Those of you who follow our updates on Facebook and Twitter may have tried to solve the mystery of why we slept in the guest bedroom for a few nights last weekend. Well… (drumroll? trumpets? cow bell?)… we painted the ceiling in the master bedroom. Yeeehaw!
One of our favorite things about blogging about our adventures in home improvement is that we’re still totally learning as we go. By no means have we cracked all the decorating codes, and we just love when we make some groundbreaking-to-us discovery along the way that we get to share with you guys. Well, this is one of those times.
After three years of loving Glidden’s Gentle Tide on the walls of our bedroom (it’s the only room we didn’t paint at least twice to get it right) we suddenly realized that our white crown molding paired with our white ceilings were sort of yawn. The entire room felt polished and luxe thanks to billowy floor to ceiling curtains, breezy blue tones, and crisp white trim… but the boring white ceiling made it feel like we had neglected the fifth wall in the space- and it certainly didn’t do anything to accent the crown molding that we introduced a while back for a bit more interest and architecture.
Nope, we were definitely not playing up all of our rooms positives, but that’s nothing that two $7 quarts of paint couldn’t solve. First we taped up some paint chips on the ceiling and studied them at all times of the day to figure out which one we liked best. Taping them to the ceiling is a super important step (as opposed to just holding the swatch up against the wall) because light hits that plane of the room in a totally different way (something that looks super light against the wall might look mega dark on the ceiling or vice versa). Once we had them all in place it was easy to see which swatches were too purple, too gray, too dark, too weird, and juuuust right.
We settled on the swatch at the end because it felt like a lighter version of the color on the wall with a bit of fresh celery worked in. We could have had the paint guys mix up a tint that was exactly the wall color with a bit more white in it (for an almost-guaranteed-victory) but we jumped at the chance to add a bit of soft interest by choosing a swatch with a bit more green in it to layer in more beachy blue-green without hitting anyone over the head. It just felt a bit fresher and subtly exciting (you can’t see much of the green in this shot but it’s more apparent in the next pic).
So fourteen dollars later we got to work with our two quarts of flat paint. What color was it? Glidden’s Cool Cucumber. A gorgeous super soft green just like the inside of a cucumber (the swatch actually doesn’t look blue at all, but taped up in our blue room it picked up some of those soft tones for a gorgeous effect). And why two quarts? We hate to pay $20 to store a huge gallon of paint when we only need about half of it, and it’s only around $14 for two quarts which we knew would cover well enough and leave us with some touch up paint that we could easily store (since it’s about a fourth of the size of a big gallon). Why flat paint? It hides more imperfections than eggshell or semi-gloss options, and for surfaces like a ceiling it’s nice to play those down with something that looks smooth and seamless. Here’s John getting his roll on (he’s the roller in the family while I’m the resident cutter-inner):
The moment we had even a smidge of paint on the ceiling we immediately knew we were doing the right thing. The crown molding went from “I’ll just sit here in the back of the class and act invisible” to “Oooh, I know the answer to that complicated math problem so I’ll shout ‘pick me pick me’ and flail my arm around.”
And these photos really don’t do the serene green color any justice whatsoever. It’s like the softest piece of sea glass that got battered by waves for years and only has a hint of celery green left to show for it. And it goes so perfectly with our greeny-gray-blue walls that we’re still congratulating ourselves for stepping a bit out of our comfort zone (instead of adding 50% more white to the Gentle Tide formula and calling it a day). It by no means shouts “green ceiling” but it adds to a layered look instead of something super matchy-matchy and we love that it’s not so super coordinated and it looks a bit more interesting and dimensional. Plus it really plays up the crown molding since we no longer have the white on white thing going on.
Most of all we love that we lost that blinding white ceiling but the room still feels airy and open. The ceilings actually feel higher since the super white paint made them more apparent (which made them feel closer) while the soft celery tone makes them feel a bit more like they recede into the sky.
And the way that the light of the capiz chandelier bounces around the ceiling really makes the room feel like it’s glowing- like the shiny part of a sea shell or the inside of a limesicle. It really is cool and refreshing yet warm and enveloping. And although this last picture doesn’t do a great job of demonstrating it, the crown molding really does rise to meet us every morning, noon and night (check out the picture above this one for a better demonstration).
