How do you paint a soffit?

Pat Bell
by Pat Bell

I'm doing a make-over on a bathroom that has a soffit with can lights over a large mirror and long vanity. Taking out the soffit is not an option. The ceiling will be white, the walls will be dark blue. Do I paint the soffit bottom white like the ceiling or blue like the walls?

  3 answers
  • I'd paint the front of the soffit the same color of the walls and underneath the soffit the same color as the ceiling as in the picture attached found on Decorpad in this link: https://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm?photoId=85127 That will help blend it in with the wall color but the white underneath prevents it from feeling too heavy and helps reflect the lighting from the recessed lights.

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Feb 21, 2019

    You could paint either way. I might do the wall color all the way to the ceiling. Another option is to do ceiling paint all the way to the wall (soffit included). A 3rd option is to paint all horizontal surfaces white and all vertical surfaces blue. One thing to remember is that at every junction of color you will need to cut in the edge. That takes time and can be obvious if you don't do it carefully. Be sure to use a latex enamel paint in the bathroom because of moisture. We just had a new house built and all of the walls are a shade of beige and the painters do the ceiling and walls in the same color. No white ceilings anywhere in the house.

  • Nan W. Nan W. on Feb 21, 2019

    Pat: what about painting a soft blue? ...it would have a designer look!