Do you ever get that deer-in-the-headlights stare when you visit a paint store?
I can completely understand why so many homeowners come away with white paint for the ceiling given the enormous number of decisions it takes to decorate a room. I mean white is the safe choice. It's the non-decision. You can't make a mistake by going with white but you can't have any fun either! This post is meant to inspire you to manage up and consider the rewards for paying attention to the details of a well-orchestrated fifth wall. There are so many choices for creating great style.
The charming blue bedroom above is one of my favorite rooms of all times. The ceiling and trim are painted in French Gray from Farrow and Ball.
The easy choice is actually following nature's lead and going with a blue ceiling.
Interior Designer Melanie Turner
A bold purple ceiling, although interesting, might take the expertise of a trained designer.
A hallway is often an overlooked area when it comes to decorating and should be somewhat neutral as it is the connector to so many other areas in the home. I like the classic details in this hallway and think the rich blue ceiling gives it carisma.
A painted ceiling really shouldn't scream out and grab your attention. Most rooms with a painted ceiling you would hardly even notice the ceiling unless you happened to look up. A painted ceiling just adds that finishing touch, or fifth dimension.
Paint from the Martha Stewart Collection at Home Depot
"Love-in-a-Mist re-creates the serenity of a clear blue sky. Ballet Slipper Pink reflects light to make everyone's complexion more beautiful. Rice Paper transforms even a natural-light-deprived room into a space that feels sunny. Spring Melt complements a range of wall colors and lends an extra level of sophistication. Morning Fog has just enough lavender to make it subtly cheerful without being cloying."
Martha Stewart
Another designer I always look to when making decisions about paint colors is Phoebe Howard. I love her paint colors. Here's Phoebe's advise on painting the ceiling:
"As many have said before, the ceiling is the fifth wall in the room. I don't mean to say you need to go overboard and always do something incredible to the ceiling. What I mean is, don't just simply forget about it. When selecting new paint for a room, consider painting the ceiling a complementary color or sometimes I paint the ceiling at 50% strength of the color of the walls."Phoebe Howard
"We did a high lacquered ceiling in my living room in Jacksonville. It creates a beautiful reflection by candlelight and makes the rather low ceiling seem much higher than it actually is. " Phoebe Howard
The Howards used a light pale sage Ralph Lauren paint and applied "multiple shades of water clear varnish" to create a shimmering effect to the ceiling for their showhouse on the 58th floor of the Setai Fifth Avenue Residences. Watch the YouTube video here as Jim and Phoebe Howard along with House Beautiful's Newell Turner walk you through the "Designer Visions" showhouse and talk about the design decisions.
Orange is definitely a bold choice for a lacquered ceiling even if it is the color of the year. Interior designer Jeffrey Bilhuber clearly gets it right in his chic library slash guest room in his New York residence.
Paint is not the only choice for a statement making savvy ceiling. Barnwood, pecky cypress, painted paneling, rustic beams are great choices for adding architectural interest and texture.
For a more rustic look, try a barnwood ceiling:
Rachel Halverson via Nest Egg
Jill Sharp Brinson
In this hallway natural wood paneling on the ceiling mimics the wainscot below.
Interior designer Melanie Turner uses wide plank paneling on the ceiling and lacquers it in a glossy bright white.
Kay Douglass designed this kitchen with a Belgian aesthetic and natural pecky cypress ceiling.
Designer Kay Douglass via House Beautiful
John Saladino via House Beautiful
John Saladino is another designer whose rooms always feel complete..360. He is a master with architectural details and the driftwood beams on this ceiling bring so much to this casual beach home.
John Saladino via House Beautiful
Phoebe Howard
The ceiling adds a subtle warm texture to this room by Phoebe Howard.
This is one of my all time favorite rooms from Dan Carithers featured in Southern Accents. If i remember correctly, this dining room is in a newly constructed home and he added the old beams to bring character to the new house. {It worked!}
Photographer Rob Brinson's Atlanta Studio
And don't forget about wallpaper. I actually shy away from wallpapered ceilings but these few examples are a reason to reconsider. I think wallpaper on the ceiling works best either in small spaces or in rooms that have a very simple color palette.
Love, love, love this wallpapered ceiling!
via Rikshaw Design
I adore the star patterned wallpaper on the ceiling of this closet!
I think Farrow and Ball's 'Brockhampton Star' wallpaper would be a very nice choice for a ceiling.
I like this simple, modern media room designed by Kristy Lee Interiors using Kelly Wearstler's Imperial Trellis {from Schumacher} wallpaper on the ceiling.
In another one of my favorite rooms, Bear Hill Interiors uses Manuel Canovas Trellis wallpaper on the ceiling available through Cowtan and Tout.
Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler uses orange wallpaper on the ceiling of this classically styled entry.
and, of course, who could forget Jenna Lyons nursery with its bold yellow stripes...memorable!
Scrabble anyone?
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