25 Painted Ceilings That Elevate the Entire Room
You won't be able to stop looking up.
Here's a design rule we stand by: Don't forget about the ceiling! Your walls get so much love—from hanging artwork to installing decorative murals and wallpaper—and we believe the lonely fifth wall deserves just as much attention. Sure, you might look up when you're turning on your ceiling fan or trying to replace your dreaded boob light, but the ceiling doesn't always get the consideration it deserves. One of the easiest ways to decorate the roof over your head is by changing its color, so we've gathered some painted ceiling ideas you're immediately going to fall ceiling-over-floor in love with.
You'll see there are so many more creative options than flat white. You could paint your ceiling the same hue as your walls, which is a wonderful way to really fill the room with color. If you're redecorating a child's room, consider a circus-striped ceiling to bring in a feeling of whimsy—or a blue sky filled with fluffy clouds to set a calm mood. In the market for something more elevated? Look into lacquer or a high-gloss paint to make your room feel brighter, or choose a pastel or a soft metallic that feels understated and elegant.
We're here to encourage you to step out of the box and really think about how you want to your space to look and feel, starting at the top. There's nothing wrong with a white ceiling, of course—it should just be an intentional choice you make, not a missed opportunity. After all, you have to paint the ceiling with something, so it might as well be a color you love! Read on to get inspired by some of our favorite painted ceiling ideas from interior designers.
Choose a High-Gloss Paint
Nothing bounces light around a room like a ceiling that's lacquered or painted in colorful, high-gloss finish. This idea is also great for making a low ceiling look higher, especially if you paint the walls and ceiling in the same color, as Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs did in the dining room of our 2023 Whole Home. Using chinoiserie-inspired Cook's Blue by Farrow & Ball on the trim and ceiling also makes the historic murals pop.
Add Depth With a Rich Hue
If your house has a tray ceiling, give it some more dimension by painting the inset area a different color. Brian Paquette chose a gorgeous dark green for the dining area in this Scandinavian-style home. It coordinates with the curtains and the artwork (without exactly matching), adds some warmth, and makes the room feel more complete and intentional.
Paint a Fun Mural
Add even more layers to a maximalist space by hiring a muralist to come in and add artwork on the ceiling. For the 2023 Whole Home, Isabel Ladd turned to a "more-is-more" tropical aesthetic in the owner's suite. Though the walk-in closet wasn't lacking in size, its windows didn't leave much space to add the details she loves. So, why not commission a muralist to paint a tiger on the ceiling? It's an extra personal touch that ties the closet into the rest of the suite.
Bring the Outside In
Your home doesn't need to have a skylight for you to be able to see the clouds. Just paint the ceiling to look like a beautiful day to ensure the sun is always shining. Cate Dunning's husband hand-painted the ceiling in their breakfast room to resemble a Cole & Son mural wallcovering. It's a joy-sparking art piece that makes this cozy corner, and the entire home, feel so special.
Pull From Vintage Inspiration
If a room's ceiling doesn't have elegant trim or a plaster medallion, you can paint them on. Leanne Ford proved that you don't have to live in an old house to bring in historic elements. For the tween suite in our 2022 Whole Home, she had a ribbon-like trim painted on the walls and a swirly medallion added to the ceiling to "infuse soul" into the space, she said.
Go Dark
Do as interior designer Leanne Ford did here and paint the ceiling black to balance the other light and airy features. It makes the room feel a little cozier and more intimate without being too dark.
Be Detail Oriented
In this room by Commune Design, wooden beams painted with custom designs emit warmth and character and add a whimsical touch. If your home is blessed with exposed beams, why not accentuate their beauty even further by painting them?
Use Chalkboard Paint
Artist Rajiv Surendra embellished the black chalkboard paint walls and ceiling in this Montreal writing room to mimic elaborate moldings. The effect is fresh, modern, and stylishly cheeky.
Work What You've Got
Not technically the ceiling but close it, HVAC duct that's painted in a bold color can go from eyesore to style statement. "In this basement remodel, we would've had to spend a ton of money rerouting the HVAC air duct." designer Max Humphrey says. "Who wouldn't go with ballet slipper pink instead?"
Create a Cocoon
Match your tile to the ceiling to create a warm, edgy private cove. This shower and tub combination designed by Studio Robert McKinley creates an intriguing juxtaposition in aesthetics. The deep mocha handmade tiles are so much more impactful when the ceiling is painted the same color.
Outline the Coffers
Toledo Geller traced the ceiling beams in a high-gloss cobalt blue paint to accentuate the architectural quirks in this dining room. The speckled wallpaper softens the intensity for a perfect balance.
Paint an Abstract Pattern
In this modern and artful living room by Leanne Ford, the painted ceiling adds an unexpected pop of whimsy that contrasts with the monochromatic colors and angular, geometric motifs. The tangled look of the pendant light reflects the swirls nicely.
Take It Outside
Out on a Houston terrace designed by Celerie Kemble and Lindsey Herod, the real game-changer is the painted blue ceiling. It's the perfect way to top off the cheerful pink and blue accents, and it proves that, yes, this idea works outside too.
Complete the Scene
When her now 12-year-old twins graduated from bunk beds, New York designer Alexa Hampton brought in grown-up furniture and a custom Dean Barger mural inspired by a family trip to Rome. They share a room, "and that can be kind of a drag, so looking out of a fake window onto an Italian square" is some consolation, Hampton says. She painted the ceiling sky blue to extend the scene overhead.
Mix Two Materials
This forward-thinking bathroom designed by Leanne Ford Interiors looks super complicated, but you could actually steal the look yourself quite easily. The white painted hexagonal ceiling tiles meet the stained wood shiplap to visually separate the shower and the sink area since there isn't a shower curtain or glass partition.
Incorporate Texture
"The dining room was our greatest challenge, but it ended up becoming the most exciting room in the house," says Sara Gilbane of this fun space. The theme was vintage Everglades, so she had decorative artist Brian Leaver paint the palms and flamingos over a grasscloth wallpaper, then created a trompe l'oeil tented ceiling. Painting over texture-rich materials instead of straight onto the wall can add even more depth.
Play Up Architectural Features
Tracing decorative ceiling features in a gold paint brings attention to the gorgeous architectural details this grand San Francisco living room by Catherine Kwong. And she didn't stop there! Abstract art painted onto the black stained hardwood floors contrast beautifully with the Neoclassical ceiling and antique mirror above the fireplace.
Disguise Quirks
These painted stripes disguise the architectural quirks of the ceiling while also drawing our eye up to the color. Mimicking a pool cabana with a nautical flair, the bold turquoise and white stripes bring the space to life.
Try Barely There Pink
Though Cameron Ruppert Interiors kept the walls white, she used a super-pale pink shade for the ceilings to reflect the curtains and ginger jar lamp bases. While white would certainly work on the ceiling too, this shade imparts a subtle rosy glow.
Add Texture With Plaster
The custom blue plaster statement wall and barrel ceiling in this bedroom by Cathy Chapman complement the natural stones, which are from a quarry near this Vermont retreat. It's beautiful blend of snug, welcoming coziness and openness.
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