How to finish basement ceiling?

[71T Targa]

We have an unfinished basement that I am going to make in to a bedroom and family room. It has a lower ceiling with exposed duct work so I was thinking about leaving it open and painting it all one color.
I was thinking white to keep the open feeling. My kids suggested black to give it depth.
I realize I will lose the sound deadening qualities of sheet rock or a drop ceiling. But I think it will keep it from feeling closed in.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Something like:

[Burnin' oil]

I sheetrocked our basement ceiling and have no regrets. It might seem a little bit closed in, but it's much more tidy than exposed joists. I insulated the bays as well, primarily for sound issues.

Although, that picture you posted doesn't look half bad. I would prefer a lighter color to keep it open.

[A930Rocket]

I think the white will keep it brighter and more open. If you decide to finish it off, you need to decide whether to find the lowest point and make that your ceiling height, or box in the ductwork, etc. and keep the finished ceiling up. You might be able to move some ductwork to minimize the boxing in or get it around the outside to have a tray ceiling effect.

Don't forget to locate and have access to any valves, etc. above the finished ceiling. You can use an HVAC vent of various sizes to this vs a panel. Looks better to me.

[azasadny]

I would paint it black or leave it as is, easier to get to pipes, wires, etc... and see leaks or problems before they get bad...

[gr8fl4porsche]

Drywall is the only way to truly get a finished look.
Without it, your basement will look like a basement as opposed to another level of the house.

Ceiling tiles are too commercial.

Painting of the open ceiling is fine but is not finished.

Drywall to your highest points and build soffits around your low points. If it takes multiple soffits to keep your ceiling height maximized, so be it. I am finishing mine currently and have many levels of ceiling heights. Turned out very cool. Very timely and costly, but very cool. Lots of angles and different heights creates visual interest.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by azasadny

I would paint it black or leave it as is, easier to get to pipes, wires, etc... and see leaks or problems before they get bad...

Yeah, what he said. A drywalled basement ceiling is a pain in the neck. But I would paint it a light color. I like the photo in the OP.

[VINMAN]

Do you need to have access to plumbing, electric, etc etc.?? Drywall is the nicest look, but sucks if you need to get at stuff. Especialy when you have to punch a hole or rip it down to make a repair or change something.
I did a job 2 yrs ago. The customer wanted drywall, but I also ended up putting in about 20 access panels. Might well have left it open.

I like the look in the original photo.

[cbush]

I have done both acoustic tile and sheetrock. It is easy enough to start out with the white paint, and if ultimately that doesn't make it finished enough, you can take the next step. As everyone states, sheetrock has the best look. In my last house, I walled off the portion of my basement with most of the utilities and plumbing, and just sheetrocked the rest. Best of both worlds. In current house, that was not an option so I did the acoustic tile dropped ceiling. Leaves a lot to be desired, but the in ceiling lighting gives a lot of options with the lights and I do need the access. Also, occasional water from tub over flowing or such is easier to fix with acoustic tile.

[71T Targa]

My first choice would be dry wall and boxing in the duct work, it is just too low to do it all that height.

Then I started looking at pictures, and thought this look wasn't too bad.

I don't think our basement will ever look like another level of the house. There is only one window, and it'll be in the bedroom. The rest will make due with lights.

[71T Targa]

A during picture:

[R K T]

If it's a low ceiling and you paint it black....it will seem even lower. Could get a little claustrophobic or feel like a cave.

[UconnTim97]

For a basement, monochromatic drop tile ceilings look better and more modern than the standard white tiles with black runners that came with our house. I would have preferred white on white if I had done it myself. I have thought about painting it all white, but that is pretty far down on my project list. Finishing the bar down there is much higher on that list...giggity.

[Burnin' oil]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

A during picture:

I think that looks good. Did you do the CPVC plumbing yourself?

[HardDrive]

Leave it white. Clearly sheet rock looks more finished, but what you have is ok too. I think it would look way better if you put in better lights. Put in some track lighting, or something modern looking from Ikea.

[71T Targa]

Originally Posted by Burnin' oil

I think that looks good. Did you do the CPVC plumbing yourself?

These picts are not mine, just some I found as an example of what I was thinking.

I don't like the way they just painted the insulation in the end cavity. I need to figure out a way to finish that off.

I would do better lighting too, that exposed bulb doesn't do it for me.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

I would do better lighting too, that exposed bulb doesn't do it for me.

Exposed bulbs swinging on cords! Very retro.

[Burnin' oil]

Are the walls drywalled? You could run the drywall up into each bay to cover the insulation.

[island911]

How about fitting sheetrock up there, paint white, but don't plaster over the screws (or joints)... that way you will still have easy access to the plumbing/wiring/ducting...

..and should be easier than painting in all of those hard to reach places.

[monoflo]

Looks ok white,

You could hang furring strips and tile tight to the ceiling joist bottoms.

Takes away a bit of height but not too badly.
With a little creativity you can easily soffit around pipes and such and you also could incorporate fixturing.

Easier to fix as well as hang than drywall

Mflo

[71T Targa]

The walls will be rocked, right now they are exposed studs. Running the rock up in the joists is probably the best bet.

Will I have issues when it comes to painting the duct work? Any special prep I need to consider?