Expert: Ted Barnhill (Principal, Design45 LLC) - 9/11/2008

Question
I am struggling with picking the right colors to paint our basement.  I would like to paint the basement ceiling black.  Will this make the basement feel smaller?  What is the ideal finish needed for ceiling, walls, and floor?
Thank you!

Answer
Leslie,

Painting a ceiling black is a very aggressive design move!  It will certainly make the space feel darker and smaller.  If you are looking for a "grotto" feel - cozy, cavelike - this may be good for you.  In most basements, this would feel confining and uncomfortable to me.

As for ideal finishes, you want to stay with materials and assemblies that will handle the serious moisture issues that basements tend to have.  In most cases, it is now considered a mistake to build wood walls with fiberglass insulation on the interior of your basement walls.  If you can insulate the exterior, or can get away without additional insulation, you should cover the walls with breathable plaster or a cementitious breathable paint.  Ceilings can be finished with drywall, or you can paint the exposed structure/mechanicals (white is a common choice).  Floors should use a hard surface such as tile, rubber, linoleum, or concrete.  If you'd like a warmer, drier floor, there are interlocking dimple-raised wood floor systems that work well, which can be covered with many types of flooring.

Hope this helps.  Good luck, Ted.