So that’s what we did last weekend in under three hours with less than fifteen bucks. And the reason we slept in the guest bedroom? Even though Glidden is naturally pretty low in VOCs, we always try to limit our exposure to paint since we use it so often, so sleeping in the guest bedroom for a few nights while we kept the windows open and a fan going in the master bedroom allowed us to appreciate another bedroom in our house. And tempt us to paint that ceiling as well. In fact I’m now dying to paint the ceilings in both of our guest bedrooms along with our living room and sunroom so stay tuned to see which one we attack next- and what color we choose.
Oh and let us know if you’ve had any decorating-related lightbulb moments lately. We never would have thought to paint our ceilings anything other than crisp clean white a few months ago, and we’re itching to know what sort of fun discoveries you guys are making on the home front. Do tell.
Alyzande says
I’m afraid I’m a white-ceiling die-hard. However, seeing your sconces reminded me of a question: I have just bought two candle/mirror sconces, and I’m ready to hang them but I can’t decide: side by side framing a wall decoration, or diagonal as a decoration in themselves. ah, decisions decisions.
YoungHouseLove says
I would use them to beef up you favorite piece of art above a buffet, dresser, or console table. Just hang them about 8″ from each side of the framed picture for a piece with major presence. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
jbhat says
It looks so beautiful. It must make it a bit harder to get out of bed in the morning…you must just want to lay there and gaze upwards.
Beth says
that looks so beautiful!
Leslie says
Okay so I close on my first home in 2 weeks.. (hopefully)
and your horizontal stripes, and this are so on my to do list…
love how rich it makes the room feel.
Susan S. says
Love how the project turned out but like many of the other readers, I have a few questions. I really, really hate to bother you with them because this isn’t the most current post but I know this is kind of your thing Sherry and you’re soo good at it, while I am still new to the wonders of painting.
1)Living in England where the ceilings are really, really low (a friend totally took out our overhead light in the living room during a Wii Tennis match), would painting the ceilings make the already small rooms feel smaller and more boxy?
2)While I love what you’ve done with your house, I’m really a dark colour kind of gal and plan to do most of our home in this colour http://www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0275750 and just planned on doing the ceilings in plain old white. We do have crown molding in most of the rooms and I see your point about how it does blend into a white ceiling but with the other four walls being so dark, do I have a choice?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Susan S,
1. In small rooms with really low ceilings we would recommend carrying a light and airy wall color up onto the ceilings so the whole look is seamless and boundless (you don’t have a defined crisp white ceiling so everything feels fluid and open).
2. For rooms that you’d love to paint a richer tone (like the one you linked to) we would definitely recommend using a much lighter shade of the same tone on the ceiling, which will still feel light and lifted but won’t feel stark and unfinished (the super high contrast that rich colors and white ceilings create is a lot less seamless and expansive looking).
Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Virginia says
I think your ceiling looks great! It really adds height to the room.
I know firsthand how painted ceilings don’t work out so well… I was traumatized by painted ceilings when we moved into our house last year – the previous owners had chosen bright neon colors (pink, blue, orange) for all the rooms, and painted the ceiling and walls in a high gloss. For example: http://www.flickr.com/photos/32424066@N06/3127217888/
It was such a relief to paint bright white ceilings after that! If we install crown molding, I would really consider what you did, though. It makes the room look so rich!
Kate says
Love the end result – very pretty! We have white crown molding in most of our rooms, and I like to paint the ceilings a lighter version of the wall colors, too. I’ve never been a fan of white ceilings, though – I think it looks much more interesting to have some color there, since it’s usually unexpected.
I have to say about the matte paint, however, that I personally always notice flaws much more when someone has painted with a matte finish. I know that paint experts will disagree, and everyone loves to repeat the “matte paint hides flaws” mantra, but I think that eggshell and satin finishes are more forgiving, since there’s a play of light on the surface, which to me, makes repairs and bumps less noticeable.
Eric Stasiowski says
Sherry,
As an employee of Glidden (actually AkzoNobel — the parent company), we’re so glad to hear that the Cool Cucumber flat paint gave you the results you were looking for on the ceiling.
Congrats and glad to hear that we helped transform your beautiful room! By the way, later today we will be releasing our Top 10 ‘Share the Harvest’ Fall Colors. A beautiful, inspiring collection of hues! Send me an e-mail if you’d like to learn more.
