Hi all, a while ago I posted my family room dilemma for feedback. I’ve since done some work to make our basement family room/movie room/game room/and craft area more functional and hopefully more aesthetically pleasing. I’ve built cabinets, sheetrocked over wood paneling, moved electrical outlets, changed lighting, painted walls and most trim (need some advice still), painted the brick fireplace—all myself!!! and just finished having new carpeting installed. Next we will move our projection screen & recess into the ceiling in front of the fireplace for a clean look. Then new furnishings…maybe. I’m posting before & after here.

My question now is about the sunken family room trim/ledge around the base of the room, which was previously carpeted and looked weird. I’m planning on covering the exposed plywood with stained wood or painted mdf. The question is what color? I test painted it gray to match the pillars but it seems blah. Would the charcoal gray be too much? Thoughts, ideas? The new wall is gor hanging art, which will add color. Otherwise it’s pretty gray!