To Paint Ceilings White OR To Not Paint Ceilings White -- that is the question. Like or Dislike?!

  112 answers
  • KMS Woodworks KMS Woodworks on Apr 16, 2012
    Unless you are working with a natural wood ceiling...they are almost always painted...the real question is...is it painted basic white, the color of the walls or something completely different. I have seen some great rooms done where the ceiling is painted a sky blue...I love that look.
  • This has been the "new" accent wall for several years. In the right room, with the right furnishings, we really like this. Especially with a faux finish and the color being brought into the room in a few other (sometimes surprising) places. A couple purple touches in the room pictured could really make this ceiling flow with the rest of the room. Even incorporating some mirrored furnishings can reflect the decorative ceiling color all around the room!
  • Leslie D Leslie D on Apr 16, 2012
    I love it! I have painted the ceilings a coodinating color in several of the rooms in my house, although I have't gone this bold. I agree with AK...bring a little more of that color into the room...perhaps in some drapes, or a runner on the table, or the floor.
  • Project Style, LLC Project Style, LLC on Apr 16, 2012
    The girls at Project Style love painted ceilings! They can make a huge difference in the space!
  • Leida R Leida R on Apr 16, 2012
    SURPRISE to see this here, and I LOVE IT!!! I did the same thing and with the same color to the ceiling (of what was then my daughter's beauty salon) about two years ago. How IRONIC!!! Lol!!!
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Apr 16, 2012
    LOVE - A purple fifth wall - creative and inspiring.
  • Peace Painting Co., Inc. Peace Painting Co., Inc. on Apr 16, 2012
    I like ceiling a color too, especially the blue. I hope to put up a pic soon as well.
  • Pat S Pat S on Apr 16, 2012
    I've been the crazy one painting ceilings another color since 1980... I just did my kitchen ceiling a light yellow and it is so sunshiney bright! I like it so much I hope it does the same to my living room.
  • Sheila G Sheila G on Apr 17, 2012
    wow, purple is a great bold statement...never would have thought of that, looks terrific!
  • PK H PK H on Apr 17, 2012
    I love it! That color defines the whole room without over powering it! I don't like the look of an accent wall but an accent ceiliing, WOW!
  • Kerri D Kerri D on Apr 17, 2012
    love it!!
  • Pam R Pam R on Apr 17, 2012
    I love It! And purple is one of my favorite colors...The color of prosperity and wealth. Remember it is called the 5th wall...so why not paint it
  • Kimberly T Kimberly T on Apr 17, 2012
    I love it, can you come do my dinning room?
  • Danita H Danita H on Apr 17, 2012
    my bathroom ceiling is purple and I LOVE IT!
  • Janet C Janet C on Apr 17, 2012
    Love it!!
  • Diane T Diane T on Apr 17, 2012
    Definite NO. I like the idea of a painted ceiling, but not THAT color. Yechh.
  • Anne B Anne B on Apr 17, 2012
    Looks good in this space, definitely depends on where it is done.
  • Irene S Irene S on Apr 17, 2012
    i think it looks awesome. it is about time there are other paints used on ceiling instead o just white
  • Jeannie Connelley B Jeannie Connelley B on Apr 17, 2012
    well, i'm a purple person so i absolutely love it!!!! I've seen porches in the south painted a pastel green or blue so I wonder why people haven't thought of this before?
  • Ellen H Ellen H on Apr 17, 2012
    I love it. I have two problems in my 70s-era home that prevent it - too little natural light and texture on the ceiling. When you don't have those problems, I say "Go for it".
  • Karen S Karen S on Apr 17, 2012
    I love it with the purple ceiling. Nice to have coordinating accents to bring it all together.
  • Rhonda G Rhonda G on Apr 17, 2012
    It works!
  • Ellen T Ellen T on Apr 17, 2012
    Fabulous!
  • Ellen T Ellen T on Apr 17, 2012
    Perhaps a Silhouette treatment on the windows would cut the glare for daytime dining, but not the view. KM Trainor Group, LLC Jupiter, Florida
  • Lindsey L Lindsey L on Apr 17, 2012
    Love the purple. Wish we didn't rent so I could do more than I already have.
  • GINA SUSKA GINA SUSKA on Apr 17, 2012
    I love this!!!!!
  • Linda V Linda V on Apr 17, 2012
    Bold and bright...nice contrast.
  • Jim L Jim L on Apr 17, 2012
    'Looks GREAT! The ceiling in my living room/dining room is gold! It looks so nice.
