Basement Ceiling - Paint it or Drywall?

[_19disnA]

That looks unfinished.

I agree, it looks like the people ran out of money to complete the basement project and decided to paint the ceiling rafters, think it looks terrible. Asking a realtor is much like watching those TV home design shows. They will tell you want is trendy today regardless of price/practicality or functionality. Trends change and in a year or two something else will be 'trendy'. Unless you are doing this to prepare to sell your home in the next year, I would do what you want to do and enjoy your finished basement.

 

[NotUrsula]

It depends a lot on how much room height you will lose to the ceiling installation. Our basement had suspended ceilings but we tore them out because the room height was less than 7 feet with them in place. We haven't gotten around to painting the ceiling because the room is only semi-finished for utility use, at least, AFAIC. (Previous owner's adult children moved back in and lived in the basement, but the space is not actually dry, so I don't consider it a living area.)

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

That looks unfinished.

I don't disagree, but I think it also depends on the type of room you are talking about. If it was a fully finished basement with legal bedrooms and/or a walkout it probably would look odd to not have the ceiling drywalled. In a typical basement that is a big open space likely to be used as a rec area, "man cave" (I hate that term), theater, or something similar a more industrial look could be part of the design and not look out of place.

I'm also an engineering nerd who thinks there is beauty in functional design. Industrial design is putting function way ahead of form and is completely in my wheelhouse.

Fwiw, we looked at 50+ houses (mostly through open houses... we didn't drag a realtor out to each one) after relocating 2 years ago. I can tell you for sure that the ones that were on trend had painted basement ceilings and went contingent within days of listing.

I agree, it looks like the people ran out of money to complete the basement project and decided to paint the ceiling rafters, think it looks terrible. Asking a realtor is much like watching those TV home design shows. They will tell you want is trendy today regardless of price/practicality or functionality. Trends change and in a year or two something else will be 'trendy'. Unless you are doing this to prepare to sell your home in the next year, I would do what you want to do and enjoy your finished basement.

Housing trends last longer than a year or two but I agree with the sentiment that you should do what makes you happy first.

 

[rwdavis2]

I would do a drop ceiling using 2x2 foot panels.

 

[jrmasm]

I don't disagree, but I think it also depends on the type of room you are talking about. If it was a fully finished basement with legal bedrooms and/or a walkout it probably would look odd to not have the ceiling drywalled. In a typical basement that is a big open space likely to be used as a rec area, "man cave" (I hate that term), theater, or something similar a more industrial look could be part of the design and not look out of place.

I'm also an engineering nerd who thinks there is beauty in functional design. Industrial design is putting function way ahead of form and is completely in my wheelhouse.

Fwiw, we looked at 50+ houses (mostly through open houses... we didn't drag a realtor out to each one) after relocating 2 years ago. I can tell you for sure that the ones that were on trend had painted basement ceilings and went contingent within days of listing.

Housing trends last longer than a year or two but I agree with the sentiment that you should do what makes you happy first.

On trend doesn't always mean attractive.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I love the look of the painted ceilings and would love to replace our drop ceiling. When we finished off our basement on our home (our home is 14 years old and we finished it off 12 years ago) we did drop ceilings. I wanted drywall and DH said no way. Thankfully we did drop as so many parts of the ceiling have had to come out over the years to replace different things; areas we wouldn't have put access panels into if it were drywall.

Our bathroom shower needed something replaced and the plumber came up through the basement to fix it. So that was a few tiles down. Same bathroom the wax seal was worn on the toilet and the toilet leaked to the basement below. There were a few spots on the ceiling tile as we caught it early and easy peasy just pop out that tile and replace it. We replaced our outdoor faucets as they were leaking, up into the ceiling again.

I would love the nice drywalled ceiling but it comes down to on matter what you do; it is always going to be a basement. Just that, a hole in the ground. Our basement has large windows that are at ground level and even if we had a drywalled ceiling you could still tell it's a basement.