Does the ceiling always have to be white?

This is the age old question and one that has the usual answer of yes of course it does, however that may not be the best choice. Let’s look at the options and reasons why NOT painting the ceiling white may be just the thing to perk up your space.

The biggest reason for painting the ceiling white is that the majority of homes over the last 30 years have had the introduction of stipple into the ceiling space. It covers a world of sins – lumpy areas, taping that left a bit to be desired and poor paint jobs. It is sprayed on and takes little time or effort to apply and doesn’t require the skilled tradesman to complete a flawless drywall ceiling. Yes it does take skill to make those beautiful flat ceilings. The other issue is the paint used is absolutely white ceiling flat. Not a tone to anything around it.

The ceilings that have stipple should still keep a light tone to them as colour shows the stipple more and creates more shadows and highlights the drips of the stipple. So toning the white for those ceilings are appropriate.

If white ceilings are your cup of tea the choice of white is important to be effective with the wall colours. A blue white doesn’t show off well against yellow toned walls and vice-versa. As an example Benjamin Moore CC-30 Oxford White is a white with cool undertones, while CC-40 Cloud White is a more yellow toned with warm undertones.

When you have the luxury of flat ceilings (not stippled) colour is a fabulous way to add dimension to the space. The 5th wall as the ceiling is often referred to becomes part of the space. Continuing the wall colour onto the ceiling creates more height with no definition between wall ending and ceiling beginning. Where there are bulkheads around the edge of a room that accommodates ductwork or plumbing continuing the wall colour on the whole of the bulkhead, including the underside, really brings your sightline up to the ceiling without drawing attention to what can be unsightly bulkheads. You also have the opportunity to use a different colour on the ceiling to add an accent or to alternate between walls and ceilings from one room to another. As an example if the walls of the living room are one colour use that colour on the ceiling of the dining room and introduce the colour used on the dining room walls as the colour for the ceiling of the living room. Imagine in a dining room red walls with a gold ceiling and living room with gold walls and a red ceiling. Dramatic yes and not for everyone however certainly something that sets you apart from the neighbours. Your choices don’t have to be as bold but remember the ceiling doesn’t have to be painted white.