Eric
Director – Communications
AkzoNobel (maker of Glidden paints)
Natasha says
Love the new ceiling color. Can I ask how high your ceilings are in that room and is the room on a sunny side of the house? Our master bedroom definitely needs a revamp (along with the rest of the 70’s house we own) and I really love the Gentle Tide color you chose but was wondering if it might be too cool for a room on the non-sunny side of our home?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! We have standard height 8 feet ceilings throughout our house and the bedroom gets morning sun (I believe it’s north to north-west facing). We also have Gentle Tide on the opposite side of the house in the kitchen which is proof to me that it works in any and all light. It’s seriously our favorite color ever. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Karen says
Love it! I have two ceilings painted colors in my home and they are my two favorite rooms. I often wonder if I shouldn’t just paint all the ceilings a complimentary color but then I wonder if I would lose the “wow” of the two rooms that it looks so awesome in. Maybe I’ll share pics someday with you all since I’ll never get around to a blog of my own. hmmm…
MissCaron says
WOW. Love it! Y’all did a great job!
One year my mom took this gigantic hunter green and cream striped wallpaper and stuck it to the vaulted ceiling over the kitchen … I was skeptical at first but once it was up there it looked fantastic! It was like a big awning over the space. Very cool. In this new house she put tongue and groove hardwood on the vaulted ceiling in her master bath … it looks awesome. She’s always thinking outside the box!
Meredith says
Where is your chadelier from? I love it!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Meredith,
Our bedroom chandy is from West Elm but they sadly no longer sell it. They do have super similar ones at World Market and of course you can also try ebay (search “capiz chandelier”). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
~~Rhonda says
Your ceiling is beautiful! Color there makes so much difference in the look of the entire room. I love to see others paint their ceilings! We don’t have a white ceiling left in the house and they constantly generate compliments. Thanks for sharing the changes you are making in your home. ~~Rhonda
Dianna says
We had to have our living room ceiling replaced…..plaster was coming away from lathe, messy…..
In response to Erin’s popcorn ceiling, you can remove the popcorn, a messy DIY project, but it can be done. Just Google, you’ll find plenty of you-tube videos.
Cori says
Thank you for posting this! I was just looking up at my bedroom ceiling last night and wondering if I could paint it. It is ceiling tiles, about 1 foot by 1 foot square, white with the little holes (just like we had in school!) and I’m dying to do something to it, but taking it down seems like a bigger project than I am prepared for. We have the same ceilings in our guest bedroom/library and I contemplated snapping in a dark wood floor over the top of them (read that in a decorating magazine somewhere) to give it a nice old rustic library feel, but I didn’t want to try that in the bedroom. Any advice on what to do with ceiling tiles??
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Cori,
We actually have those foam-ish spongy ceiling tiles between the beams in our den and after looking into removing them we learned there’s no drywall behind them so it would be an extensive project. Instead we primed them a bunch of times and then painted them white with about three coats of latex paint (they suck up paint like nobody’s business). All of a sudden our old gray spongy ceiling looks sleek and white and the subtle square pattern is actually nice texture in the room. We don’t mind it at all. Here’s a post all about the process of painting them. It certainly wasn’t a walk in the park but it was well worth the effort (and cheap to boot).
xo,
s
julie says
Your bedroom is amazing! I struggle with trying to improve our home. I tend to be a perfectionist and become overwhelmed with all the decision making and my husband enjoys jumping right in and picking something out. How do you handle projects that don’t turn out as you thought?
Just this weekend, we had to make a decision on exterior siding color, bathroom tile, and deck stain. After restaining the deck, it turned out looking way too orange for my liking! Sadly, I can’t get passed the feeling that home projects are stressful.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Julie,
Good question! We certainly haven’t loved every home improvement decision that we’ve made, but we do try to remember that it’s all about baby steps. We actually painted the walls of the bedroom back when we had white bedding and then we saw our blue duvet on clearance at West Elm and had to snatch it up just to see if it would work in there. We knew if it didn’t we could always return it, but oh happy day- it did! Then we added the wardrobes on either side of the bed and they ended up adding function and form to the entire room so we jumped with joy. We also had the same approach with the ceiling: let’s see how it works out. You can always repaint, right? I think that’s how we approach decorating our house in general- we like to do things on a budget and always try things out to see if they’ll fly with the rest of the stuff we already have going on. It’s all about trial and error and evolving a room over time. In fact, here’s a post about the looooong process of evolution that our home has gone through. It certainly didn’t happen overnight and we definitely made our fair share of mistakes along the way. Luckily it all seems to work out in the end. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Jennifer S. says
I always paint my ceilings something other than white, especially if they have white crown moulding. It really adds another dimension to the room. Great tip!
