again, thanks for the things to think about.