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. Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149.
Broker Sheila Trichter's go-to ceiling shade is Super White OC-152 by Benjamin Moore because it doesn't clash with other paint colors. “As the name indicates, it is really white and will contrast nicely with any other white or color that you may use on your walls,” she says.
Evidently, white ceiling paint is everyone's favorite, and for good reason. Certainly, it can illuminate any room. Further, matching your walls to the ceiling creates a cohesive and clean look. At the same time, it can double the size of a room visually.
'There is no right or wrong answer as to what color a ceiling should be painted; it all depends on the room and your preferences,' says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore. 'White can definitely give the illusion of a higher ceiling, but don't be afraid to deviate from the norm and step outside your comfort zone.
Yes, for a cohesive design that celebrates a favorite color
Whether you embrace colorful room ideas and create a bold, color-drenched look, or use white across the walls and ceiling for timeless white room ideas, a matched design can be both impactful and subtle.
Although a flat finish is most popular, more ceiling paint finishes are available: Eggshell finish: After flat, eggshell finish is the next most popular ceiling paint finish. Eggshell paints offer a low sheen while still absorbing most light and hiding ceiling imperfections.
Ceilings should almost always be painted in a flat, matte acrylic paint. The reason for this is that: Flat paint will not reflect light or draw attention away from the wall and room furnishings. Ceilings don't receive much wear and tear, so a glossy, durable paint is not necessary.
Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator's White OC-149. Check out our most popular whites on the White Color Family page, then head to your local Benjamin Moore retailer to buy a paint sample: We always recommend you “live” with any color before you buy it-even white!
Most painters prefer Pure White as a trim and ceiling color because it has more pigment and is easier to paint with than High Reflective White. Designers prefer Pure White because that slight splash of warmth makes it more forgiving to pair with other colors, and it looks better with earthier finishes than HRW.
Follow these guidelines for every kind of paint job: One coat for ceilings (high-quality paint) if it's the same colour, but two if it's textured material or a different colour. Two coats plus one extra coat of primer for newly plastered walls or drywalls.
Paint your ceiling the same color as your walls.
This will draw the eye up, which creates the illusion of a larger room and higher ceilings. Bonus if you're able to install some trim and crown molding, as I've found this can also make the ceilings look higher.
Light Colors
White works well, but you could also use colors like beige, grey, or pastels like yellow or blush. Consider these popular options: 0021 Barely White, a cool off-white hue. 1070 Peony Prize, a soft delicate pink.
Joanna Gaines, former HGTV fixer-upper star, is well-known for using white paint for kitchen cabinets, walls, ceilings, and furniture to create a bright and inviting feel in homes. Her go-to paint colors have almost become a trademark of her style, with white as one of her favorite colors.
Chantilly Lace: A Neutral White With Almost No Undertones
In open plan homes and contemporary spaces, it's a reliable bright white that ties everything together. Use it on traditional architecture for a crisp, up-to-date look; it's a great choice for trim and ceilings too.
Yes, White Dove is THE most popular white paint color. With its versatility for walls, trims, cabinets, ceilings, doors, and exteriors, there's not much that White Dove can't do!
While Chantilly Lace has a touch of blue, Simply White a touch of yellow. It's just enough yellow to give it a warm feel but not so much that it looks too creamy. With that touch of warmth, even large rooms painted in Simply White don't have a sterile feel like many fear their room will have with a brighter white.
Therefore, flat paint should be your obvious choice if you want a saturated, velvety flat finish on your ceiling. If you ceiling has imperfections like uneven textures, cracks and joints, flat paint will surely absorb light and make them less noticeable.
In this case it distracts the eye from the low ceiling, because you look at the painting first, then the wall framing, which is, of course, taller than it is wider to correct the room's proportions. Clever right? The white around the framing plus the white ceiling also help push that ceiling up visually.
White works as a ceiling color a majority of the time—and for many good reasons—but other colors like red, blue, and brown can be used, too.
Pure White is a great choice for living rooms, family rooms, bedrooms bathrooms, walls, trim, ceilings and even cabinetry. It's truly one of the most versatile white paint colors out there.
A white ceiling will reflect the most amount of light and can help tie together other contrasting elements of your room. According to Sherwin Williams, white is the right choice, especially when the room lacks light. “While somewhat cliché, white ceilings are sometimes the best choice for a room.
Opt for a White or Neutral Color Scheme
“Light hues on the walls and ceiling can really help lighten a naturally dark space,” Schuster says.
Satin sheen acrylic paint is a good choice for most areas like that. Semi-gloss can be used if more water resistance is needed, such as ceilings in shower stalls. Most people choose to paint their ceiling in a white or ivory color because it creates a more open feeling and reflects ambient light.
Flat Acrylic Ceiling Paint
As the most common type of ceiling paint, this is best suited for low-humidity rooms, such as the bedrooms and living spaces. Flat paint does not reflect much light, which is appropriate for most ceilings.
A flat white is always the best paint finish for ceilings, as the non-reflective finish reduces glare from artificial lights overhead and the clean white helps reflect natural light around the room, making it feel brighter and more open.