Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Beyond the White Ceiling

I started my day off with the new July/August issue of House Beautiful, which I excitedly flipped through while power walking on the treadmill (the only thing that keeps my attention long enough to finish a workout!). One design area they tackle in this issue is color on the ceiling (p.24), which is one area of a room that often gets neglected. I'm totally guilty of this...I focus on the floor and 4 walls but the white ceiling tends to stay, well, white. They asked several designers their thoughts and suggestions on this topic..."It's the last great frontier in decorating, and I almost never leave it bare. To me, that would be like showing up for a party empty-handed!" -Marlaina Teich (recommends using a pearlized paint to give a little shimmer); "I always think of a room as having six surfaces - four walls, plus the floor and ceiling." - Christopher Maya (try using a soft pastel color on the ceiling with off-white walls). How do you feel about painting the ceiling in a room? Please share your thoughts!

"The ceiling is the most overlooked and underused opportunity in decorating." -Jamie Drake (likes using an ethereal shade, such as I Love You Pink by Benjamin Moore).


This white lacquered ceiling gives the illusion that the ceiling is higher and opens up the space visually (via Apartment Therapy).



Try carrying the ceiling color down the walls about 6" to give a little interest! (photo found here)




This neutral adds warmth to the space and compliments the chocolate brown walls nicely.




I can't imagine the ceiling being white in this room! The purple just finishes off the dramatic look and feel (via Holly Dyment).
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16 comments:

  1. I admit, I have always followed the rule of painting ceilings two shades lighter than what's on the walls. . . However, I think I might start mixing things up a bit and doing something a little more daring! These images are so inspiring!!!

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  2. I wish I didn't have that popcorn crap sprayed all over my ceilings. Ah, the 70s! I love the blue ceiling with the yellow living room and the tan ceiling with the brown bedroom. Classy.

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  3. I Love seeing blue painted ceilings! I just cant get enough!

    www.bazaarofserendipity.blogspot.com

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  4. LOVE these. We are planning on having some painting done soon and I am definitely going to go with a fun color for my master bedroom ceiling!

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  5. I ADORE color on the ceilings! i saw a commercial about 7 years ago that showed a woman painting her ceiling bright orange (one of my favorite colors) and the walls were a pastel orange and i've wanted to do something similar ever since!! the first thing i do when i move out of my apartment is paint my ceiling!! love the post for inspiration!!

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  6. my mom has the bed that's in the first picture - so pretty!
    i also love the shot with the kimono in it.
    xox alison

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  7. The purple bedroom is amazing!

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  8. A painted ceiling adds so much!!

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  9. I love this color inspiration and agree that so much more can be done with a ceiling than painting it white! Your blog is a great find, I will be following:)

    chelseyedesign.blogspot.com

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  10. I love painted ceilings especially in richly-coloured rooms. But these robins egg examples are so pretty too - I should consider this in my home! : )

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  11. Love the painted ceilings...especially the blues.

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  12. I think of myself as fairly bold with color, but I have never ventured into color on the ceiling. However, I love the thought of a pearlized ceiling - baby steps!

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  13. That white lacquered ceiling is SICK. I LOVE IT!

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  14. I never do a white ceiling in my designs, I always joke that I'm allergic to them!! I think, especially if you are using color on the walls, that the stark contrast of the white draws your eye to the ceiling and makes you more aware of that boundary.

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  15. we just painted over our robins egg blue ceiling in the traditional white. you would have cringed! haha. i just can't do it!!!!!

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Thank you for your comments! I appreciate you stopping by :)