It’s not that long since we were all going wild for a painted feature wall, then it was about a statement wallpaper wall, now it’s all about the statement ceiling.

If you’re after ease and simplicity then you might be like me and usually find yourself painting the ceiling exactly the same colour as the walls. However after seeing this gallery of inspiration you might be tempted to get the roller out and add a statement shade to your ceiling.

Although it’s more of a faff then painting one wall, the result is way more impactful and adds huge amounts of interest and character. I think particularly with the dark ceilings you need to consider the floor covering (and I don’t just mean while painting said ceiling). This look seems to work far better with a wooden floor than a regular berber carpet. However when you scroll down to the lighter images I feel there wouldn’t be a conflict with a neutral carpet.

Dark Ceilings

  • If you like dark accents it’s a great way to tie the room together, particularly if you have dark picture frames
  • To draw attention to coving and period detail, or if you have none of these features, to add some drama in a plain space
  • If you have a big picture window then painting the ceiling dark can draw the eye towards the view
  • If your ceilings are incredibly high and make the room too expansive then painting dark will give the illusion of a lower ceiling which can make the room cosier. However, apparently (and I think I need to be convinced of this) if your ceiling is very low it’ll make it look taller.
  • If you want to define a particular space, perhaps it’s all open plan and you’d like to highlight a particular area then painting the space above in a contrasting shade can help

Walls and Ceilings In The Same Shade

Now I do this already in my house but just with various shades of white! For a darker hue I love this look in certain houses but I can’t imagine using it in my own pad. In the right space however it does seem very cocooning and creates an impressive backdrop if you have more unusual decorative art, furnishings and lighting.

Pastel Shades

I think we all know now that I’m scared of colour but the nursery below from 100 Layer Cake is adorable. Such a pretty way to lift a space and make a design statement without going overboard.

Tips For Painting A Ceiling

  • Use a thick pile roller with an extension handle rather than a paint brush
  • Consider using a matt emulsion rather than satin as it’s generally more forgiving and will hide imperfections.
  • If you can’t move furniture to another room then move into the centre of the room
  • Ideally use dust sheets or drop cloths to cover the floor and furniture as those cheap plastic sheets often get tangled up
  • Paint the ceiling before the walls for minimal cutting in and so any inevitable wall splatters can be covered later on
  • Apply the roller in a zigzag formation before going back over in one general direction to minimise missing certain areas
  • Ideally paint in daylight so it makes it easier to spot areas you may have missed with the roller

Do you fancy a painted ceiling? What colour would you or have you gone for?