Improve Your Living Space by Painting Your Basement

Do you feel like your living space is a bit cramped? Or maybe you just want to give some of your home a fresh new look. If so, consider painting your basement! Painting can make your basement feel more open and inviting, and it’s a quick and easy way to give your home a facelift.

Perhaps you are a homeowner who is looking for a way to generate some extra income. If so, you may want to consider painting your basement, and turning it into an apartment. It can also be a great way to help out friends or family members who are in need of an inexpensive place to stay. By following basic tips for interior painting, you can make your basement apartment feel warm, bright and inviting to your family, guests or tenants.

Before you start generating income, make sure you basement is up to code and you have the necessary permits.

What Paint and Finish is Best for Basements?

When painting a basement, it’s important to choose the right type of paint, to ensure a long-lasting finish. If the basement will be used as a rental space, start with a washable and durable paint. In fact, we suggest using the best interior paint you can afford, to minimize the need for repainting. After all, the cost of labour is higher than the most expensive paint you can buy.

  • If there are people living in your basement already, use a low odour paint.
  • For unfinished masonry walls, use a masonry grade primer and a flat, breathable topcoat.
  • If painting over wood paneling, use a stain blocking primer to prevent the wood knots from showing through the paint.

By taking the time to choose the right type of paint for your basement, you can ensure years of good-looking walls.

Should You Paint a Basement White?

white colour basement
Bright basement room

White is a popular choice for basement walls, as it helps to reflect light and makes every room feel brighter. However, it is important to select the right shade of white. Warm whites are a good choice, as they can help offset the colder temperatures present in a basement apartment. If you have plenty of natural light coming into your basement, you could combine a white tone with a bold accent wall to add some interest. White paint colours can be used to brighten up dark corners and highlight features such as built-in shelving.

Keep in mind, using the same off white paint throughout, will bring the cost of painting down and save you money for other improvements.

Should You Paint a Basement with a Dark Colour?

dark colour basement
Do not discount a dark colour when the lighting is good

Many people shy away from dark hues when painting their basement, but there is no need to be afraid of them. Dark colours can actually be quite beautiful and add a lot of depth to a space. The deciding factor again, is the amount of natural light coming in and your lighting system. If the ceiling is very low, paint it white to avoid making the space feel too closed in. You can also choose to paint the trim and woodwork in white for contrast. In the bedroom, you have more freedom to go darker, as long as it is a warm colour to promote calm and relaxation. So don’t be afraid to experiment with dark colours in your basement – you may be pleasantly surprised by the results!

What Colour is Best for Rental Property?

Most tenants hate the institutional whites or ugly beiges that landlords use in rental properties. These colours are often associated with sterile, unwelcoming environments. Tenants and their families deserve a beautiful home that suits their personality. To avoid driving tenants away, landlords should consider painting their rental properties in more appealing tones. By avoiding bland and boring colours, landlords can make their apartments more inviting and homey. A thoughtfully decorated apartment is easier to showcase and tenants will feel comfortable in their new homes. Maria Killam who is a well respected colour consultant lies these 4 colours for rental units.

light colour for rental
Light gray colours such as this, work well for rental property

Basement Ceilings and Paint

If you’re looking for a way to brighten up your basement, white ceilings are a great choice. They reflect light well and can help open up the space. If you have exposed beams or ductwork, you may want to install t-bar drop ceilings to hide them. T-bar ceilings can also be painted after they age and yellow. To create some interest in the space, you can paint the ductwork or bulkheads with an accent colour to create an industrial loft-like feel. So whatever your style, there’s a way to update your basement ceiling that will suit your needs.

The Basement Stairway

If you live in a house with a basement, chances are you have a staircase leading down to it. Basements are used for storage, laundry, or even extra living space, so it’s important to have a staircase that is both functional and attractive. Depending on the design of your home, you may need to paint your stairway area. Stairways are high-traffic areas used daily, and tenants move their furniture through.

For the stairway you want a durable paint that will withstand all the daily traffic. We recommend Scuff-X from Benjamin Moore. Scuff-X is a high performance coating, specifically engineered to deliver good protection and durability for the toughest high-traffic areas, such as stairways. There are times when you need to paint your steps and risers. For that purpose, you need a specialty enamel, formulated to withstand the abrasion of the foot traffic. With the right products, you can easily achieve a professional-looking finish that will look great for years to come.

For the stairway you want a durable paint that will withstand all the daily traffic. We recommend Scuff-X from Benjamin Moore. Scuff-X is a high performance coating, specifically engineered to deliver good protection and durability for the toughest high-traffic areas, such as stairways. There are times when you need to paint your steps and risers. For that purpose, you need a specialty enamel, formulated to withstand the abrasion of the foot traffic. With the right products, you can easily achieve a professional-looking finish that will look great for years to come.

White stairs to basement
Stairs to the basement painted white
Dark painted stairs to basement
Dark painted steps leading to the basement

Basement Flooring Options

Most basements have a concrete floor that’s meant to be practical and durable. It works just fine for an unfinished basement. If you are renovating for rental or recreational use, unfinished concrete is not your best option. You can install rubber tiles, ceramic tiles, carpet, even engineered wood flooring. Explore some flooring option for your basement in this article. With all the new coating options available, consider painting some or most of the floor instead.

Painting the Concrete Basement Floor

Prepping the Floor: Make sure the floor is clean, dry and in good repair. If there are cracks or holes, patch them with an epoxy-based filler and caulk any gaps along baseboards or walls. Once the floor is prepped, apply a primer designed for use on concrete. Some floor coatings are self-priming by thinning the first coat by 10 percent.

Let the primer dry completely, then paint the floor with a paint roller using an epoxy-based floor paint. Epoxy-based paint is not the only option these days, as there are more user friendly acrylic based coatings. For best results, apply two coats of paint, letting each coat dry completely before adding the next. You can add decorative paint chips to the final coat for a textured look. Alternatively, use a stencil to add your own design to the floor. Let the paint dry completely before walking on it or adding furniture to the room.

Let’s Paint Your Basement!

Paint your basement and improve your space

So if you’re looking for a quick and easy way to give your home a facelift, painting your basement is a great option. Not only will it make the space feel more open and inviting, but it can also be a great way to create some extra income from a rental property. If you’re interested in learning more about this process or would like us to provide you with a quote and proposal, don’t hesitate to call us today. We’d be happy to help!

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