Good Questions: What About the Ceiling?

Hi AT,

I'd like to paint the walls of my bedroom a rich medium blue, with the woodwork a darker blue (inspired by some of the colors and walls at Emery & Cie's website). The floors are hardwood. I'd like to know what to do about the ceiling? Is there a good rule of thumb? Will it be glaringly strange to keep it white? Will it be overkill to paint the ceiling the same color as the woodwork? Any recommendations???

Thanks. Rachel

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Dear Rachel,

We can't wait to hear what other readers have to say but we believe in a white ceiling for its reflective quality and the way it adds visual space to the top of a room. We use Decorator's or Ceiling White, which is not a flat white, but has a small bit of color in it to make it harmonize with the walls better.

If you are doing your walls really dark, however, we would look at a ceiling white with a bit MORE color in it - creamier - otherwise it may pop too much and look too colonial. With blue walls you want a cooler white, so you would be looking at greys and soft white blues.

Anyone else????

Comments (1)

Go to a real estate search engine. click on all the expensive homes. Take a look at the white ceilings. Especially the ones that are flat and not vaulted. Have you ever seen anything so awful? You will see dark red walls, blue walls, green walls.......and dark floors.....and stark, cold, white ceilings. At night they look grey....and dirty.... if you have the new compac flourescent lighting...yuck. If you have incandescent lighting, they look green and sickly. The wall color bounces off, as well as the floor color which reflects on to the ceiling. So, anyway, I think its' really interesting that so many people on here love stark decorator white ceilings. Not me. In my bedroom, my walls are Smokey Taupe, B.M. and the ceilings are painted in Peau de Soie.....B.m. Aura paint....which is a light, very pale blush color, like a pale silk. The trims are white, but not stark. The room is gorgeous !!! My husband calms down the minute he walks in there ! In my kitchen, the walls are a deep tan. The ceilings are a cream. Cabinets and crowns are also a soft white. counters are light golden granite. It is devine to be in my kitchen.....cheery, and soft, soft, soft. Calming. Now I am going to do my dining room ceilings a soft bronze venetian plaster. Nothing like it when you're dining at night and the candles are glowing and so is your ceiling !!! Can't get that with decorator white, my friends.