What Color To Paint The Archway Between Rooms? (We Have The Answer)

Emily Carr
by Emily Carr

Do you want to make your living space more unique and cozy? Changing up the look of an archway can be a great way to do this. However, finding the right color to compliment your home’s style can be a challenge.

When looking for a color to paint the archway between rooms, always look for a neutral or equally complimentary option. Warm or cool white tones, along with light grey and tan, will highlight but not overwhelm an archway. If you want something more detailed, neutral wallpaper or shiplap can add a bit of texture.

Always go off what works best for the particular style of your home. While white is an obvious selection, a muted beige may suit your space better.

This article will do a deep dive into the best colors to paint an archway. Additionally, we’ll cover whether glossy or flat works best and what to do if your archway is massive.

Let’s jump right in!

Do You Need to Hire a Paint Contractor?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

What Does Your Archway Look Like?

There are a few key attributes of an archway that play a big role in determining the color to paint it.

These factors include:

  • Size and shape
  • Lighting (natural and fixtures)
  • Colors of the adjoining rooms
  • If there’s pre-existing texture

The Size and Shape of Your Archway

The bigger the archway, the more likely you can match it to one of the walls it connects to (as it’s more of a wall than an archway itself). However, unnaturally-shaped passageways should be kept neutral to avoid overwhelming the room.

The Lighting in Your Archway

A dark vs. light archway is very important. If you have a space that screams doom and gloom, we want to brighten things up with something light. On the contrary, if you’re blessed with natural light or plenty of indoor lighting nearby, you may be able to play with a darker shade.

The Colors of the Adjoining Rooms

The colors of the two rooms that are connected by the archway are equally as relevant. If you have a green and purple room, there’s really nothing besides white that would compliment the space.

However, if you have rooms with more neutral or closely matching colors, we can play around a bit more with the archway.

The Texture of Your Archway

Lastly, texture can be tricky to navigate. Usually, the best color for a textured archway is in the cream or white family. While this rule should be used on a case-by-case basis, the last thing you want to do is make the arch too busy.

What’s the Best Color to Paint an Archway between Rooms?

Now that you know the rules, what’s the general consensus?

The most complimentary color to paint a standard archway between rooms is a version of white or a shade lighter than the walls it connects. Cream, starch white, light grey, or beige work wonderfully.

The “shade lighter” rule only works if the connecting walls are the same color (or in the same color family).

Avoid doing something dramatic or off-beat if you still need to pick other aspects of the room. This is especially true if you’re getting your home ready to sell your home.

Archways are generally meant to be classic, seamless transition areas, not a statement piece.

What About Something Decorative?

If you opt for something other than paint, there are plenty of options.

We still recommend going fairly neutral and making sure to consider both adjacent room colors. In this case, a subtly-patterned wallpaper can work nicely- even something that has a color element from both rooms.

If paint and wallpaper aren’t your vibes, you could do something totally different, like shiplap. Wood is a muted yet more detailed embellishment than paint that adds a nice touch to coastal or traditional houses.

Additionally, if you don’t have texture on your archway, you could always hire a contractor to give the drab white ceiling a design!

Glossy or Flat Paint for the Archway between Rooms?

Once you have the color down, it’s time to decide whether glossy or flat paint is the right choice.

Generally speaking, you can use either when the adjacent rooms have glossy paint. That being said, if those rooms are flat, experts advise you to stick with a flat paint for your archway.

A glossy archway ceiling and flat walls in the rooms just wouldn’t look right.

What If My Archway is Extra Large?

The size of your archway matters. If it’s excessively large, what can you do with the extra space?

If your archway is both lengthy and wide, you can almost treat it like a separate room or hallway. Wallpaper stands out really nicely in this type of situation.

Adding pictures to the walls or extra light fixtures can help make a big archway stand out in the best way possible!


Related Questions

What color should I paint my front door?

Front doors are the focal point of the exterior of your home- so much so that websites have even created quizzes to help you decide what color to paint it.There are several things to take into consideration when choosing a color for your front door, such as:

  • What style of house you live in
  • The color of the surrounding walls
  • If you have a porch, balcony, or stoop
  • If the doors are double or single

Typically, you should choose a color that compliments your home as a whole and goes with the neighborhood. Oak stain or navy blue paint are classics that go with almost any type of home.

If you’re still unsure, consult an interior designer or a painter who can advise further.

Can I paint over wallpaper?

It’s always best to remove wallpaper first, but if it’s in good condition (no major rips or tears), then you have the ability to paint over it.

If you’re considering this option, use a latex primer and then a latex paint or an oil-based primer then oil-based paint. Either of these techniques will help the new paint adhere better to the old wallpaper.

Painting over wallpaper is an acceptable way to update a smaller space, but it’s usually not recommended to use this method for your entire home. Consult a professional if you’re unsure.

Can you hang a chandelier in an archway?

If your archway is large and taller, why not?

A chandelier can make the perfect accent for a large but rather dark arched space in your home. Adding something with crystals or reflective glass can help open up that area of your house to make it appear bigger and brighter.

Just make sure to hang it high enough that it doesn’t interfere with the actual doorways or where people might be walking through. The last thing you want is for someone to bump their head and cause the chandelier to shatter.

Do You Need to Hire a Paint Contractor?

Get free, zero-commitment quotes from pro contractors near you.

To Sum It Up

The color of an archway between two rooms can make a big difference to the look and feel of that space.

When it comes time to paint your archway ceiling, there are several factors you’ll need to consider. The color of the adjacent walls is one thing, but what about the type of paint- glossy or flat? And if your archway is extra-large (like a hallway or separate room), what can you do with all that extra space?

Another decision you’ll have to make when painting your archway is whether to use wallpaper or paint. Wallpaper can add some texture and depth to an otherwise boring room.

Whether you need some help determining what colors will work best for your home’s style, or want to do a quick paint job on one part of the house, use the tips above to help you decide.

And, as always, if you have any questions or need more help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional!

Related Guide

Emily Carr
Emily Carr

Emily is a copywriter with over five years of experience in crafting content for the home renovation and remodeling industry. She loves house projects, whether it be painting a room or tweaking small design elements to transform a space. Her favorite aesthetic is french modern because of its clean lines and airy feeling! When not writing, Emily loves to travel and check out architectural details all over the world.

More by Emily Carr

Next