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I am getting close to completing my shop renovation where I added a raised area in my shop where I will put some bamboo flooring (natural). The area is approximately 8'x12' and that is where my work benches and cabinets will go. Anyhow, I had to do some drywall work to close off a wall and add a pocket door to an adjacent room and now it is time to repaint the shop. what color do you all think I should paint the walls? Light would make the shop brighter but a darker color would hide any dust that would collect on the walls. It has got to go with the natural bamboo flooring a well. Also, would a normal latex paint be fine or should I go with something different for moisture control?

Thanks,
Scott

Black.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Black?

I know it is kind of a lame question but I am at burger king watching my two youngest kids run through the playset, and am a little bored...

White. Great way to add light to the room.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

Paint it the color of dust. Case that's what it will be soon.
Dan

I would paint a forest on the walls

But if you want solid color, I'd go with a sort of western red cedar/mahogany kind of brown. Fitting of a woodworking shop, not too dark, not beige.

Although white does make lighting easier, and is especially cheerful if you have a good window for sunlight.

???
White! Absolutely! (...walls & ceiling.) You'll be thankfull for the "bounce" (& mood)

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Dave
Milton, ON

I suppose you should be removing the dust from the walls periodically, but do as I say, not...... There is some research that certain colors on walls have a psychiatric effect to either cheer you up or depress you, depending upon the colors. You could search that on the Internet. My preference would be a very light color--white is fine, with some accents such as one other suggested. But that is more work. I recall in grade school, more than 50 years ago, the walls were all off-white, except one wall that the teacher could choose any color she wanted. Some builders have a very keen eye trying to match colors of trim, etc. If you use colored walls, the reflected light likely would screw up your color matching.

All my shops have been a light tan.
Brighter light, hides some dust.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

My vote would be white paint, accented with guitar plans and auto shop calendars.

With out a doubt some kind of white. The amount of extra light is substantial to say the least. Maybe semi gloss on the ceiling and flat on the walls.

L.

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Humour.
I wouldn't put drywall and paint it in a shop, but use either ply or pine to cover the walls so you can hang fixtures, small shelves, and anything that would otherwise be out of reach when you need it and take room in closets or drawers.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Thanks Guys, Seems like white is pretty popular. Though black would be interesting.. My only concern is that white will see the inevitable dust. In my previous house, I had white walls, which did help brighten the place up, but I remember that the dust was visible. Though I do have better dust collection now. The walls are already drywalled for the shop was established in an already fiished basement. Ceiling is homasote to help cut down on the noise upstairs.

Filippo - Nice looking shop. Nice touch with the crown.

What's the deal with suddenly wanting to hide dust in a wood shop? Tomorrow someone will start a thread on the hazards of dust and people will pile on with methods to eliminate each and every micron, but today we want to pretend it's not there?

My shop is a place where I do work. I want light. (I'm still not nearly where I want to be.) If I want cozy I go hang out in the den next to the fireplace.

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

Well, Filippo, I had intended to compliment your shop in my post. Very nice! And lighting sure doesn't appear to be a problem for you. I just didn't understand the "hide the dust" comments by some on this thread.

When I moved onto my place there was a 16X24' building on it that, apparently, some teenagers used for their hangout which is now my shop. The walls were.....black. Solid black. In full disclosure, I still have one wall that I still haven't repainted in my shop, so I have three and a half white walls and half of a black one! I've been trying to upgrade all my electrical with a new panel and EMT conduit run outside the walls and I have ten fluorescent lights ready to go up. So, again, my shop is not nearly where I want it to be. But my point still stands that a workshop is a workshop - a place to work - and decisions should be made accordingly. My opinion....certainly doesn't have to be everybody else's!

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

I don't have an issue with saw dust. My kids love it. My wider on the other hand......

I was merely saying that the dust shows on white walls quite easily.

I hope "wider" isn't your nickname for your wife! If she finds out, she may wind up a "widder"!

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Wes McMillian
Santo, TX
http://www.wesmcmillian.com

I don't really buy that. Which colour car looks dirty quicker...light or dark??
Anyway, don't really notice dust on my white walls ('though I notice it on everything else!)

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Dave
Milton, ON

oops.... Good thing she doesn't visit this board and read my posts!

Paint the walls white to reflect light.

Paint a fresco on the ceiling to reflect your inner Leo.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Dang, Filippo! Now that Hesh is not around, YOU had to come by and make us all feel bad about how messy our own shop is!

(and that's a sarcasm clap, by the way!)

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

My walls are the color of dirt and dust, with white metal siding underneath, and 2x4's over that, which hold my roof up. It is a shed after all. A guy I know bought a house last year and the very top floor was perfect for a shop. The walls were baby blue. Here's a pic.

how bout purple rain?

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.

PINK. They say it tames the anger But mine are white to reflect the most light. You can never have enough light when building guitars.

How about Brazillian Rosewood Veneer on the walls and Crown Molding in Spanish Cedar for the aroma....

Seriously though, I will consider white. I can get a feel for white once I primer the walls and go for there. But what color do I paint the baseboards?

Thanks guys, this has been an entertaining thread. I was bored at burger king and didn't think I would get a response, now I got my first two page thread!