Should You Paint Your Ceiling and Walls the Same Color?

When you're painting a room, you may ask yourself, should I be painting the ceiling the same color as the walls? What paint color should I choose? Then, you have to select the finish, choose a color for the trim, and worry about your furniture matching. Because we tend to forget about the "fifth wall," that first question tends to trip up homeowners.

To help you decide, we reached out to home decor experts for the pros and cons of painting the ceiling the same color as the walls. Here's their best ceiling-painting advice, depending on the look you're hoping to achieve.

Pros of Painting Ceiling and Walls the Same Color

If you think matching the ceiling and walls is a boring option for a room, think again. The experts say there are many pros to painting the walls and ceiling the same hue.

Amplifies the Drama

"I always like to wrap a room in [the same] color," says Sarah Stacey, an interior designer based in Austin, Texas. That includes the ceiling: "Using a white ceiling with a bold wall color only detracts from a moody vibe," she explains.

If you're afraid of the room looking too dark, she seconds Welch's advice above, but recommends asking the paint store to add 50% white to the original paint color used on the walls. "Flat paint is so popular right now, so I would recommend going with just flat paint on both walls and ceilings."

Melinda O'Connor, an interior designer and architect based in Philadelphia, agrees. "In a more traditionally appointed room, it can be dramatic and moody to use the same color on both the walls and the ceiling," she says. "This looks best when the walls and ceiling are separated by a decorative crown molding, to be painted the same color as well. You can switch finishes up with a gloss for the crown and walls, or just the decorative crown. Just know that the higher gloss will show any blemishes on the surface."

Makes for a Cleaner-Looking Room

If the walls of the room are painted a shade of white, Southern California-based interior designer Anita Yokota swears by painting the walls and ceiling the same color. "Otherwise, the whites will contrast and it will look dingy," she warns. It's true, the right paint can actually make your home look cleaner.

Sleeker Look

If you have an upstairs room or attic with angled or dormered ceilings, O'Connor says painting the walls and ceiling the same color is the way to go. "It can hide an uneven transition line at the slope and elongate the space while also making it feel very cozy," she says.

Less Guesswork

"Always, always pay attention to your undertone when using more than one paint color in a room," warns Stacey. For example, if the walls are painted a warm terracotta color, you'll want to choose a white with warm undertones for the ceiling—otherwise, the space will feel "off." If you're not confident about your ability to match undertones, opting for the same color on the walls and ceiling lets you skip the guesswork.

Makes Rooms Look Larger

Painting the walls and ceiling of a room the same color can create the illusion that the room is larger. The room looks taller since the paint blends from wall to ceiling without the obvious break at the seam. This trick works regardless of whether you're using light or dark paint.

Less Costly

When painting a room, you usually have to consider the cost of separate paint for the ceiling, walls, and molding. If you choose to do a monochromatic room, you only need to buy one paint. While you'll still need more paint than if you were just painting the walls, buying a larger container of the same paint is usually less expensive than buying gallons of two different colors.

Cons of Painting Ceiling and Walls the Same Color

While painting your ceiling and walls can look dramatic and sleek, there can be drawbacks. Instead of achieving the sophisticated, cozy, or welcoming feeling you're aiming for, choosing the wrong colors can present some issues.

Lack of Contrast

One of the problems with painting the ceiling and walls a matching color is you risk a lack of contrast in the room, which can mean the room looks less interesting. Also, flaws are more noticeable when a room's ceiling and walls are the same color. If you're considering this option, make sure all nicks, holes, and scratches are patched up before you begin.

Smaller Feeling

Depending on your color choice, a room can feel smaller with monochromatic walls and ceilings. In some cases, this can cause a stifling or claustrophobic feeling, especially with dark colors. Using lighter, brighter colors for a monotone room can help offset this closed-in sensation.

Overwhelming

A room with just one color can overwhelm visitors, especially if the room is painted an especially vibrant or dark color. Instead of being cozy and welcoming, the room could feel too intense and overpowering. It's essential to be careful with your color choice to avoid falling into this trap.

Tips for Painting Walls and Ceilings the Same Color

To avoid the traps listed above, consider a few things when choosing the paint color and finish for your monochromatic room.

Think About Furniture

First, consider the furniture you have or would like to put in the room. If your furniture is primarily white or black, a brighter color for the walls and ceiling will make a good accent. If your furniture is colorful and eclectic, a white, black, or neutral palette will ensure your walls and ceiling don't clash.

Consider Your Lighting

Next, think about the lighting in your room. If the room has a lot of natural light, painting the walls and ceiling a dark color can work without making the room feel smaller. If your room has only a few or no windows, painting it white or a lighter shade can open up the space and make it feel bigger.

Which Comes First?

If you've decided to paint your walls and ceiling the same color, you may ask yourself, which should I paint first? Regardless of whether you're using one color for your room or multiple, you should always paint the ceiling first because it is harder to paint than the walls. Plus, if you splash some paint on your walls in the process, you can fix that when you paint the walls.

Picking a Finish

There are several choices when it comes to paint finishes: flat, matte, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. These finishes fall on a spectrum of flat to shiny, where flat absorbs light and high-gloss reflects light. The other finishes fall somewhere in between flat and high-gloss.

When painting a room with the same color for the ceiling and walls, it's easiest to match the finish on both. You won't have to buy two different types of paint; the look will be consistent across the walls and ceiling.

If cost is not a concern and you want to add interest without different colors, choosing a different finish for the walls, ceiling, and trim can offer that. Flatter finishes hide imperfections the best but are more difficult to clean, so consider that when deciding what finish to put where.

While lighter colors and white look good in flat and glossy finishes, dark finishes do best with a higher-gloss finish.

Brighten Up

If you're hoping to brighten up the room, New York-based interior designer Mikel Welch says that brushing the same color and finish on the walls and ceiling might not be the best choice.

"For increased lighting in a dimly-lit room, opt for a shade lighter on the ceiling. As a general rule of thumb, I would go 20% lighter on the ceilings," he says. However, if the room is naturally sun-drenched, you can probably get away with the same color on the walls and ceiling.

Go for Drama

If you want drama in the space, a high-contrast finish on the ceiling can help. Stacey recommends a lacquer finish to make the ceiling really shine. Again, since shinier paint finishes show off texture and imperfections, it is best left to smooth plaster ceilings.

Color Ideas

If you're ready to ditch the dull old white ceiling but need ideas on where to start, here are some jumping-off points for your monochromatic haven.

Basic Black

Black rooms have been growing in popularity, and for good reason. An all-black room has a sophisticated and dramatic air that a white room simply can't compete with. If you're not ready to commit to a blackout, try painting the crown molding white to break up the space, or opt for two different black tones: one for the ceiling and one for the walls. With the furniture, stick to black, white, and gray tones, or bring out the bright colors—either will work!

Keep it Light

Yes, white can be boring, but there's something to be said for painting a room's walls and ceilings white. It adds brightness, can make the space feel larger, and serves as a neutral backdrop for any furniture scheme.

Go Blue

There's something about a blue room that inspires a feeling of tranquility and calmness. Mix and match different shades of blue, or choose one blue tone for the entire room. Blue's spectrum ranges from teals to grays, so it offers many design options. For furniture choice, blue can work as a neutral, as it works with a wide range of colors.