When it’s time to renovate a space, most of the time, the ceiling is forgotten. Your ceiling may need some attention after years of neglect. Have you considered colored ceilings?
The ceiling, also known as the fifth wall, represents one-sixth of the space in a room, but too often, it only gets a coat or two of white paint. For decades, white has been considered the safest and the best color choice for ceilings.
Colored ceilings, however, can completely transform your room. With the proper understanding of implementing ceiling color, it could be the room upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
Color Your Ceilings
White is a popular ceiling paint color because it reflects light, gives the illusion of depth, and it’s easy to find. If you think your ceiling is a bit boring and just want a fresh new look, then painting it a different color would be a great way to brighten and modernize your room.
Ceilings make a big difference to the appearance and feel of a room. You may miss an opportunity to add excitement to a room when white is the color used all the time.
Adding color to the ceiling can enhance a room’s character. White is still a beautiful, classic color for your ceiling; however, there are many other exciting colors you can use.
1. Same Color as the Walls
Painting your ceiling the same color as the walls in a small room creates a seamless color that generates a calm and restful atmosphere. This would work well in a bathroom or bedroom. In a larger room, the one-color treatment unifies the space and focuses on the furnishings and accessories that fill it.
Ideal colors that would work include light gray, beige, pale blue, and lighter shades. Painting your ceiling and walls the same color removes the contrast between the walls and ceiling. If your room has crown molding, painting it glossy white goes beautifully with this look.
If you’d like to repeat the wall color on your ceiling, but want the look to be lighter, dilute the wall paint with white in a ratio of about 80 percent white to 20 percent wall color.
A same-color ceiling can appear lower, making a room with lofty proportions feel more intimate.
2. A Shade Lighter or Darker
A ceiling that is a few shades lighter or darker than the walls is a beautiful way to make your room feel unified without it all looking the same. Rooms with tall ceilings can feel cozier by using a darker shade above, while rooms with low ceilings can seem airier by using a lighter shade.
3. Total Opposite
The most colorful and unique option is to paint ceilings a completely different color than the walls. Applying a contrasting color to the ceiling can dramatically alter your perception of the space.
This tends to work best if your walls are a neutral color. Black, dark gray, yellow, pink, tan, and sky blue are increasingly popular options.
If you go with this option, tie in the ceiling color with decorations and accents.
4. Multi-Colored Ceiling
If you’ve got a ceiling with some added dimension, you can treat the ceiling to more than one color. You can use a beige and a dark brown to enhance the dimension already there.
Vaulted, cathedral or multi-angled ceilings are unique. They create depth and open space. Dark colors make the ceiling feel lower, while lighter colors create the illusion of more space.
Rules for Painting Ceilings with Color
- Light and dark colors: Ceilings that are lighter than the walls feel higher, while those that are darker feel lower. Visually lowered ceilings can make a room feel cozy and intimate.
- Light source: As with wall colors, consider the source and strength of light the room receives when you use it most often. Bright daylight bouncing off a blush pink or sky-blue ceiling creates an airy feeling. Candlelight and lamplight reflecting on tomato red produce a rich glow.
- Paint Finish: Ceiling paint is usually flat. An eggshell or satin finish paint offers a bit of reflective sheen. This is useful when you use a darker color. If you use a higher sheen paint, ensure your ceiling is clear of marks as they will show more with higher sheen paint.
Choose Your Finish
The finish you choose for your ceiling paint depends on several factors, including lighting, texture, and overall design. Below are some of your finish options and the best circumstances to use each:
- Flat – This finish is not reflective and has no sheen or shine, but it is also not very durable. This choice is excellent for ceilings since there is infrequent damage to ceilings, and shine is often not something homeowners want on their ceilings.
- Matte – This finish is slightly more reflective than flat but still not glossy or shiny. It is a highly forgiving finish if there are imperfections on your ceiling.
- Eggshell – This is a typical finish purchased by DIYers who paint their ceiling. It has a low sheen but more durability than the matte for flat finishes. Eggshell is a good finish for kitchens or bathrooms, where the ceiling may need more frequent cleaning.
