When planning your next interior painting project, don’t forget your fifth wall – your ceiling. Choosing the right interior paint for ceilings, as well as the right finish, can enhance the tone of any room in your home.
White is a very common and safe choice of paint color for ceilings for a number of reasons:
- white blends well with most other colors;
- white adds a touch of simplicity to high-traffic rooms like kitchens and family rooms;
- in a flat finish, white hides imperfections that other colors could enhance; and
- white reflects more light, brightening rooms that otherwise don’t get a lot of natural light.
White ceilings tend to disappear, giving the illusion of height to a room and drawing your attention to the walls and furnishings. And because white comes in a wide range of shades with both cool and warm undertones, you’ll have no problem finding just the right white to balance your room. But as versatile as white can be for your ceilings, it is not your only choice.
Let the Outdoors Inspire Your Interior Paint Choices
If you want an airy, breezy feel to your room, look to the outdoors for some inspiration. Blue skies and sunshine make most of us think of open spaces so it’s only natural that soft colors like sky blue, pale yellow, light peach and even a very light gray work well on ceilings in rooms you want to open up.
Conversely, if you want to create a more intimate setting, consider going dark. Darker ceilings give the illusion of lowering your walls, making the room seem smaller and cozier. Although ceilings are usually painted in a flat finish, eggshell and satin finishes have a slight sheen that works especially well with dark colors. But remember, both the sheen and the dark color will draw attention to any surface imperfections.
Another option is to paint the walls and ceiling of a room one unified color. This technique brings a restful, soothing feel to small rooms and focuses attention on furnishings and other décor in larger rooms.
When it comes to interior paint for your ceilings, your options are limited only by your imagination.