Should You Paint The Ceiling The Same Color As The Walls?
Should you paint the ceiling the same color as the walls? Is it an acceptable choice with practical benefits? Or is it something that is considered too boring and outdated? These are some of the questions I’ll be answering in today’s article to help you make the best decision for your home.
If your goal is to save money and paint, then it is advisable to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. But the caveat is that you should only do this with neutral colors, preferably white or light cream. Monotone or minimalistic rooms provide space for color from other accessories or furniture.
There are some schools of thought that recommend painting the ceiling the same color as the walls, except at a 15 – 20% lesser degree of saturation.
In other words, the ceiling color should be a shade lighter than that of the wall.
Be that as it may, let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of using the same color on the ceiling and walls. Doing so will allow you to make a more informed decision that will hopefully save you money and time.
What Are The Pros Of Using The Same Color?
In both cases, the similarity and seamless flow of color from the walls to the ceiling create the illusion of more space.
Small rooms could benefit from this, especially if you opt for the color white. The ambient feeling of light that reflects off white walls and ceilings creates a relaxing, bright, and inviting mood.
Then there’s also the case of convenience.
It’s a lot easier to paint a room when the walls and ceilings are the same color. It’s easier to cut the borders of the room because there’s no fear of getting paint on other areas since it’s the same color.
You can save money by investing in a larger amount of the same paint than you would by buying smaller containers of different colors of paint.
Factoring all this into consideration, one can create a compelling argument for why you should paint the ceiling the same color as the walls.
But, that doesn’t mean you have to.
As much as there’s a lot of convenience and simplicity involved in using the same color, it can be considered boring and limiting.
What Are The Cons Of Using The Same Color?
Your home is a place to be celebrated.
It should reflect your personality and be designed in such a way that you feel comfortable, happy, peaceful, and excited.
You may be the type of person who feels dull and mellow in an environment that appears too clinical.
Colors have a psychological effect on us, and they signify different things. If you’re the type of person who needs quirky, bold, loud, and vibrant colors to feel yourself, it wouldn’t be sensible to use the same color on the walls and ceiling.
It would make you feel too boxed in, especially if you opted for colors like red, yellow, green, blue, and pink.
We also have to factor in modern trends.
That’s not to say that there’s anything wrong with going against the mold.
Again, it’s your home, and you should do what feels and looks best to you.
But, using different colors on the walls and ceilings continues to be a popular trend among homeowners.
Having flexibility and variability in a room matters.
Let’s say that you were to paint the ceiling and walls the same color.
Then, every time you decide to change the wall color, you’re forced to change the ceiling color as well.
You’re also limited to light colors because if you wanted to paint darker or bolder colors, then you ran the risk of creating a caved-in effect in the room.
There have been times when I felt claustrophobic in a room due to the caved-in or boxed-in effect of a monotone appearance.
If you were to paint the ceiling a different color, you would have enough freedom to experiment with different wall colors whenever you wanted.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, should you paint the ceiling the same color as the walls?
Yes, if you are looking to save money and time while creating the appearance of a larger and more spacious room. This is dependent on whether you opt for a light color or a dark color, because the latter has the potential to create the appearance of a smaller and moodier room.
More often than not, it is preferable to use a different color for the ceiling and walls.
Why?
Because it provides you with more flexibility in your design choices. It also minimizes the risk of creating a room that appears too clinical or boxed in.
There’s also the convenience of being able to change the wall colors frequently without having to paint the ceiling as well.
For this reason, it is actually preferable to use a neutral color like white for the ceiling so that you have more freedom to change and experiment with the wall colors.
With that being said, I hope you found this article to be helpful and practical. If you would like to read more color scheme articles like this one, be sure to check out some of the links below before you leave.
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