Painting Ceiling Same Color As Walls (the Pros and Cons)

Whether you’re putting the finishing touches on a new home or simply updating your space, deciding paint colors is one of the most important aspects of your home decor. Finding the right colors can be a challenge, especially when it comes to the ceiling. What is the best choice when it comes to whether to paint the ceiling and walls a matching color?

The pros of painting the ceiling the same color as the walls are the appearance of a higher ceiling, the savings of time and money, and a modern, clean look. The cons of the ceiling being the same color as the walls are a room appearing cold and empty, a lack of contrast, and dark or bold colors making a room feel overwhelming.

The aesthetic created by paint can determine if your home feels warm and inviting, or cold and boring. Color choice for the ceiling is no exception, and can drastically change the feel of a room. We will explore what happens to a space when the wall and ceiling colors are the same, the pros and cons of both options, and how to decide what’s right for your home.

The answer depends on your goals, and the size and shape of your space. Interior designers advise that the colors can be the same if they’re fairly neutral, but you should stay away from bolder shades and medium tones for the ceiling. Using a bold color for every painted surface, such as a medium blue, can create the effect of stepping into a box instead of a room.

This can feel distracting and unnatural, even in a large space. On the other hand, neutral colors on both the walls and ceiling (even darker ones) can create an effect of either openness or coziness without feeling claustrophobic.

When it’s done properly, having uniform color can create a sense of open space and the illusion of more height in a room. This is great for rooms with lower ceilings or small square footage.

It also lends to a more modern, minimalist design, creating a seamless ‘fifth wall’ effect. Matching paint can also soften the pitch of sharply vaulted ceilings. It can also hide distracting angles in awkwardly-shaped rooms. You can save some time and money as well by using identical paint — Taping off the ceiling isn’t needed, and leftover wall paint will simply be applied to the ceiling instead of being left unused.

Sometimes matching paint can cause a room to feel cold and empty instead of large and open. This can happen if the furniture and decor is too sparse, and doesn’t adequately fill the space.

The seamless look of having exact color also lacks contrast, which can clash with decor that isn’t compatible with a more modern, open theme. The bulk of the room’s personality relies more heavily on its decor than if the paint colors were different. What is meant to be a positive can become a negative without proper planning and appropriate pieces to tie everything together.

Another potential pitfall comes with using the wrong color. Darker colors may become suffocating in a smaller space, and bolder colors may be overbearing in a room of any size.

When the colors are the same, there is far less visual separation of the wall and ceiling, which can create a sense of nothingness where a solid line would normally be. This lack of contrast can be remedied in two ways: change the furniture and decor, or abandon the matching paint scheme.

Enhancing the room with a new sofa, stylish rug, and a variety of plant life is an attractive option. But you may want more contrast from the paint itself by choosing a different ceiling color. When the walls and ceilings will be painted differently, using a plain white is considered outdated and boring by many designer’s standards; Instead, they suggest painting the ceiling a shade or two lighter than the wall color to provide both continuity and contrast.

If you want a bold ceiling as part of your decor, this can actually work well — but only if your walls are a different, lighter color. This stark contrast creates an artistic focal point in many beautifully decorated homes, though it may cause the ceiling to appear lower than it is.

This isn’t a problem if you have higher ceilings, or if the illusion of a lower ceiling fits well with the atmosphere you want to create in your space. A darker or less neutral ceiling can showcase other features as well, like custom crown molding or a lovely chandelier.

Step 1: Assess your goals for the room. Do you want a clean, calming effect, or a more welcoming, cozy space? Is your room large or small? Do you want your ceiling to appear higher? With these answers, decide if you want warmer or cooler tones, and how light or dark your paint should be.

Step 2: Choose sample colors that fit your planned decor of the space. Remember, warmer colors can make a space more inviting, while cooler shades can feel more open and modern. Stick to neutrals.

Step 3: Test your samples at home, or go online to simulate different colors in your space. Many home improvement stores have programs onsite that can show you how colors may potentially look on your walls and ceiling. If you test paint at home, try to cover a full corner of the room where the walls and ceiling meet. This will give you the best idea of how matching paint may visually affect your space.

Step 4: Prepare for painting day. If you’re tackling the job yourself, make sure to buy enough paint for multiple coats and future touch-ups. Don’t forget rollers, brushes, trays, painters tape, and dropcloths.

Step 5: Make sure all furniture and pets are safely out of the way, and paint your space!

This approach could make a room appear more spacious or more enclosed, depending on paint color, shade, and the size of the space. If you have a large room, warmer tones and darker neutrals can help a room feel cozier and more intimate. Especially when using dark colors, this will shrink the room a bit.

For smaller spaces, whites and lighter colors can help open things up with a seamless look where the ceiling appears higher. You can also install crown molding to give height to a ceiling while also preserving continuity. Be sure to paint the crown molding the same color as everything else to create this effect.

When using neutral colors, painting the walls and ceiling the same color is definitely an option. Lighter neutrals can make the space feel bright, modern, and open, while warmer shades can help a larger room feel cozy and inviting while still being spacious and seamless.

Darker neutrals can be painted all around in large spaces, depending on the desired effect. However, when more contrast is important, choosing a shade or two lighter or darker than the neutral wall paint may be a better way to go.

When using medium tones or very bold paint colors, it’s usually not a good idea to match the walls and ceiling. This creates a cramped atmosphere and a psychologically overwhelming experience. All in all, matching paint is a great option when the colors are carefully chosen for the right space.