  • Susan S Susan S on Apr 17, 2012
    I think this is dynamite!! There are actually six "surfaces" that influence the over all room - besides the obvious four walls. The ceiling is just as important and of course the floors and what sort of surface or carpeting is chosen. It all is a part of the room!!
  • Linda D Linda D on Apr 17, 2012
    love it !!! Was a high gloss paint used and would it look nice on a tex. ceiling ?
  • Erin H Erin H on Apr 17, 2012
    I don't think it works in most rooms, but this is one of the exceptions! Looks fantastic with the white walls and crown moulding. If the walls were painted in a color, it would make the room look tiny. This makes it look like high ceilings!
  • Christine W Christine W on Apr 17, 2012
    This works wonderfully!!! Makes the room just come alive and really pop with enthusiasm!
  • Carol D Carol D on Apr 17, 2012
    I like the color on the ceiling. I never thought of doing that.
  • Gail M Gail M on Apr 17, 2012
    Normally I prefer white ceilings but in this particular room that color looks beautiful.
  • Linda J Linda J on Apr 17, 2012
    I have a mid century house that has a knotty pine room my husband loves. The ONLY Place to put color was on the ceiling and with black trim and a red ceiling the room cameinto this century! I LOVE IT! -- The purple is great too. Get Bold! Do it!
  • Carol B Carol B on Apr 17, 2012
    Love it! What a great idea!!
  • Kathleen B Kathleen B on Apr 17, 2012
    I really like this...with the rest of the room white. Very pretty!
  • Vicki A Vicki A on Apr 17, 2012
    In this setting I agree that it IS beautiful.
  • Kelly S Kelly S on Apr 17, 2012
    I LOVE IT! White is boring and will reflect the color on the wall anyway. I had a white ceiling in a purple room and the ceiling looked lavender. I painted the ceiling light blue when I repainted the room med and dark blue.
  • JoAnn L JoAnn L on Apr 17, 2012
    love, love it........
  • Susan T Susan T on Apr 17, 2012
    I think it looks elegant!
  • Shell Shell on Apr 17, 2012
    LOVE IT! LOVE PURPLE!! There is not a single white ceiling in my house..... The living room walls are purple with a pearlized mossy green ceiling. Lighting changes throughout the day have some spectacular effects on the ceiling! Sounds weird, but I love to recline and just stare at the ceiling.......!
  • I like painted ceilings. I say keep it, the room needs the color.
  • Mary Alice M Mary Alice M on Apr 22, 2012
    Totally love this!!!!!
  • Janie S Janie S on Apr 22, 2012
    <3
  • Beverly H Beverly H on Apr 22, 2012
    I love it. There is enough white to make the ceiling pop.
  • Pam Pam on Apr 24, 2012
    It's perfect with all of the white and the ceiling height can definitely handle the color well. Great choice to do this. It makes the room. Cudos!
  • Elizabeth M Elizabeth M on May 02, 2012
    I personally LOVE a painted ceiling and I think this look fabulous. Did I mention I'm a lover of color too, this is just perfection!
  • Bonnie B Bonnie B on May 13, 2012
    PURPLE PERFECT ~~ ! An enchanting, balanced room that I would buy a new outfit for, if invited over ~~~ :)
  • Paticia G Paticia G on May 15, 2012
    I love the black and white - The pop of color ads interest and I like the look
  • Jan C Jan C on May 15, 2012
    Purple is my favorite color so it's easy for me to say I love this!!! Cool combinations.
  • Cathy B Cathy B on May 16, 2012
    LOVE
  • Edict Inc Edict Inc on May 18, 2012
    Looks great!
  • Kate N Kate N on Jun 02, 2012
    Love the idea of NOT white ceiling, but for me it would have to be a light or med blue.
  • Karianne R Karianne R on Jun 02, 2012
    I LOVE IT!
  • Therese C Therese C on Jun 03, 2012
    Absolutely love it! It goes against all things traditional and adds such style!
  • Juana A Juana A on Jun 07, 2012
    I recently saw an ad for Loews or HomeDepot with white walls and deep purple ceiling and love love loved it. I say go for it. It is very classy, dramatic and you will be the envy of your friends who will soon be painting their ceilings.
  • Priscilla E Priscilla E on Jun 18, 2012
    I love p;urple and most princesses love purple too. This is a great room.
  • Cathy B Cathy B on Jun 18, 2012
    My husband would love it. University of Washington color!
  • Building Moxie Building Moxie on Feb 13, 2013
    I think it is gorgeous... and is a strong argument that white walls don't have to make a space feel ultra modern. may reference in an upcoming post. thanks.
