Neutral paint ideas for dark basement room

7 years ago

I'm trying to decide on a neutral paint color for the kids' playroom in our basement. The room is rather dark. It has 3 windows but they seem to let in more shadows than light.

I've tried out 3 different light, neutral paint colors, but they all look like the same color of purple-gray on the wall. Edgecomb Gray (Benjamin Moore HC-173), Wind's Breath (BM OC-24) and Pale Oak (BM OC-20).

I guess I need something with more tan and less grey, but the existing orange/tan on the wall is odious and I'm afraid of replacing it with a similar color.

As far as the bright yellow and greens on the wall, my husband wasn't going for them. (But I'm digging the yellow-green in the bottom middle).

If anyone has suggestions I'm all ears!

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Comments (3)

tartanmeup
7 years ago
The orange/tan on your walls is looking like a fairly lovely yellow on my monitor but the purple-gray is unmistakable in Edgecomb Gray, Wind's Breath and Pale Oak. Have you thought of a simple white like Simply White? The yellow in it is strong in certain lights. Alternatively, perhaps a mid-tone green, a bit greyer than the one you like in your samples. My advice? Play around with craft colours on cheap canvas before buying more paint samples. BM gets expensive fast. Also, live with the paint strips on your walls for a couple of weeks to see the colours in every light. (Had I done that, I would have saved myself $20 of test samples. :P)

Some BM colours you might want to check out (based on my monitor): Gray Wisp, Silver Marlin, Gray Cashmere, Healing Aloe (potential to look minty), Palladian Blue (classic but not very blue at all). Good luck! I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions. :)
Krista
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks. I took a look at those colors, and I’m thinking they’re still going to read too gray.

I started researching more warm beiges that work in north facing/dark rooms. I’ll need to get color swatches of Lenox Tan, Shaker Beige and Monroe Bisque to see how they read in that room. I wouldn’t pick those colors in a well-lit room, but this room seems to be defying my expectations!
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Krista
Original Author
7 years ago
OP here. I ended up convincing my husband to go with a green wall color for the playroom. Benjamin Moore Sweet Caroline 478. We did the adjoining hallway in Monroe Bisque HC-26 (seen in the upper right corner of the picture). We added lighting and rearranged furniture to allow the one window with light to not be blocked. The kids are really drawn to the room now!