Are white ceilings better? White ceilings can undoubtedly help light bounce around a space and can make a room feel larger and brighter if the walls are also white.
' '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.
A white ceiling will have similar effects to a ceiling painted lighter than your walls; it will allow your ceiling to disappear from focus and bring either your decor or your walls to center stage. A white ceiling will reflect the most amount of light and can help tie together other contrasting elements of your room.
White ceilings make rooms feel bigger by making the ceiling seem taller. They also brighten a room and make it appear clean and tidy, especially if the room is well lit. White ceilings are flexible, and they allow you to easily furnish the rest of your room without worrying about clashing colors.
Lighter Ceiling = Brighter Room
If you're hoping to brighten up the room, New York-based interior designer Mikel Welch says that brushing the same color and finish on the walls and ceiling might not be the best choice. "For increased lighting in a dimly-lit room, opt for a shade lighter on the ceiling.
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.
Light Colors
As such, most people using paint to make the room feel bigger opt for brighter colors that will reflect light. 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.
Naturally, white is an obvious choice for making a room feel bigger. It's no secret that light colors make a room look larger, especially if the space is bathed in natural light. Eggshell or satin finishes will help reflect the light, creating the appearance of even more space.
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!
It Enhances Your Decorations – Painting your ceiling black draws attention to any decorations or furniture focal points of the room and enhances them, particularly if they have. It Gives Contrast To Neutrals – A black ceiling will provide some excitement and contrast if your home is full of calming, neutral colours.
Research shows that white spaces have a positive effect on mood and energy. White spaces are known to help you experience restfulness, airiness, calm and joy. In colour psychology, white generates a sense of purity, balance and harmony.
To make the most of a monochromatic room, you usually want to paint the walls, ceiling and trim all the same color. However, sometimes you may want to make more of a statement out of your crown molding. Or make the room look a little cozier if you have high ceilings.
Even if you have a bold color or a soft neutral on the walls, stick with a white ceiling to make the room feel taller.
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.
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.
If you do want any kind of sheen on the ceiling, use the flattest sheen other than flat: eggshell. Little is to be gained by using a ceiling paint that has a gloss. Gloss is valuable because its binders create a smoother, tighter surface bond, making it easier to wipe dirt or smudges from walls.
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 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.
If you're trying to make your room feel as bright and airy as possible, opt for a bright white. Paint the ceiling the same color as the walls for a cohesive design. Consider using a soft light neutral for ceiling paint where you want to create a cozy retreat or balance out bold wall colors.
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.
For a Light and Airy Feel, Go Cool
But white can feel bland, and pastels can lack nuance. There's also a huge range of pale shades, both in terms of color intensity and temperature. Blues and greens, and grays, browns, and lavenders with blue or green undertones, can make walls recede and a small space seem larger.
And with simple, unfussy cornicing, they're almost always painted a standard trade white. It might seem unadventurous by comparison, but white has become synonymous with ceilings. After all, white is versatile, forgiving and helps to reflect light, making the low ceilings feel loftier and more open.
As a general rule, ceilings that are lighter in tone than the walls feel higher, while darker colors will make the ceiling feel lower.
Add reflective surfaces
Yes, you know that mirrors make a space appear larger. (“It's like doubling a room,” Curtis says.) But other reflective surfaces — high-gloss painted ceilings, lacquered furniture, shiny tile on a kitchen backsplash — have a similar effect, casting light and creating the illusion of volume.
From favorite paint colors to specialized design advice, Benjamin Moore's color and design experts have the answers to a common homeowner question: How do I make a small room look bigger and brighter? Lighter paint colors like off-whites, light neutrals, pales, and pastels give the illusion of larger, brighter rooms.