  • Connie Connie on Feb 26, 2013
    I am wanting to darken my bedroom and am going with an Americana theme. I was thinking of navy ceiling. The walls have me baffled. Should i go for a parchment color, taupe color, or a wedgewood blue color? I will be adding splashes of cranberry red in keeping with the Americana feel.
  • Building Moxie Building Moxie on Feb 27, 2013
    @Connie I love the idea of an Americana theme and I think your palette is pretty dead on, but I'd be very fearful of going so dark on the ceiling. do you have high ceilings? 10 foot? I hosted a "discussion" on this topic on my blog this week. I will try to post it to HomeTalk later today. good luck.
  • Jill Jill on Mar 01, 2013
    Looks fabulous.
  • Grammie Linda Grammie Linda on Mar 01, 2013
    looks awesome, love it
  • Jenni MacDonald Jenni MacDonald on Mar 02, 2013
    looks fantastic
  • Jim Jakes Jim Jakes on Mar 13, 2013
    This looks good. Lately I have been painting ceilings the same color as the room (if it is a light color) I want to do a gray stipple or spatter ceiling.
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Jun 02, 2014
    I love the purple ceiling, why mess with a great look??
  • Julie Collier Julie Collier on Jun 08, 2014
    Love this. It's beautiful
  • Joan McKniff Joan McKniff on Jun 26, 2014
    Due to damage to guest bathroom ceiling from condo upstairs, the ceiling needed to be painted. As I didn't have plans to redo that room at this time but wanted to take make good use of free paint job so I tried yellow to see if it would make a windowless room sunnier. It does. Bonus: this painting, leaning on a bookcase for ages, what to do with it. The new ceiling called for it. Hanging there now. Theme, if not timing, for redo set.
  • Cheryl Cheryl on Jun 29, 2014
    I think it's classy with the ceiling just like it is!
  • Jaime LaPlant Jaime LaPlant on Jun 29, 2014
    Wow! I love this! I would have thought that painting a ceiling purple would look terrible, but this is awesome!
  • Jo-Ann Girard Audette Jo-Ann Girard Audette on Aug 14, 2014
    Love it.... My living room ceiling is a brownish color.
  • Ceiling Tiles By Us Ceiling Tiles By Us on Aug 27, 2014
    Check out our before and afters of ceilings with ultra light diy ceiling tiles- you just might love this idea! www.ceilingtilesbyus.com
  • Katherine Vollmer Katherine Vollmer on Oct 12, 2014
    I love the way this ceiling fades into the abyss. Any dark color or black would do the same.
  • Cathi Gibeault Cathi Gibeault on Oct 12, 2014
    I painted my ceiling in the bathroom a medium sky blue, then a light stipple over the color, at nite it looks like the sky and twinkling lights, especially using candles with having a bath. I love it.
  • Carol Tomlin Carol Tomlin on Oct 19, 2014
    WOW ! Classy ! Love it !
  • Rose Rose on Oct 20, 2014
    I love it just like that.
  • Mouse Mouse on Nov 30, 2014
    LOVE this! Fantastic; I say keep it. Since your walls are already white, try holding your hand over the ceiling in the picture and you'll get a pretty good idea of what your room will look like with a white ceiling. I wish I had your high ceilings :) Unfortunately since mine are low (7' -waaah!), I've opted to paint my walls the middle color choice halfway down on the paint strip sample (you can go lighter by going further up the strip); with the ceiling color being the top (lightest) hue. My ceiling don't pop with color bringing them down even lower, but aren't stark white either. Very subtle and blend nicely with the walls.
  • Rosey Rosey on Dec 14, 2014
    I would leave it the way it is. Very classy look.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Dec 16, 2014
    Bold. Your eye is drawn to the ceiling because the room is basically white. Think a repeat of the colour in accessories in the room, etc. would help.
  • Paticia G Paticia G on Dec 17, 2014
    a wow look
  • Meg Hauss Aguilar Meg Hauss Aguilar on Jan 01, 2015
    We paint our ceilings every time we paint the walls. We tend to paint it the same color as the walls and breaking the color up with white molding trim.
  • Lori Lori on Jan 11, 2015
    It was the first thing I saw, in a good way, like someones beautiful eyes or a diamond ring. It is amazingly stricking and now I want to do it in my living room.
  • Loretta Clark Loretta Clark on Jan 22, 2015
    I like to paint the ceiling a lighter color of the wall color and break it up with white molding. However, a bold color can be just the thing for a dull space.
  • Rebecca Temari Rebecca Temari on Jan 24, 2015
    Love this! The color is an interesting feature in the room, especially since it is white. I think if the ceiling was white, it would not have the same feeling or character. Plus having the color makes the room warmer lòoking. Awesome choice that is classy.