Bailey says
Hi guys!!
Quick question, on the second photo (the one with the swatches) I see the tip of a gorgeous white sconce or mirror…I haven’t seen this item in any of your other pictures, may I ask where it came from? I love the lines of the piece! Thanks!
:)
Bailey
YoungHouseLove says
It’s actually one of three sconces from zgallerie.com. You can see more of them by searching “zgallerie sconce” in our site’s search bar. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Bailey says
Hi Sherry! Thanks for letting me know about the sconces. I just checked zgallerie’s website and wouldn’t you know it, they are on sale! You just made my day!
By the way, I just adore your home. You two have the best style and taste and your blog is such a joy to read. Thank you!
:)
Bailey
Chez says
Hi Sherry! Love the look of this! Our bedroom had a similar treatment when we bought the house, and it’s made me think about the stark white ceilings in the rest of the house…
My question is about my vaulted ceilings in our living room and kitchen. We’ve got 10′ ceilings, but on the exterior wall of the house, they start at 8′ and then vault up to the 10′ height. (You can sort of see it in this photo: http://tinyurl.com/ylh4832)
Anyway, the 8′ wall is the one that our furniture faces (our TV is on that wall!) so I feel like the contrast between the wall color and the ceiling is going to be stark. I’m painting next weekend (Valspar Bubbling Creek) and as soon as I do that I know the white ceiling is going to drive me nuts! Any suggestions?
Love your blog and your style!!
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely carry the wall color up onto the ceiling in large spaces with vaulted ceilings. It won’t feel dark and oppressive since you have such lofty ceilings and it’ll feel so much more cohesive than a big break where the ceiling meets the wall. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Alison says
Hi John and Sherry!
I just painted the ceiling in my living room and we used the same paint we used for the walls (a nice light yellow) in a satin finish. The ceiling looks like a totally different color, though and so I was wondering if I should have used flat paint? What type of finish did you use for your ceiling? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely flat for ceilings! Flat paint is perfect for ceilings because it hides imperfections and looks smooth and seamless. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Heather says
I am in LOVE with your ceiling!
I am in the process of painting all the ceilings in our home, room-by-room.
So glad I found this before I got to any of the bedrooms! I am at a loss at what color to do though.
Our master bedroom is Olympic paint Avocado green, which I love, but can’t even think of what ceiling color to do….
Any suggestions?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, ceiling colors look so different depending on the light (and should really be held up to the ceiling and not the wall since light reflects differently off that plane) so we’d be crazy to venture a guess for your bedroom. Instead we’d recommend just doing what we did: take home a bunch of swatches and use blue painter’s tape to tape them to the ceiling and see which one looks best. Easy, peasy!
xo,
s
Lilian says
Hi,
Just a comment about ceiling colors…all my rooms, including family and dining rooms, are about 14’x10′, standard 8′ ceilings with all moldings painted Kelley Moore’s Swiss Coffee (good ol’ stand by and painted before I bought the house). I used the same color on the ceilings as I did the walls for each room even tho most design shows advise to go one or two shades lighter on the swatch deck…I love this look. Yes, the room could give the illusion of being larger with white or off-white, or even lighter shade paint, but I love the comfort and warmth this gives. As you mentioned, lighting does affect the appearance of the ceiling paint color — in my house lighting is bad so my ceilings look just a little bit darker than the walls but I hardly notice it. I also used the same sheen on the walls and ceilings — low sheen by the Dunn Edwards which is (or was, this year they re-arranged their sheens and introduced two more) between a flat and eggshell. That was a personal preference because I don’t like the chalky/dry look and feel of flat paint and because it saves me money by not having to by a different can of paint :-)
Thanks,
Lilian
Lilian says
*clarification* :-)
When I said I used the same color on the walls as I did the ceilings, I didn’t mean Swiss Coffee! I just meant whichever color I chose for the walls in each room, I used the same on the ceilings…
Thanks and sorry! *sigh*
Mary says
Hey,
Your bedroom was mentioned in a post about bedroom ceilings at Apartment Therapy yesterday. The accolades never stop do they? Very Nice!!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the heads up Mary! Off to check it out…
xo,
s
margie says
Hi, you ceiling looks amazing great chocie!
I have a question, when you painted the ceiling how did you prevent paint from getting on your walls.
I am painting my ceiling this weekend and everyone keeps telling me that I am going to ruin my walls!
