Homeowners and designers favor white as a ceiling color because: White Reflects Light: The ceiling reflects light as much, or more than the other four walls.
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.
How to Choose Ceiling Paint Colors. As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter in tone than the walls feel higher, while darker colors will make the ceiling feel lower. That doesn't necessarily mean the room will feel claustrophobic, however. Visually lowered ceilings can evoke a cozy, intimate feeling.
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.
Paint your ceiling a color lighter than the walls, preferably white. Some believe high-gloss paint is best because it reflects light and makes the ceiling look somehow less fixed and static, while others say a matte finish will help the ceiling to blend in more.
In order to give low ceilings some height, we advise painting them in light shades. Radiant white, soft cream or delicate pastel hues are best suited for low ceilings, as they open up the room visually, reflect the light better, and make the ceiling appear further away.
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.
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.
Before you tackle the so-called fifth wall of your room, make sure you're painting it first if you're planning on also painting the walls in the room. “You want to paint your ceilings first and then your walls," said Winters.
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.
Matching Walls = Sleeker Look. If you have an upstairs room or attic with angled or dormered ceilings, O'Connor says painting the walls and ceiling the same color is the way to go. "It can hide an uneven transition line at the slope and elongate the space while also making it feel very cozy," she says.
Homeowners and designers favor white as a ceiling color because: White Reflects Light: The ceiling reflects light as much, or more than the other four walls. Changing the color of your ceiling can greatly affect the amount of light in the room.
White or off-white hues are the most popular color choices for ceilings. If the walls in the room are neutral, painters often recommend tinting your ceiling paint with approximately one-third of the color used on the walls in the room. This ties the space together and can help accentuate the height of the walls.
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.
Flat/Smooth
The most common type of ceiling finish is flat or smoothed ceilings. There's nothing special to a flat or smooth ceiling, but that's exactly the point for many people.
Unless you are looking to texture a ceiling, rolling in different directions, or rolling against the flow of natural light can leave permanent marks. 'Believe it or not, you need to roll your ceiling with the direction of your natural light source,' advises Bart Caldwell, professional painter.
How many coats of paint do I need? Generally, you will want a minimum of two coats of paint – this is a good rule of thumb for any wall or ceiling you're painting. You'll rarely get a seamless finish from just one coat of paint, and even if you do, coverage isn't the only goal when it comes to painting a room.
Areas with high humidity will need a paint with at least a little sheen. 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.
Using a 2- to 3-inch brush, start at the edge of the ceiling and paint into the ceiling a few inches. Feather the strokes so the edge will blend in seamlessly once you use a roller to paint the rest of the ceiling.
Matt or silk paint for ceilings? It's generally accepted by all professional decorators that matt paint is best for ceilings (flat or matte) every time. Although there is nothing stopping you from using silk or even high sheen paints if you choose. You will never get a finish as nice as with good quality matt paint.
Joanna loves using grays in her homes for the main living spaces. Some of her favorites are Sherwin Williams Mindful gray, Oyster Pearl, and Passive Gray. Repose Gray is one shade lighter than Mindful and would look fabulous for an open living space.
Sherwin-Williams Dover White SW6385
This is Erin's go-to white paint, and the one she most often use on the trim (below) of her own home. 'It makes any room feel warm and crisp,' she says. You can buy Dover White at Lowes.
Kelly Moore Cloud White
Subtle and sophisticated Cloud White allows your furniture and home decor to take center stage.