Painting Ceiling Same Color as Walls: Pros and Cons
Is this top-to-bottom trend right for you?
Highlights
Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls can make a ceiling seem higher and prevent clashing undertones.
In some cases, painting the walls and ceiling the same color may make a room feel smaller or overwhelming.
Using one color for the walls and ceiling simplifies the painting process but makes it harder to change the color.
For a long time, ceilings haven’t been much of a consideration when choosing a wall color. The popular design trend of painting the ceiling the same color as the walls is changing that, though, with many homeowners including the ceiling as a room’s fifth wall.
Whether or not this is the right design choice for your home depends on the room, the color, and your personal design style. Learn the pros and cons of painting your ceiling the same color as the walls so you can decide if it suits your room.
What is a Monochromatic Room?
Many homeowners consider ceilings an easily forgotten part of a room that doesn’t factor into design choices. A monochromatic room, however, includes the ceiling when transforming the color of the walls, extending the paint color past the seam where the wall color often meets a white ceiling. By including the ceiling in the room’s color scheme, a monochromatic room can give a more intentional feel when it comes to color choice and give homeowners a larger canvas to express their style.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can make a ceiling seem higher | May make a room seem smaller |
| Avoids conflicting undertones | Can feel overwhelming |
| Creates a seamless transition with angled walls and vaulted ceilings | May detract from architectural features |
| Simplifies the painting process | Difficult to change |
Pros of Painting the Ceiling the Same Color as the Walls
Painting your ceiling to match the walls is a bold design choice that can pay off when done correctly. Whether you choose a dark, moody shade or a light neutral, the monochromatic look offers some real style benefits.
Makes the Ceiling Seem Higher
When the walls and the ceiling are the same color, there’s no visual cutoff between the two. The eye is naturally drawn up, and the continuation of color provides a seamless visual flow, making ceilings seem higher.
Prevents Clashing Undertones
When you paint the ceiling the same color as the walls, you don’t need to worry about the different paint colors having conflicting undertones. You may not even realize your undertones are clashing until your warm-toned white walls meet the cool white ceiling, but once you see the contrast, it’s hard to unsee. Using the same paint color avoids this problem and makes your walls and ceiling visually harmonious.
Helps Make Asymmetrical Features Blend
An angled wall or vaulted ceiling can look disjointed when it meets another surface with a contrasting color. Painting the ceiling and walls the same color makes these features blend in harmoniously with the rest of the room and keeps them from looking out of place.
Simplifies the Painting Process
Tired of taping ceiling seams or worrying about cutting in perfectly with your paint? Using the same paint color on the walls and ceiling means you can just keep rolling once you start painting. It also allows you to avoid having to buy another paint color to freshen up the ceiling paint.
Cons of Painting the Ceiling the Same Color as the Walls
While a monochromatic room works well in many cases, sometimes it’s not the best choice. Consider these factors before painting your ceiling the same color as the walls:
Can Make a Room Feel Smaller
Painting a room one color can make the space feel larger, but in some cases, it can have the opposite effect. Darker colors can make a room feel smaller and more enclosed, so if you paint an already small room dark, including the ceiling, it can make it feel even more closed in. Painting the ceiling in a bathroom may not affect the feel of the room, but in a smaller bedroom or living room, the effect may be a little claustrophobic.
May Feel Overwhelming
Using a light neutral on your walls and ceiling isn’t likely to feel overwhelming, but a bolder color choice might be too much for some homeowners. If you prefer just a pop of color to a maximalist color statement, the monochromatic look probably isn’t right for you.
Can Conceal Architectural Features
Ceiling beams and intricate crown molding are features you want to highlight, and a monochromatic paint look can make them fade into the background. Without the contrast that different color paint provides, these bits of architectural interest can be hard to spot.
Difficult to Change
While using all one color can make the initial painting process easier, it makes it more difficult when it comes time to change it. Painting a high ceiling can be an involved process, so having to redo it when you change your mind about the color may be more work that you want to take on.
If you paint your popcorn ceiling a dark color, repainting it back to white or another color may involve several time-intensive coats for full coverage in all the nooks and crannies. Hiring a painter to repaint the ceiling may be a good idea—a local interior painter can ensure the job is done right.
Alternatives to Painting the Ceiling the Same Color as the Walls
If you’re bored with basic white but aren’t sure you want to commit to a fully monochromatic room, you have options. One choice is to use a tint of your wall color for your ceiling, so you’re getting the same tone with a lot less intensity.
If you want to keep the look of a white ceiling for contrast or to highlight architectural details, consider a white that’s softer or has a different undertone from what’s currently there.
Is a Monochromatic Room Right for You?
Whether or not you should paint your ceiling the same color as the walls comes down to the size and features of the room, the paint color you choose, and your own personal style. If you’re worried a top-to-bottom dark color will make a room feel smaller, this might not be the design choice for you. If you love the look of a color-drenched room and want to commit to your favorite hue, this can be the look you’re aiming for.
Frequently Asked Questions
While you can use wall paint on the ceiling, there are some differences between ceiling and wall paint. Ceiling paint tends to be thicker, cover discoloration better, and comes in a more limited color selection. Wall paint is thinner, holds up to regular cleaning better, and is available in an almost endless variety of colors.
Using a paint roller to paint your ceiling will allow you to cover the surface quicker and more evenly than using a brush. You may want to use a brush to cut in at the ceiling seam and around light fixtures, but it’s much faster and easier to use a roller for the bulk of the job.