I also could use some advice. I painted our bedroom walls gray last weekend and this weekend we are painting an accent wall in the bedroom. we have a damask stencil that we plan to paint on. The problem im trying to decide is should do the damask stencil in white and paint the ceiling white or should I mix the wall color with white and paint the stencil and ceiling with a lighter gray. the gray that we put on our walls are already pretty light.
Also we did a eggshell finsih, do you think we should do the stencil in eggshell also?
Thanks so much. Any advice would be great thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Margie,
We used a low-nap high quality roller (we like the Purdy brand sold at Home Depot) that was meant for “smooth surfaces” which really eliminates splatters. Not a drop got on our walls so we wouldn’t worry. Of course you should tape off the side of the walls where they meet the ceiling or cut in with a high quality angled brush to get a nice clean line, but other than that as long as you go slow and steady and don’t go crazy and apply too much pressure the paint should just stay on the roller and then be transferred to the ceiling. We have painted many ceilings after the walls and it’s never an issue for us. As for your color question, either would look great so it’s just a personal preference. If you want the stark white look on the stencil and the ceiling then go for it but if you want a less crisp and bright look you can go with the lighter gray for the stencil and the ceiling. The finish question is also subjective but we would say that sticking with the eggshell finish would be a great way to keep things looking cohesive and also make them nice and easy-care since eggshell is a great wipe-able finish. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
margie says
thanks you really put my mind at ease about ruining my freshly painted walls! I think ill talk it over with the hubby and let me decide since i cant seem to. It will make him feel like he had a say…lol
sherrina says
I am so nervous about painting my ceiling. I have watched Youtube videos and have even considered buying the “as seen on TV” ‘point and paint’ (it is supposed to allow you to paint any room in an hour; and look, no dripping!)and ceiling paint that goes on pink and dries white. Any tips you can share would be appreciated!
BTW-I am the owner of a townhouse I call “that 70s show” given its many avocado and robin’s egg blue toilets and tiles amongst other things, and have been slowly updating room by room as I can over the last 2.5 years.
I am embarrased at my slow progress seeing how easy things look on this website and really feel I should be tackling at least one project per month now!
YoungHouseLove says
Just scroll up a comment to see our response to Margie which is full of tips and tricks. There’s no reason to worry!
xo,
s
Annie says
Hi, Sherry and John!
I love, love, love your blog! I just bought my first home in November(quite the fixer-upper) and have used SO many of your ideas!
I’ve been working my way through the house and finally came to what will be the guest bedroom – it’s currently the master, but we’re adding a master bed/bath to the attic (but that’s a WHOLE other story!).
I figured that I should paint the ceiling before I painted the walls and refinished the hard woods – makes sense, right? Only problem is, when we were painting the ceiling last night, some of the texture (popcorn – ugh) came off. Now there’s a 5 inch “hole” in the ceiling.
Any advice on how to fix it? If that’s possible?!?
Thanks so much!
Annie
YoungHouseLove says
We would just google around for “popcorn ceiling patching tutorials.” Either that or just remove it all (there are lots of those tutorials online as well, just we sure you’re not dealing with asbestos and you’re good to go). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Felicity says
After installing recessed lighting in our kitchen this weekend I was just about to start painting the ceiling with standard-issue bright white ceiling paint our home’s previous owners left us. (the ceilings are all currently a dirty shade of yellowed ceiling so just patching won’t do) Then I remembered that you guys went non-traditional in your house and suddenly my project came to a halt.
I just taped up the lightest white-ish swatch (BM chantilly lace) on the strip with our wall color (BM iced cube silver) and I’m torn: bright white or slightly grayish bluish? The room’s ceiling is open to the dining & living rooms, up the stairwell and into the upstairs hall, so it’s a big commitment. It’s a small house so I don’t want the space to feel closed-in.
What do you think, youngsters, should I jump in with both feet and say goodbye to bright white?
YoungHouseLove says
You already know what we’re about to say, right? We’re loving tinted ceilings waaaay more than white ones these days (which just feel stark and ignored to us, while softly toned ones feel subtle and polished since they look less blindingly bare and unfinished). Now it’s just about finding the perfect tone to complement all those rooms. Remember subtle is still the key… it just doesn’t have to be bright white to “match” all those rooms- in fact softer tints and shades probably match a whole lot better than that blinding white paint does. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Felicity says
Thanks for the nudge in the right direction. I have three swatches on the ceiling right now. Actually buying a little paint to slap up there made all the difference; it looks way different from the chip I taped to the ceiling. Thanks for the inspiration – I’m sure I’ll be back for more!
