For any room, all-white or off-white paint color is always a fresh and clean choice. Conversely, vibrant wall colors are beautifully set off by white ceilings. A white ceiling makes smaller spaces feel larger. For seamless color flow, select a white for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the wall color.
White (and by extension lighter colors) are popular and considered the “safe choice” for ceiling paint, and it's easy to see why. In addition to being a neutral tone, whites: Promote a fresh and clean look. Fit in with almost any type of room or design aesthetic.
You can certainly paint the ceiling the same color, but its a myth that any color changes the perceived size of the room. Color only highlights or accentuates what's there, it doesn't change perception of size.
White ceilings
A crisp white paint is probably the most popular option for ceilings, and it's not a bad safe-bet choice.
Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149.
White is a timeless and versatile color that complements a wide range of interior design styles. Whether you prefer a modern, minimalist look or a more traditional aesthetic, white ceilings can adapt to various design themes.
White makes your ceilings look higher and can open up a space. To make a small room look even bigger, paint your ceiling and wall the same color. When paired together, it blurs the boundaries, creating an illusion of height.
So, that's my go-to cool white and you can easily get the samples from Bunnings or anywhere to see if this is going to work for your project. If you need a neutral white my go-to is Vivid White. It has no pigment added to it and it's also often referred to as 'ceiling white'.
“A bright, white ceiling can create the illusion of more space and light, making a room look bigger than it is, especially if you have low ceilings. Alternatively, you could contrast the walls with a bold ceiling colour or use the same colour as the walls for continuity.
Start with the ceiling
We recommend you start your decorating project at the top and work your way down. Taking this approach will allow you to avoid dripping any paint onto freshly painted areas. Before you start painting, clean your ceiling, fill any holes or cracks and sand it.
British-born brand Lick is on a mission to make painting and decorating more enjoyable and sustainable. Lick paints are water-based, low VOC, and benefit from a high pigment content, meaning they cover walls and surfaces brilliantly with a rich and vibrant colour.
If your crown moulding is going into a room with high ceilings, you may want it to be the same color as the ceiling to make the room appear smaller. The opposite is valid for a room with low ceilings, as a trim in a contrasting color will make the room appear more spacious.
As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter in tone than the walls feel higher, while darker colors will make the ceiling feel lower. But that doesn't necessarily mean the room will feel claustrophobic. Visually lowered ceilings can evoke a cozy, intimate feeling.
Ceilings are not perfect surfaces, which is another reason white is a popular option – white has the ability to hide imperfections.
Haint blue is a collection of pale shades of blue-green that are traditionally used to paint porch ceilings in the Southern United States. Hex #D1EAEB is a popular shade of haint blue. The tradition originated with the Gullah in Georgia and South Carolina.
BM White Dove tops this list for good reason. It's a crowd-pleasing interior white that works on just about any surface: walls, trim, ceilings, cabinets, etc. White Dove's subtle warmth keeps it from being too stark or bright, while still achieving a clean, pure white look on your walls.
Sherwin-Williams Ceiling Bright White
Harris is so devoted to SW 7007, aka Ceiling Bright White, from Sherwin-Williams that she always recommends it to her real estate clients. “It's a bright white with light blue undertones so it goes well with most of the popular colors, especially the grays,” she says.
Vivid white is crisp and clean, and bounces light without casting any cool or warm tones. However, because it doesn't have any other pigment it can be tricky to get good colour coverage, so keep this in mind (particularly if you are painting over another colour).
Berger Paints recommends soft, neutral tones like white, off-white, or pale grey for ceilings. These colours match most wall colours and give your home a modern look. For a softer touch, you can also try soft pastels like light blue or light peach.
Ceilings are most often painted white to reflect light and brighten up a room. White ceiling paint is the most popular choice for homes. However, choosing to paint your ceiling a color can be a refreshing change of pace. A dark or light-colored ceiling is a great way to improve the mood of a room.
Gone are the days of the standard white ceiling. Now, deep earthy tones, vibrant primaries, and even multi-color gradients are making their way overhead. These colorful ceilings can dramatically alter the mood of a space, making rooms feel more intimate, energetic, or serene.
Often called the 5th wall in the room, the ceiling has a big impact on the way the room will feel. When it comes to interior decor, white ceilings have long been considered the safe and traditional choice. They give a sense of height and brightness to a room, making it seem more spacious and airy.
Painting the walls and ceiling of a room the same color can create the illusion that the room is larger. The room looks taller since the paint blends from wall to ceiling without the obvious break at the seam. This trick works more when you opt for light colors. Think about the lighting in your room.