Ceiling color ideas & inspiration
Inspirations
We love the classic white ceiling, however an unexpected ceiling paint color can enhance the character of your room in a refreshing, charismatic way.
While there is no single reply to "what color should I paint my ceiling," your quest for the just-right ceiling paint color is about to get easier. Start with knowing that ceiling imperfections are common, and that you can easily secure a virtually flawless ceiling in any color with ultra-flat Waterborne Ceiling Paint.
Time-Tested & True: White Ceiling Paint
For any room, all-white or off-white paint color is always a fresh and clean choice. Conversely, vibrant wall colors are beautifully set off by white ceilings.
A white ceiling makes smaller spaces feel larger. For seamless color flow, select a white for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the wall color. Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator’s White OC-149. Check out our most popular whites on the White Color Family page, then head to your local Benjamin Moore retailer to buy a paint sample: We always recommend you “live” with any color before you buy it-even white!
Painting yourself? Get tips and tricks on how to paint a ceiling.
A Look at Lighter Colors
A lighter paint color above eye level can help to visually raise the ceiling.
In any size room, painting the ceiling with a lighter shade–often a lighter variant of the wall color–is a clever design choice. This approach provides subtle contrast and adds depth to the space, while maintaining the unity of existing colors.
You may also want to consider a light contrasting color, which also draws the eye upwards while maintaining an overall open, airy look, as seen here. Not only does Powder Pink 2009-70 heighten this space, it adds a playful touch to an otherwise formal room.
Celebrate Celestial Ceilings
Reminiscent of open skies and serene, tranquil environments, a blue ceiling is a long-standing design tradition and a homeowner favorite.
“A blue ceiling brings the outside in,” says Benjamin Moore Design & Color expert Nivara Xaykao. Check out our most popular blue paint colors, like Iceberg 2122-50, Bird’s Egg 2051-60 or November Skies 2128-50, to find a blue that works for you!
Here, a bathroom ceiling in Buxton Blue HC-149 exudes a spa-like vibe. In general, powder rooms and bathrooms are fun rooms to experiment with when it comes to more adventurous ceiling paint colors.
The Case for the Dark Ceiling
A darker ceiling can be a great design feature and push the “wow factor” of any room.
Rich navy blue or a deep black blur the boundaries of a room, making it look endless yet intimate; this elegant dining room puts this theory to the test. Its richly painted ceiling in Black Ink 2127-20 helps to create an elegant enclave.
If you want to go with a darker color on your ceiling, consider a paint color that is two to three shades darker on your ceiling than your walls. Rooms with dark ceilings feel cozy and comfortable, making any room a welcoming respite.
Highlight Architectural Detail
A beautifully painted ceiling attracts attention to architectural features like crown moldings and tray or vaulted ceilings.
Consider a subtle, yet creative use of two colors for your room’s ceiling. Here, the wood-paneled ceiling in Baby’s Breath OC-62 draws the eye upward, taking full advantage of the recessed ceiling’s additional height in this hushed bedroom. The neutral painted walls add to this lengthening effect, with Silver Fox 2108-50 extending up to the ceiling itself.
Painting Ceilings and Walls the Same Color
A monochromatic wall and ceiling combination—especially in a deeper hue—evokes a warm, cozy vibe.
If you move forward with an all-one-color look, consider Waterborne Ceiling Paint. Benjamin Moore’s most flat paint, this ceiling-specific paint creates subtle design interest against a higher sheen wall, as seen here in Copley Gray HC-104.
