How to Pick a Warm Paint Color for a Daylight Basement

Visit a paint store and choose as many free color swatches as you like--they're free. Look for paint manufacturer's brochures that include color ideas and combinations for interior painting and bring those home with you as well.

Hold up the paint swatches against different surfaces in your basement to see how well they work together. Take your fixed decor elements into consideration---those that are unlikely to change frequently, such as flooring, upholstery, and ceiling colors.

Pick a color with warm undertones, such as red, yellow, peach, or brown. Most blues, greens, and grays will be cooler.

Check the back of the paint swatch for the light reflectance value if you are concerned about making your daylight basement too dark. The LRV indicates how much light the paint will reflect back. Pure black has an LRV of 0, pure white 100. The higher the LRV, the more the color will reflect the available light.

Don't assume your basement paint has to be very light or pastel. Some colors in the medium-light range can be very warm and cozy without looking too dark. Some darker colors make your basement look larger, especially if you have a white ceiling, because it draws the eye up and around the perimeter of the space.

Purchase a quart of your chosen color and test it on the wall before buying all the paint. Colors on the swatch tend to look lighter once they are on the wall. Paint a sample on your wall at least 2 feet square, and look at it both at night and in the daytime.