- Semi-Gloss – Although shiny, this option is not an automatic no. The glossy sheen will highlight any architectural details in the ceiling.
How to Paint Your Ceiling
You will need to take some precise steps if you are trying to paint your ceiling yourself.
These steps are:
- Remove all furniture
- Lay down paper and drop clothes
- Turn off power to the room and remove light fixtures and smoke detectors
- If painting the ceiling only and not the walls, hang plastic sheets over walls to protect from splatter
- Vacuum the ceiling to remove dust
- Spackle any small holes and cracks
- Sand any rough spots on the ceiling and sand again
- Apply primer to corners with a paintbrush before priming the larger surface area with a roller
- Apply paint to the ceiling the same way you applied primer
- Use a second coat if necessary
Although there is more to it, these are the main steps you will need to take when painting your ceiling. But as with any other kind of home improvement, there are tricks of the trade and essential techniques that you should be aware of.
Ceiling Painting Techniques
Although there are different ways to approach painting a ceiling, there are a few cardinal rules and techniques to follow to make sure the job is done right. These include:
- Use a Stain Blocking Primer – Often, regular paint alone will not cover stains on your ceiling. Cover any stain or dinginess on your ceiling with a stain-blocking primer before painting.
- Sand the Ceiling – This may sound time-consuming, and it is, but it is necessary. Sanding your ceiling will help ensure a smooth paint job with the best possible paint bonding. Make sure to wipe down the ceiling once you are done.
- Choose the Right Roller Size – This is a trick that is often overlooked. If your ceiling is textured, you will want a thicker roller. If you have a smooth ceiling, a thin roller is best. The wider roller can pick up more paint, ensuring complete coverage for textured ceilings, but this can also make the roller heavier and more challenging to maneuver.
- Work in 5 to 6 Foot Squares – This grid work will help you get a smooth, consistent coat of paint on your ceiling. It will also help you determine which ceiling area has been painted and what is still left to be painted. But make sure to move quickly, so one square doesn’t dry before moving on to the next.
- Roll Paint in Both Directions – Once you roll on paint in one direction, immediately roll the same section at a right angle from the original direction. This will ensure you get the best coverage with no visible streaks.
As you can see, painting a ceiling yourself is a huge undertaking that may be time-consuming. It takes a lot of tools and equipment; if it is your first time, there is a learning curve. To avoid these possible headaches, we suggest hiring interior house painters!
High or Low, We Paint Them Both
Painting your ceiling a new color is exciting but takes time. Hiring a professional painting company ensures that the job is done quickly without all the trouble.
As painting contractors, we’re here to help. Our team can help you select the perfect color and finish for your ceilings. With over 30 years of experience in residential house painting, you can be sure that the job will be done efficiently and that the outcome will help create a room you can be proud of. We can also enhance your ceiling design with complementary touches like faux beams to add depth and character to your space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Color Be Added to Ceiling Paint?
Yes, color can be added to ceiling paint. Adding a bit of the wall color to your white ceiling paint can create a cohesive feel in your room. But remember, if you are mixing colors yourself, it can be hard to match the exact color later.
What Is the Proper Way to Paint a Ceiling?
There are many ways to go about painting your ceiling. If you are doing it correctly, it will be tedious to ensure no damage or paint splatter is done to anything in the room. Additionally, filling in cracks and holes, sanding, and vacuuming the ceiling may all be necessary.
The best advice is to hire a professional painting service. They will take out all the guesswork and ensure the job is done correctly and efficiently.
What Paint Do You Use on Ceilings?
Although specific ceiling paints, like those offered by Sherwin Williams, tend to be thicker, these are not your only options when painting your ceiling. Other options include flat latex paint and textured paint.
Do Painters Paint the Ceiling or Walls First?
Professional painters are the ones who paint rooms all the time, so you know their process must be the best. Although there are always exceptions, the pros usually start by painting the trim, moving to the ceiling, then painting the walls last.
