Interior Two-Tone Question

[CHuDWah]

Some garages, especially older ones, have the interior painted with a dark band a few feet up the wall and a lighter color above. Is that just aesthetic or is there some practical reason for it?

 

[readhead]

Has nothing to do with age. Just a personal preference.

 

[Firebrick43]

There is some practicality. A darker color hides smudges and such from things (or people) touching the wall. A lighter color up top reflects light much better improving visabilty for technical task.

 

[kbs2244]

Firebrick has the idea
Wainscoting and mop boards.

Sometimes old ideas are good ideas.

 

[CHuDWah]

Has nothing to do with age. Just a personal preference.

Yeah, I've just seen it more in pix of older garages rather than newer ones, but no reason not to do it in a new garage if that is one's preference.

 

[rayra]

It's a trend as evidenced in the builds showcased here, but it's been a standard in older commercial / public buildings - as mentioned above - to put a darker shade in the lower 3-4' to hide dirt, smudges etc.

 

[bdbecker]

Its also a law/code in most areas that if you paint the lower half of the wall dark gray and the upper half light gray, a red stripe must be present between the two shades of gray.


(joking)

 

[6768rogues]

I have dark gray 4' up, then a 6" red stripe, then white to the ceiling. Gray keeps marks and scuffs hidden, white is highly reflective of light, and the red is an accent.

 

[sierradmax]

"gouges" in dark painted drywall will show up, however.

 

[Kaizen]

but the real question with two tone paint is if your floor and wall cabinets are all the same color or painted the same as the wall color its attached to

 

[ezriderga]

Here's a random picture I just pulled up. I painted mine several years ago and to me it looks much better than just a plain white wall which is what it was.

 

[vavet]

Here's a random picture I just pulled up. I painted mine several years ago and to me it looks much better than just a plain white wall which is what it was.

This is a timeless design and what I'm leaning towards when I paint mine.

 

[Oldbear]

I did "galvanized" or silver tin from the floor up 39" and then plywood to the ceiling - which I painted white. My ceiling is white tin. The light colours are for keeping it all bright in there. The tin at the bottom is there to protect my ICF blocks from damage. But the colours are just about what you like. I had thought about putting a strip of colour to match my workbenches or exterior - but that was canceled due to lack of "giving a ****"... It's your garage - build it the way YOU want it. My shop has a porch with barn board and barbwire - walls with road signs and beer bottles, etc. - not everyone's cup of tea - but it is mine.

 

[goodboy]

I like the two toned look... I did off white with grey bottom and decided to add 1x6 in a baton kinda look...

 

[bdbecker]

goodboy - do you have a build thread for your garage? I'm planning on building upper cabinets just like you have and am looking for ideas.

 

[goodboy]

No I haven't... just finished doing them... I'll try to get something written up here soon... I'm loving all the new storage!

 

[3504speed]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=822326&stc=1&d=1540438102


I used .063 diamond plate 4' up then LP lap siding for the stripe.

 

[3xpendable]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=822326&stc=1&d=1540438102





I used .063 diamond plate 4' up then LP lap siding for the stripe.

I like this space [emoji1303]


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[PhysicsDude]

Like others said.. in theory the darker colors hide oil stains and the like, while lighter colors help reflect light and brighten up the shop.

Realistically with modern paints I don't think there's anything wrong with painting the entire shop a light color, it definitely has practical advantages.

I myself really like the aesthetics of the dark/stripe/light scheme. It really shows that you went the extra mile on your garage/shop to me. Diamond plate on the bottom of the walls is very slick, and very practical.