Carrie says
My husband and I recently painted our master bedroom. He wanted plum, I wanted gray, so we settled on a color called “Plum Smoke” by Behr. Depending on what time of day it is the walls look plum or gray, so it was a good compromise I suppose. We are ready to paint the ceiling and I think white looks funny against the dark color of the walls, any suggestions that would look good with a plummy/gray wall color?
YoungHouseLove says
A soft gray ceiling would look nice and a lot less stark than white. Just bring home a bunch of swatches and tape them up to see what works with those delicious walls of yours. Good luck!
xo,
s
Carrie says
Thanks so much for the super quick reply! I’ll have to check out some soft gray colors. Any thoughts about good accent colors? I’m thinking white bedding (the pintucked duvet from West Elm) would work best, but not sure about the throw pillows, etc.
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah, layering in lots of crisp white with gray tones and other softer smoky plum tones would be lovely- sort of like dark lavender with lots of gray and white mixed in. Gorgeous!
xo,
s
Virginia says
I love colored ceilings. In my kitchen I painted my walls a bright yellow, my ceiling a sky blue and have a border of yellow and blue pansies with a deep blue border. My countertop is basic deep blue with lighter shades mixed in. Blinds are deep blue. Cupboards are white. Trim is white. Fridge and stove are white. The whole things looks absolutely beautiful. Still making me smile after three years of living with it. And now with your help I am about to paint an auction-bought table white.
Rachel says
Hey, I love you guys and all your great ideas! Your website is my favorite for DIY inspiration.
A while back I used your wood paneling painting tutorial for painting my lovely paneled living room a light greeny grey, and we are loving how much it’s brightened up the room. Unfortunately, our 5th wall, as you so aptly put it, is still a paneled disaster (who panels their ceiling, I mean really??). I have been putting it off because doing the walls was such a pain and took forever. I had to use a brush for everything because rolling it looked so bad. It took two days to prime and paint.
Can you think of any better method for painting a paneled ceiling other than ladder + brush? Thanks guys, you’re the best!!
YoungHouseLove says
We would try a nappy roller (meant for textured surfaces) so it can get into all those cracks and crevices. It’s also a lot more comfortable to use while standing on the floor (not a ladder) with an extender rod attached to the roller handle (so that would also be our suggestion). Of course the primer will look uneven and terrible when it goes on (it always does) but after two coats of paint or so it should look great- and you still might need to use a ladder and brush to get to some of the deeper cracks, but it’ll be much faster than priming and painting the entire ceiling with a brush. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Megan says
I loooove this room (I’m still figuring out how you decide which colors go so well together) My issue it that I buy anything I love, so my whole apartment pretty much just looks like a mish mash of different colored great objects. I’m slowly working on it though.
So here’s my question: I have an eggplant duvet cover and shams. I want to paint the walls, ceiling and get new curtains. I’m thinking of a greyish theme for the paint and curtains and then putting in some pops of yellow, maybe in a couple of throw pillows? How does that sound?
What I’m most worried about though is painting the ceiling. My friend says that b/c I don’t have crown mouldings the 2 colors won’t look right without the white moulding to divide them. I disagree- what do you youngsters think? We also happen to have insanely high ceilings, like 10.5 or 11 feet, so how will this affect our color choice? Should it be close to the wall color, darker than someone with a lower ceiling. Any advice would be great.
YoungHouseLove says
Your color scheme and plan of attack sounds exactly like what we’d recommend. We can already picture it! In short: go for it!
And as for painting ceilings, with or without molding we think it looks great- especially if the colors relate! So make your ceiling a few shades lighter than the walls and you’re good to go (as a rule we’d say keep it down to the first or second swatch on a paint chip- anything higher is too dark/bold). Just explain to your friend that people without crown molding have kept their ceilings stark and white for years so why would painting them a shade that’s closer and more related to the wall color be a bad thing? They’ll blend in and feel more cohesive- not less! Plus the effect is super cozy and enveloping (and much less jarring and disjointed) so it’s perfect for a bedroom. Instead of having this stark “unfinished” looking fifth wall it’ll be integrated and lovely. Good luck!
xo,
s
Megan says
Okay- So I will totally go for it!
