Paint the ceiling

Most of us paint the ceiling white without thinking. It is the fifth wall, and often the biggest surface in the room. Painting it a colour can make a room feel taller, cosier, warmer or more finished. Here is when to try it, and how.

Why paint a ceiling

A bright white ceiling above coloured walls draws a sharp line around the top of the room. The eye notices the edge, and the room can feel boxy. A coloured ceiling softens that edge, or turns it into a deliberate feature.

Four ways to do it

Same as the walls. Painting walls and ceiling one colour blurs the corners and makes small rooms feel bigger. It is the most effective trick for awkward rooms with sloping ceilings.

A lighter tint of the wall colour. Mix the wall colour with white, half and half. The ceiling feels related to the walls but still lifts the room.

A dark ceiling. In rooms used mostly at night, like bedrooms and dining rooms, a dark ceiling feels cosy and enclosing. It works best in rooms with tall ceilings.

A surprise colour. A soft pink, a pale yellow or a sky blue over white walls. It catches the light and makes the room feel playful.

A coloured ceiling is the cheapest way to make a room feel designed.

Maren Lind

Practical tips

Painting a ceiling is hard on the neck and arms. Use a roller on an extension pole, not a ladder for the main area, and keep the ladder for cutting in around the edges.

• Use matt paint. Shine on a ceiling shows every bump.
• Work in strips parallel to the main window, so the light does not show the joins.
• Take off the light fittings, or cover them carefully.
• Do two thin coats rather than one thick one, which will drip.

When not to do it

A dark ceiling in a low room with little daylight can feel heavy. Kitchens and bathrooms need paints that resist moisture, which may limit the colours available. And if you rent, ask first: landlords who accept coloured walls often draw the line at ceilings.