  • Cathy VandenBrook Cathy VandenBrook on Jan 24, 2015
    Great look!
  • Laurie Laurie on Jan 24, 2015
    Love this table!
  • Jo Ann Rose Jo Ann Rose on Jan 24, 2015
    Leave it purple. It's super nice.
  • Connie Kitchener Connie Kitchener on Jan 24, 2015
    If you like something there is no wrong way or right way. Don't be afraid of trying something different and new. I love the colored ceiling. Thank you
  • Anna B Anna B on Jan 25, 2015
    In that particular room, the purple ceiling is gorgeous! Leave it!! In other rooms, I think darker celilings can seem to shorten the height of the room. I particular like bedrooms painted in paler shades with the ceiling shade just one shade lighter than the wall shade. I did thin in my kids' bedrooms and was really pleased and surprised with the outcome.
  • Ceilings should be a compliment to the room. At white ceiling is boring unless you paint it high gloss and add large embellishments to all four corners. Then it becomes Wow. High gloss on the ceiling is beautiful and reflects light beautifully. I say goooooo Ceilings.
  • Mary B Mary B on Feb 02, 2015
    The ceiling complements that room nicely, Love it!
  • Sue Sue on Feb 07, 2015
    Love it...alot...and I am not a purple fan! Gives me thoughts about painting my kitchen ceiling.
    • Cathy B Cathy B on Feb 08, 2015
      Picture please! That is the only way to be able to comment!
  • Sue Novak Sue Novak on Apr 07, 2015
    I prefer alternate colors on the ceiling. It just adds another demention to the room!
  • Anne Barsigo Anne Barsigo on May 04, 2015
    Beautiful colour on the roof
  • Debi53 Debi53 on Jun 14, 2015
    Congrats to you for being courageous and it paid off so beautifully!!
  • Lori Lori on Jul 15, 2015
    Way past like. It's gorgeous.
  • Karen Karen on Jul 29, 2015
    I never comment BUT I love color on the ceiling and this is especially BEAUTIFUL!
  • Lauren365 Lauren365 on Jul 29, 2015
    Love, love LOVE this!! I have a navy blue ceiling in bedroom. It makes me smile overtime I walk in :o) It's such a great way to add a strong color to your room.
  • Lynda Wheatley Lynda Wheatley on Oct 08, 2015
    beautiful .
  • Nadine Nadine on Dec 05, 2015
    100% NO to the white. Love the color on the ceiling. It adds so much drama to the space.
  • Elizabeth Ward Elizabeth Ward on Dec 31, 2015
    Normally, I like white ceilings, but this is gorgeous! Very unique and very pretty.
  • Int2363025 Int2363025 on Dec 31, 2015
    I explain to my clients that the ceiling is the 5th WALL, therefore, it needs to be a color. Either, the same as the walls, an accent color or a shade lighter than the walls. Depends on the height of the ceiling.
  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Jan 12, 2016
    Well, like Christopher Lowell has always explained: it's the fifth wall, don't forget it. You have so many options. You can go dark, medium, same as wall color or white, all in flat, satin or semi-gloss with or without crown molding. If you're selling your house though, play it safe and go white. A fresh coat of paint will always brighten up the room. Best of luck.
  • Julia Tyler Julia Tyler on Jan 21, 2016
    Remembering the paint contractor calling me in to question the root beer color going on a 12' high ceiling instead of white... thought I was going to regret it....and everyone loved it when finished.
  • Sandy Hartnett Sandy Hartnett on Jan 31, 2016
    Love the color! Hugs
  • Nancy Spencer Carlson Nancy Spencer Carlson on May 27, 2016
    leave it alone! It's beautiful!
  • Jim Jakes Jim Jakes on May 31, 2016
    I always paint the ceiling the same color if it is a light color but get creative with bold colors, designs and graphics. It's only paint after all. The photos look great.
  • Carolyn Jernigan Carolyn Jernigan on Sep 27, 2016
    That pop of color is unexpected, very charming and unstuffy!
  • Int2363025 Int2363025 on Sep 28, 2016
    You probably have your mind made up. But, always remember that the ceiling is the fifth (5th) WALL. Therefore, it should never be painted boring white. Any color whether it be the wall color, lighter than wall or an accent color. This is from a designer with a following that trusts my judgement.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 10, 2022

    Painting the ceiling dark will bring it down, so if you have a high ceiling and narrow walls - it's a good idea, but if you have a large room and already have a low ceiling then use White to lift it. Hope that helps.