One more question- any good paint recs for greyish colors or advice on how to go about choosing the right shade? I would like something that doesn’t look blue b/c of the eggplant color. But, I don’t want a dusty grey either… and then is it as simple as just choosing a lighter shade in the same family for the ceiling? I don’t tend to have great matching skills and usually choose paint that’s too dark based on what I see off the sample cards. I think this might be a common problem with a lot of people. I want the impact of the color but don’t know how to get it with a light shade…
thanks in advance- you guys are the best!
YoungHouseLove says
Since colors change in so many different lighting situations we would just recommend taking home a ton of gray shades and seeing which undertones suit your room and your accent colors best. Anything we suggest could be too dusty or too blue in your light so just see what works! Good luck!
xo,
s
Megan says
Okay- so we’re mid way through this painting insanity and did I mention I am due to deliver our first baby in 3 weeks??!? Because the guy at Home depot freaked my husband out so much about me not going anywhere near the paint and/or fumes I have been stuck outside the bedroom trying to catch glimpses of what’s going on in there. It isn’t looking good.
He needs help!
How do you go about painting 3 different colors (walls, ceiling, trim?) So far hubby has painted ceiling, but not the edges, all the trim and walls but not the edges. Does this not sound insane? We have the green painters tape, but you can’t exactly put tape on wet paint. So in what order should this all be painted.
FYI- he does not have a steady enough hand to cut in with a brush. and clearly I am not “allowed” to partake in this at all.
Which also gives me another question: have you been painting and/or exposing yourself to any fumes? It’s so hard not to, especially with this nesting this happening!
HELP!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Megan,
Nope, I don’t get near anything other than no-VOC paint or I wear a professional gas mask (not one of those dinky paper cups that go over your mouth and nose, but one of those crazy things that looks like you’re going to war. Safety first!
As for helping out your husband, ideally he would just spend three nights doing the project. One for the ceiling to be taped off and painted. Then the next night he could tape off the ceiling and paint the walls. The following night he could tape off the walls around the trim and paint that. However, here’s the best order that we’ve come up with if you’re trying to do as much as possible in one day:
First paint the ceiling (all of it, tape the edges off). Then remove the tape and paint the walls except for the top of them near the ceiling since he can’t tape that off because it’s still wet. Then paint the trim. People usually don’t need to tape off trim, even without a steady hand. But if your husband thinks that’s a bad call, this brush is a miracle (read the comments to see how many readers agree!). Then the next day (or a few days later) go in and fill in the top edge of the walls where they meet the ceiling once you can tape that part off. Or if you have the brush you don’t need to wait because you can edge everything out the same night.
Again, it would definitely be ideal to spend a few days doing it for the best results (or pick up that short handled brush we linked to, which makes taping completely unnecessary). But we know all about crunch time. Good luck!
xo,
s
rebecca says
I think your ceilings look gorgeous! What would you think about combining Glidden Water Chestnut on the walls and BM Healing Aloe on the ceiling?
YoungHouseLove says
Gorgeous! Perfectly subtle and lovely. Go for it!
xo,
s
Kathryn Garry says
Hello,
Thanks writing about ceiling paint. My husband and I are trying to figure out what to do with our ceilings. We have a pretty open floor plan and I am thinking of painting all the walls white (living room, dining room and kitchen). We have dark hardwood floors and I love the all white look. Should I paint the ceilings the same white or just leave them? They are basic ceiling white right now. I was also wondering about trim. Do most people paint their trim with a glossy paint? It is sometimes hard to tell in pictures online. Thank you so much for your advice!
Congrats on Baby Clara! She is absolutely gorgeous!
-Kathryn
YoungHouseLove says
Definitely paint them the same white! It’ll look open and airy (and they won’t look dingy or shaded by comparison). And yes, trim is traditionally painted with semi-gloss or high-gloss paint (so it’s durable and easily wipeable). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy Boyce says
Hi, I love your blog. It has totally reinspired me to get back to work on our house after a huge, exhausting push in the fall before we moved in.
My question is this: I love the look of the colored ceilings – we have 9′ ceilings with picture rails about one foot down from the ceiling in most rooms. Would you carry the ceiling color down through the space above the picture rails?
YoungHouseLove says
You absolutely could! It’s a great idea for a seamless and airy look. Good luck!
xo,
s
renee says
OK- I’m confuzzled. I love your Gentle Tide in the bedroom and kitchen and thought it’d be perfect for my bedroom. Just got back from Home Depot. They looked up Gentle Tide in a big book of swatches after checking for the code in the computer, and I’ll be darned if that shade isn’t in the “green” family. It’s def more green than blue. And when I look at the photo of the wall above your bed, it does look green, but the wall to the right (with the window) looks blue. Picture me scratching my head.
