Color suggestions for inside new, large workshop?

[riskyvt]

For those following my post in the Gallery: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11929

I am nearing the point of choosing an interior paint for the sheetrock which will be installed on the walls & ceilings. Lighting will be 6 rows of flourescent light fixtures. It will end up being a very well lit space!

I was thinking it would look cool in a two-tone paint, with an accent line seperating the two colors. Do any of you have pictures of shops that are painted like this? Thanks!!!

 

[Novadiecast]

I don't have a picture but I am planning a medium grey bottom with a white top seperated by a red band. I think that would look neat.

 

[bluesman2a]

My personal preference is bright white from about 4' on up, then a grey from there down. Gives the best of both worlds, white helps reflect the light and grey to hide the dirt in the commonly dirty areas.

Something else I had considered trying: use a semi-gloss paint, it'll put a shine on the walls which reflects light, but also makes whiping the stuff clean a lot easier too (this is what's commonly used in kitchens/bathrooms for something easy to clean).

 

[riskyvt]

Great ideas fellas! I had considered the grey/white/red stripe idea...that should look really nice. Plus, when I do an epoxy floor finish in the spring/summer, the grey lower portion of the walls can match the floor.

 

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Blueman has the ticket. No matter what color you choose use a semi-gloss finish to help reflect the light and is easier to clean. I think a full gloss would be too much.

 

[MXtras]

Yup. Satin or semi-gloss. Good advice. I would also suggest using exterior paint for the lower section if the area could see moisture - like from hosing the floor.

I also like the light grey/white combo.

It seems I really have nothing new to contribute here....

Scott

 

[bluesman2a]

I would also suggest using exterior paint for the lower section if the area could see moisture - like from hosing the floor.

That's a great idea Scott, I hadn't considered that...

 

[badhst]

Gregg,

I recently had a buddy re-do his garage, and I suggested that he use a black Nudo board product for the bottom 4' (4x8 or 4x10 sheets), paint the top half bright white, and separate them with a gray chair rail. His shop turned out really nice!! He also did the gray Rustoleum Epoxy on the floor. As for the Nudo board (www.nudo.com), I recently did my shop in it (40 x 50 w/10' ceiling) using 4' x 10' x 7/16" in bright white with a corragated metel ceiling (pole barn sheeting) and could not have gotten better results. The Nudo board product can be bought with or without a backing (on drywall, OSB, or plywood).The product without a backing can be glued over existing drywall or OSB or they make a wide range of fasteners also. It is the type of material used in car wash stalls, and restaurant kitchen walls and walk-in coolers. The main reason I used these materials is that they are 100% maintainance free (never have to paint, EVER !!) and you can hose down the walls if you want!! I'll be posting some pic's of my shop in the near future (still working on the shop lay-out and cabinet design).

 

[6768rogues]

Mine is gray on the bottom 4 feet, then a bright red 6-inch horizontal stripe, then white the rest of the way up the 14 foot wall. The gray keeps down the filthy look and the white reflects light. My outlets are in the red stripe with gray covers.

 

[ScSilverDak]

Using Gray on the Bottom would be a good idea to Hide dirt, with White above it, you could use a textured Strip or a piece of Diamond Plate to separate the two colors as well.....

Just a thought!

 

[the dude]

I went an off white (bone) on the top half. It is easier to keep clean, is bright but doesn't look stark white. The bottom half is silver metallic.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I was into a Chipolte (sp?) grill the other day and they had corregated galvanized sheet mental up to a chair rail. Looked really good and it would really clean nice and protect the walls from water, door dings, etc.... Anyone done something like that? It's the grey color many have suggested and 100% water repellant.

Now I'm probably 6 months from building my garage and 18 from finishing off the inside so I'm just throwing out suggestions.

 

[Ign]

White, white and white. I don't care if things look dirty, it's a shop. And anything white, esp high up, will yellow from welding fumes and cutting smoke. Not much you can do about it.

 

[BoCRon]

I had to be a bit different. My husband isn't fond of grey, but it was the best choice for the floor so I had to find a way to not do grey on the walls. Since I like British cars, I went with British Racing Green on the bottom 40 inches, a light blue/grey up to the ceiling and divided with a checkerboard paper.
Annette