Most ceiling paints have a flat (or matte) finish. A flat finish doesn't reflect lights and will hide most irregularities and defects in the ceiling.
On the contrary, flat paint offers a chalky, matte finish that doesn't reflect light. Therefore, flat paint is a good choice when it comes to applying on ceilings. Flat paint actually lowers down the light glare, making it an appropriate choice for ceilings.
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.
Most painting experts agree that using flat latex paint for ceilings is best. This goes for both light and dark ceilings. Accordingly, too much gloss on a ceiling may become distracting in a room. This becomes even more of an issue when paired with eggshell or satin walls.
Choosing a Sheen
Rec rooms and bedrooms will benefit from a sheen you can scrub clean, such as a semi-gloss. Ceilings, no matter what room they are in, have their own special needs. Flat, or matte paints as they are sometimes called, are ideal for ceilings in any room because they provide a smooth finish.
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!
Although bright white is generally considered the safest choice for ceiling paint colors, it's not your only option. There's a whole kaleidoscope of colors that can work for your ceilings if you're willing to step outside the box. Of course, a refreshingly crisp white is sometimes the best solution.
The choice between flat and eggshell finishes depends on the type of paint you wish to use. Flat paint is usually the best option if you want to conceal imperfections and avoid highlighting them. But if you want to paint your ceilings with a different sheen, you can choose between an eggshell finish or a matte finish.
White is the most popular ceiling paint color. While this may seem commonplace to some, there are several good reasons why white ceiling paint is so prevalent: it provides more light to the room, it always matches with other colors, and it makes the room feel larger.
This emphasizes the fact that, in terms of design, the ceiling is just as important as the walls. 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.
Satin Sheen Acrylic Ceiling Paint
Flat paint is prone to staining, cracking or chipping in rooms with higher levels of humidity. For that reason, satin sheen ceiling paint is the better choice for ceilings in bathrooms, laundry rooms or any other space that remains more humid.
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.
Flat acrylic ceiling paint
This is the most common type of ceiling paint and is best for rooms with low humidity like your bedroom or living room. Flat paint also does not reflect much light which is suitable for more ceilings.
There are a few reasons why your ceiling may be left looking patchy after painting. You may have used the wrong paint, applied too few coats, applied a second coat too soon, or used the incorrect equipment. It may be because you rushed the job.
Why are ceilings usually painted with flat interior house paint? Probably the biggest reason to use flat paints on ceilings is that it does not draw attention. Flat paint does not reflect light, so it does not catch your eye. This allows the walls to be more of a focal point in your room.
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.
Choose a lighter ceiling color.
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.
Here's a tip though; never use “brilliant white” emulsion to paint a ceiling, and always use matt, rather than eggshell or silk. Regardless of whether you take one of my product recommendations or not, flat matt always looks better on a ceiling.
Switching to Eggshell paint on ceiling, with or without trim adds an extra reflective surface that draws the eye up. Eggshell on ceilings also makes a room feel taller, and brighter.
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.
It all comes down to personal choice as to which is the best option for your project. As a guide, choose eggshell if you want a low sheen with a soft-touch finish. And for something with more luster, go for satin.
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.
High Reflective White is Sherwin-Williams' cleanest white paint color. It's brighter than Pure White and can be used as a trim and ceiling color with Pure 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.
How often should I paint my ceiling? You should paint your ceiling with a fresh coat about every ten to fifteen years. And it's best to paint your ceilings at the same time as the rest of your interior walls since the paint job requires moving furniture and obstacles out of the way.