• Painting the basement of your home will add warmth to it.house painting image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
  
  The basement of a home is generally the area that receives the least amount of light. Whether you use the basement living space as a living room, studio apartment, family room or play room, you can freshen and liven up the basement with paint. The challenge is choosing the right paint colors, tones and type for your basement living space.
  
  

Neutral Palette

• One way to create a lighter and brighter basement living space is to paint the walls and ceiling the same color. The color should be light, as in a linen white color or a soft buttery yellow. The reason behind this is simple: Basements tend to be dark, which makes them appear smaller than they are. By painting the walls and ceiling a light color, the basement will appear brighter. This essentially lifts the ceiling and makes the basement look larger and more open.
  
  

Bright Colors

• Don't be afraid of using bright colors in your basement living space. While it's true that lighter colors may be ideal in terms of providing light to a dark basement, bright colors operate in a similar fashion. They freshen up the basement living space and make it appear more vibrant. Stay away from dark primary colors, such as red, and try brighter ones such as green or orange.
  
  

Stripes

• If the walls in your basement are relatively smooth, paint horizontal stripes on them. This is a fun and unique way to paint your basement living space. The best colors to use for this painting project are taupe or khaki and white or off-white. The horizontal stripes not only add a stylish touch to the room, but they also make the room appear larger than it is.
  
  

Stencils

• Stencils are a fun and crafty way to transform your basement living space. There are many different kinds of stencils, so you have your pick of just about anything. The main color on the walls should be a neutral type, such as a soft yellow or khaki. Use a darker color to paint the stencils on the walls.