A painted ceiling can have such an impressive effect and can transform the whole room. You can paint your ceiling boldly or select a more subdued paint color for a modest effect.
When decorating, you should consider your ceilings as a fifth wall. You can opt for a white ceiling to make the space appear higher or paint the ceiling in the same color as the walls for a smooth and cohesive effect. Alternatively, you can use bold or dark colors to draw attention to your ceilings and feature them as a focal point in your space.
A darker color will typically make the ceiling appear lower. For this reason, interior designers usually advise against picking a very dark ceiling paint color when your ceilings aren’t that high.
In the list below, you can find my favorite picks of the most inspiring living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchen spaces, all with a painted ceiling.
Painted ceiling ideas for the living and dining room
A black ceiling in a living room with an eclectic decor
The eclectic interior design in this majestic living room features a beautiful gallery wall and black-painted ceilings. Apart from the painted ceiling, the living room has quite a light color palette, which makes the room feel light and airy.
via Entrance Makleri
Paint your ceiling to highlight ceiling moldings
Painting your ceiling can be a great way to highlight ceiling moldings, just like in the interior design below. The light brown ceiling color is paired with natural elements and neutral tones in the decor. As the cherry on top, the oversized light fixtures pop out against the backdrop of the painted ceiling.
via New Works
A modern living space with a black ceiling
The beautiful interior design of this historic living room with a modern twist is powered by the striking contrast between the light grey walls and the black ceiling. This contrast can be found back in the black and white sofa that decorates the middle of the space.
via Valvet
A low ceiling in a dark grey for a moody effect
Sometimes it’s fine to go against common interior rules and go for a bold and unique look. While darker ceiling colors will typically make your ceiling appear lower, in this small attic apartment, the dark color spread on the walls and ceiling has a unique effect on the space.
A lighter paint color might have made this room feel bigger, however, the design wouldn’t be as characterful.
Styled by Nouvel Interior, photographed by Alen Cordic, for sale via Entrance Makleri
An asymmetrical floor plan and a brown ceiling
The asymmetrical floor plan of this gorgeous historic living room is accentuated by adding a matt brown paint color to the ceiling.
via Ferm Living
Painted living room and dining room ceiling
The same shade of grey paint is used to paint the ceiling and four walls in this spacious living and dining room. The wall color is a few shades lighter than the color selected for the ceiling and trim. This creates a beautiful tonal effect from which the white living room couch and area rug stand out powerfully.
Photographed by Maria Sahlander for Bjurfors
An attic living room completely painted in grey
When you have sloped ceilings, it’s always a bit tricky to know where the walls stop and the ceiling starts. By painting both the ceiling and walls in the same color, you achieve a cohesive effect from which the interior decor pieces stand out.
via Entrance Makleri
An eclectic space with a butter-yellow ceiling
The beige tones on the wainscoting in this dining room are paired with an off-white wall color and a subtle buttery yellow paint on the ceiling. Painting ceilings in a light yet complementary color will make them stand out in a subtle way that will make your space unique.
via Ferm Living and hotel Villa Copenhagen
Painted ceiling ideas for the bedroom
Swap out a white ceiling for a darker color for a unique effect
A dark ceiling color paired with white wall paint will make the ceiling come down visually, making the room appear less high. In this white room, the dark blue ceiling creates a visual depth that gives the interior design of the space a unique and personal effect.
via Bjurfors
A fun space with a pink ceiling
The bold pink ceiling in this bedroom creates a unique effect and makes the room feel playful and personal. The grouped paper light fixtures guide the eye upward, drawing even more attention to the bright color of the ceiling.
Styled by Åsa Copparstad, photographed by Frederic Boucari, for Historiska Hem
A blue bedroom ceiling like a blue sky
The white paint on the walls in this cozy bedroom is paired with a sky-blue painted ceiling, which gives the impression of a sky above the bed. The rest of the bedroom decor is selected in a neutral color palette, to make the ceiling paint stand out powerfully.
Styled by Linnéa H. Manaberi and Annica Clarmell, photographed by Henrik Linden for Alvhem
Bringing the eye upward in a small and narrow bedroom
A high ceiling in a narrow room like the one in the example below can sometimes make the space appear even more narrow. By selecting a green-grey painted ceiling for this small bedroom, the ceiling comes down visually and the floor plan of the bedroom looks more balanced.
The green and blue accents in the artwork and accessories bring out the green undertones in the ceiling paint.
photographed by Henrik Linden, sold at Alvhem
A painted ceiling and trim in an all-white bedroom
Apart from the bed and the ceiling, this bedroom is almost entirely white. White walls are paired with white flooring and an impressive white bedroom wardrobe. The fifth wall, however, is painted in a bold blue paint color that has a huge impact on the interior design of the bedroom.
By painting the trim in the same blue color the ceiling comes down visually.
Styled by Anna Van Keppel, photographed by Mia Borgerlin for Historiska Hem
Painted ceiling ideas for the kitchen
A black ceiling color makes the ceiling beams stand out
Painting a space in such a dark paint color takes a bit of courage. If you take the bold route though, you might as well go all the way and add painted ceilings to the mix as well.
The interior design of this black kitchen is moody and bold while drawing attention to the light beige limestone flooring and the authentic wood beams.
via DeVol Kitchens
A classic kitchen space with a yellow ceiling
For this kitchen space, the interior designer painted the walls yellow, and with it also planned out a yellow ceiling. The matt finish of the paint will hide imperfections, which is especially useful in older buildings. The warm yellow paint color gives this interior with dark floors a golden glow and the darker colors provide the space with contrast.
via DeVol Kitchens
An olive green shaker kitchen with a matched paint color on the walls and ceiling
A gorgeous tone-one-tone look is achieved in this classic shaker kitchen with olive green kitchen cabinets, brass hardware, and an impressive white marble on the sink, counter, and backsplash.
By painting your ceiling and walls in the same color as your kitchen cabinets, you achieve a cohesive look. If you select a contrasting countertop color, it will magically pop out of the painted backdrop for an impressive effect in the space.
via DeVol Kitchens
All the attention is drawn to the kitchen island
The bold color choice of green on the ceiling and walls in this historic kitchen puts the classic wood kitchen island with white countertops at the center of attention.
via DeVol Kitchens
A soft look with a warm beige color contrasted by a black kitchen
Painting the ceiling and the walls in the same color can unify the entire space. The matt warm beige paint color chosen for the walls and ceiling in this historic kitchen is also applied to the crown molding, wainscoting, and historic window and door frames.
The antique wood dining table and the black kitchen with the white marble countertop stand out against this one color that unifies the look of this gorgeous kitchen.
via DeVol Kitchens
A dark grey wall and ceiling paint color for a dramatic effect
The dark grey color of the walls and ceiling in this kitchen space gives the room a dramatic aesthetic that highlights the natural light coming in through those large windows.
The natural wood kitchen cabinets and the beige stone of the historic fireplace add a warm element to make this dark interior cozy and inviting.
via DeVol Kitchens