Since it’s a discontinued color, I couldn’t take home a sample to tape to the wall. I told them it was similar to Benjamin Moore’s Quiet Moments, but without a number, they can’t look that one up.
Hmmmm…any feedback on the green/blue issue?
Love all that you do every single day for us!
YoungHouseLove says
Every lighting situation is different but in our house (in both rooms) it definitely more blue by far. There’s just a smudge of green in there and more gray than green. It’s also super similar to Restoration Hardware’s Silver Sage so you can grab that swatch and see how it reads in
your house (that one also reads much more blue even though sage is in the name). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Elizabeth says
Quick question…can’t tell from the various pics I’ve looked at on here…did you have ceiling vents in any of the rooms that you painted a color on the ceiling? What did you do with the metal vent…paint it out the same color?
YoungHouseLove says
We actually don’t have metal ceiling vents in our house, but painting them the same color as the ceiling would be the easiest way to blend them in. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Abbey says
Hey guys! I found your blog a few months ago, and you’ve been so inspiring! My hubby and I are major DIY-ers…runs in our genes. Both sets of parents are just like us, too! I just finished painting our family room a lovely light tan color, and painted the ceiling to match, per YHL-inspiration. We LOVE it! Just got back from Menard’s with a smokey-gray color for the ceiling in our blue-gray kitchen.
I’ve been thinking about sending you some of our recent projects…you’d love the kitchen chandelier we made for FREE. Anyway, thanks for all the great ideas. I’m off to paint!!
Lariat Lane says
I just stumbled across your website while my fiance and I were discussing what to do with our very stark master bedroom. Our house has a lot of angles and alcoves with high ceilings. There’s no chance of adding crown molding because of the style of the house. Would you still recommend painting the ceiling without having a crown molding?
Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
In your situation we would actually suggest keeping things all one color. That way the ceiling and the angled bits of the room will blend with the wall for a less chopped up feeling. It’ll be open and lofty and lovely. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Gita says
I have been reading your blog for a few months and I just love it. Love the celing color. My kitchen walls are painted dark red and the cabinets are a very light oak. I love the dark red kitchen, except I am stumped about waht to piant the celing. Currently the celing is just your average celing white. Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thank you.
YoungHouseLove says
A creamy tan tone might relate to both the cabinets and the red walls for a warm and polished look instead of the stark white vibe that you have going on. Just bring home a ton of tan swatches and tape them up to see which ones work without closing in the space. Good luck!
xo,
s
Serina says
My bedroom doors are blaringly apparent to me, just as your white ceilings were to you… do you have thoughts on painting interior doors? My bedroom is painted Martha Stewart’s Araucana Sage (similar tone to your Glidden color). I am not timid when it comes to using bold/bright colors, so my thoughts are to go with a rich, fiery red-orange color for the bedroom doors (I have a bathroom door in my bedroom, so 2 doors are looking quite naked to me). My biggest concern is how the white trim around the door will look planted in between the sage walls and orange doors… any thoughts or suggestions? Thank you, and love, love, love your blog!
YoungHouseLove says
We’ve seen doors painted the wall color or the soft ceiling color (if it’s not white) and even seen them stained a dark ebony black, so anything goes! Good luck!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Can I paint a popcorn ceiling?
YoungHouseLove says
Sure!
xo,
s
Stephanie says
Can you help with ceiling dilemna? Our master bedroom is large-20×16. The walls are 8ft with a tray that is 3 ft tall leading to the ceiling. No crown molding, brown trim on doors and lg window. Would you suggest painting the wall and tray the same color, or the tray and ceiling the same color?
Thank you so much!!
YoungHouseLove says
We actually might consider doing the ceiling and the tray the same color as the walls for a super seamless and lofty look! Or you could do the tray the same color as the ceiling or the same color as the walls. There’s really no “wrong” way to do it! Just do what you like best (maybe google around to see what looks appeal most to you?).
xo,
s
Rachael says
I know this is a very old post, but I was just wondering if it would still look good to paint your ceiling if you didn’t have crown molding. I would love to put some up one day but for now I might settle on affordable paint. What do you think?
YoungHouseLove says
We have definitely seen painted ceilings without crown molding and it can look great! We’d just keep it subtle (and not go for something too contrasty or bright so it feels tied in and soft). Good luck!
xo,
s