You have a good room to do anything with it you want. Are you getting a new couch, a flat screen TV, and how much seating do you need? I guess I would paint the walls a soft yellow/cream. Wood on the floor or if cement is cold, a commercial grade carpet. Can you move your TV? If so, I would try putting your couch in front of the windows, using the ledge like a console table with lamps, plants, etc. Then put the TV on a corner console just right of where it is now. If you can, get two or three bookcases (like the one you have) and put them where the couch is now and get an easy chair/recliner to put in the corner where the bookcase is now. A lamp and table or a floor lamp beside the recliner should make a comfortable room.

Erinsean, yes the couch is going. It was too big for the space from the beginning! We have a flat screen tv for this space but other than that I was starting new. I am planning on the wood tile floor but an area rug as well. The floor does get cold being below grade. I would like seating for at least 5 so maybe a small sectional? I like the soft yellow color, I think the lighter color will brighten up the room. Would doing the top one color and the bottom another, even a darker version work? It seems the room is not big enough for that.

Wood-look tile is a great idea. Bring dark blue in with wall decor and accessories.

Consider Popular Gray SW, a versatile warm gray, for the walls (no 2-tone).

I like the Popular grey also. That will let me bring I the blue that we started with, not that I'm stuck on it. I have had a couch against every wall over the years. My feeling is that the room seems to feel bigger if the couch is against the back wall so either a couch with end tables or a sectional that covers part of the back is what I am thinking? I was think of moving the TV to the opposite wall where the bookcase is now (holding my working supplies).

We did our basement rec room with BM Filtered Sunlight. We did the trim with the lightest colour in that series. The effect is bright but calm. And we put down laminate click flooring (in a natural alder colour) over the cement. It's very pleasant on the feet and has stood up well to wear. Our accessories are dark blues and midtone rusts.

If the primary uses are watching tv and/or chatting, the tv should be across from the sofa, with additional chairs for more people. If the new tv, new bookcase and other needed supplies (crafting, movies, music) can be placed along one wall, the sofa could be opposite. Perhaps a set of IKEA pieces could store or display everything in an integrated line. The tv should be at seated eye-level or not much above that for viewing comfort. You could put a long smaller-scale sectional along the opposite wall and wrap it around to the far wall, making a lot of seating. If a door opens into the room, make sure it will not bump into the storage unit or the sectional.

Hang a flatscreen TV on the bookcase wall and put a pair of daybed/sofas in an "L" on the opposite wall for lots of lounging space and to sleep guests the kids may have over. Paint the room a very pale gray (Revere Pewter would work) and add color with a rug or with Flor carpet tiles. If the space is cold, you can add under rug heat these days.

felizlady, yes the main use of this room is TV, chatting, reading. There is no door in the room it leads out to a doorway on the left that is the kitchen and a staircase to the right that brings you up to the front door; then up to the main part of the house. Straight across is my husband's office. I was originally thinking of the wood look like gunstock but I have seen a few weathered & light colors that are nice, beechwood, and dovewood that would lighten up the space aswell. Any suggestions?

Beautiful dark blue ceiling...

Natalie, I love the ceiling! I always think of my ceiling as white only, growing up in the 70's with smokers ceilings and trim were painted white yearly. It would make the low ceiling feel higher. Something to think about. I did spend the last few days narrowing down colors for both the walls and the floor. We have it down to 5 for the wall! Stone Hearth & Pashmina(Dad), Baltic gray/light pewter, Horizon(daughters) Sea Haze/Thundercloud(son) So I think I will get some samples and paint them on the walls. That works best for me. I will say I am getting better at seeing the undertones in those tiny paint chips after a few hours or searching. I will keep you all updated on my progress. :)

Hi Ann---

So glad you love the deep blue ceiling. :)) It would look amazing.

Do you have the flooring samples? I'd like to see what you've narrowed it down to.

I'm looking forward to photos of the paint samples. Keep us posted...

Good Luck!

If CanCork saw this I'm sure he would weigh in on the benefits of cork flooring in lower levels. We spent thousands of dollars putting in our downstairs flooring and it is cold. If I had read his comments about the cork before, I know we would have gone that way.

The girls like this Dovewood, above, I just worry it will look more dirty than weathered. I like the Montagna Gunstock more traditional. Both are by Marazzi. The men have not said anything as yet. Not sure if thats good they may be teaming up against us. Cork flooring would be nice but I dont know much about it. We have had water only twice in 20 years but I would hate to have it ruin a floor. Our foundation is fine we just had a massive amount of rain, 4 days straight, and the water level rose there was nothing we could but pump it out.

You might look at luxury vinyl tiles versus wood look ceramic if the room is well controlled humidity wise. Lots warmer, softer on the feet and completely waterproof. If they get wet from a flood, you can pull them up and let them dry and re-lay them. You do have to account for level on the floor though.

The wood porcelain tile is the way to go, especially if moisture and flooding may occur.

I did check both those floors Ann, and think it best to pick up a sample of each and pair them with the paint samples before committing to a wall color.

Are you familiar with Floor and Decor? I found these tiles on their website; the colors and patterns look pretty nice.

several days of paint samples we have decided on BM-Baltic Gray. My middle child held her ground on the Baltic Gray & was right, once the color was up on a wall to see we all loved it! However, I don't think we are splitting the room with 2 colors, so she may have lost that one. Katinparadise, I have not seen that tile before, do you have a website to find them? I'm not sure they would work but I am just now putting in insulation, were I can. As I was prepping for painting I noticed the outlets were very drafty and one thing led to another ... no insulation at all! This house was built in 1959 by 1 developer so we all have the same issues as we start to improve them. The lower half of the split is below ground so it does run colder. I had already put up a door at the bottom of the stairs that help to keep the heat in during the winter but with central air is very chilly in the summer. This room is right next to the furnace room as well so I had planned on soundproofing 2 of the walls from the beginning. As soon as I get the walls done I will add pictures. Will gray floors be too much gray for a small room? With a rug, my thought was it should not matter, as much.

Ann-here's a link for Karndean luxury vinyl plank. http://www.karndean.com/en/floors

Hi Ann---

If you have a photo or name of the gray floor tile that would be helpful to see how it pairs with Baltic Gray. I wouldn't paint just yet---choose the floor first, then paint. :))

Well, my son had his wisdom teeth out this week so he & I were home a few days debating the floor color/ product. In the end, I decided to paint and worry about the floor, should I use ceramic tile or vinyl wood look or not etc, after. The men can not agree on anything these days! Again, not being visual, I need to see where I am so I can tell where I want to go. So painting first will not hurt me. I love the Baltic Gray, it makes the room look so much brighter. I painted the heat vents the same color so they would blend in. I plan on changing then to something more decorative when I have time to get to the sheet metal place downtown. The couch is going to by brother but he hasn't picked it up yet so I'm still moving it all over the place! It does let me see where I should place the new one. I am thinking the back wall below the vent, is better and I'm leaning toward a sectional.

Hi Ann---

Floor should be Porcelain, as it will far outlast ceramic (chips/cracks) and vinyl (warps).

I recommend bringing home a few tiles to see how they look with the new wall color.

Steer clear of anything toward a yellow or gold IF you don't want the Baltic looking more purple.

The wood ledge on the half wall might look better painted white to match the trim.

Hope this is helpful. Keep us posted.

I was planning on painting the shelf but it needs to be sanded a little first. It has a lot of lacquer on it. I was thinking white to go with the trim or maybe whatever, accent color I decide to bring in. That could be interesting. I will keep you posted.