This time around I’m wondering what everybody likes for painted walls in the garage. One day I’m actually going to put the darn plywood on the inside walls. I have no ceiling in the garage and I’m going to keep it that way. The floor is just 45 year old concrete. I keep Looking at pictures of finished garages on the Internet, and I’m afraid that bright white is going to be obnoxious and way too bright. There are no windows in my garage. I’m thinking a really light tan color might work well. Any other opinions?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 400m,

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
I’m afraid that bright white is going to be obnoxious and way too bright.

Depends on lighting. If you've hung a bunch of huge shop lights, then white could be too bright. Especially gloss white.

But my garage is matte white, and it works well with reasonable LED lighting.

quote:

Originally posted by 400m:
I’m thinking a really light tan colormight work well.

If you're concerned about resale, then light tan/beige is considered "dated" nowadays. Pretty much every spec house made from 1990-2010ish was painted beige inside. White or light gray seem to be the current interior color trend (though in 20 years will likely be in the same boat).

whatever color you get, be sure to get the anti-mold mixture if you store your (wet) cars in there.

I painted mine white. I like a well lit bright garage, easier on my eyes
when working on something. I'm going to update to new LED's soon. May need to wear my
shaded glasses.

We have illuminate our garage to workbench levels at work.

Why don’t want a dim garage?

https://www.electricalmarketpl...nded-lighting-levels

Bright White is my preference until, that is, I saw a couple garages in a team's colors.

Actually they were/had 2' - 3' wide band(s) of San Diego State and another with Michigan's colors.

The breakup of the white with the color was very cool indeed.

White . Flat or semi gloss .

I'd do white because it'll help some with illumination. I wouldn't worry about it being "way too bright". Most garage walls are partially covered with shelves, hanging tools like shovels, brooms, etc., tool boxes....

Plywood on the walls of a garage are up to code where you live?

quote:

Originally posted by WaterburyBob:
Plywood on the walls of a garage are up to code where you live?

Yes

I just painted some bare CMU (concrete blocks) in my garage with white Dry-Lok. My house is built into a hillside, so some of the basement wall is recessed in the ground. I had noticed some water staining and actual wetness in one spot on the wall, after a few days of heavy rain. So, I decided to paint / seal it to prevent future occurrences of that.

Gray-White or Beige-White paint. Having a slight hue of gray or beige will cut the “stark white” and the gray or beige in your white paint will help absorb and glare vs. bright white.

My 24’ x 36’ shop is entirely (including ceilings and walls) wafer board (7/16” OSB) and I have left it unpainted for over 22 years but I did light up my shop with six double - 8’ LED light units, which for my shop with an eight foot ceiling works great.

Concrete is a cool color and beige is warm. Not a great pairing.
White with a few drops of raw umber per gallon to take the edge
off and help it cover better.
Then bring in the bad-ass accessories.

If you park a vehicle inside, I would use a mold/mildew resistant bathroom style satin washable paint. The paint store can show you several ways to cut the starkness of white paint. Because you have a concrete floor, a very light gray might go well.

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
I'd do white because it'll help some with illumination. I wouldn't worry about it being "way too bright". Most garage walls are partially covered with shelves, hanging tools like shovels, brooms, etc., tool boxes....

This. If you do any work in your garage, you're going to want it as bright as possible in there. You can't have too much light.

quote:

Originally posted by 92fstech:

quote:

Originally posted by ridewv:
I'd do white because it'll help some with illumination. I wouldn't worry about it being "way too bright". Most garage walls are partially covered with shelves, hanging tools like shovels, brooms, etc., tool boxes....

This. If you do any work in your garage, you're going to want it as bright as possible in there. You can't have too much light.

Agreed . I've never seen a garage that was TOO white , nor have I ever seen one get mold from parking a vehicle in it . If you have a moisture problem it's usually from another source .

We used Perma-White for mold prevention. Lowe’s will tint it for you. Zillions of shades of white.

Looks like white is still the popular vote. Thanks all.

Concrete block home. When I moved into my house the garage was painted tan / beige. I hated it. I painted it a light gray. Works great from a lighting standpoint. But doesn't show marks or dirt like white would.