27 Painted Ceiling Ideas

Did your favorite room lose its va-va-voom? We suggest looking up. If all you see is a dull paint color than perhaps it is time to show your fifth wall a little love.

In most homes, a boring neutral shade is the default ceiling color — and we think that is a missed decorating opportunity. Why? Just like your four walls, the right paint color above can transform the look and feel of a space. To drive our point home, we gathered our favorite statement ceilings to show how a couple of coats of paint can take any room in your home to new stylish heights. Spoiler alert — when done right even white can be an exciting ceiling color.

01 of 21

Gray Ceiling That Matches the Wallpaper

Martha O’Hara Interiors

A stately shade of gray makes a lofty impression in this contemporary dining room by Martha O’Hara Interiors based in Austin, Texas. The color of the ceiling matches the large scrolling leaf wallpaper by Graham and Brown.

Continue to 2 of 21 below.
02 of 21

Create a High Ceiling Effect

Mitchell Channon Design

Here is a trick for making a standard eight-foot ceiling feel a mile high. When remodeling this small living room, the residential interior designers at Chicago based Mitchell Channon Design paired dark gray paint with lighter color wallpaper to create a high ceiling effect. The winning combination made the room feel much bigger without raising the roof.

Continue to 3 of 21 below.
03 of 21

A White Room With a Lemon Yellow Ceiling

Tara Seawright Interior Design

Take your white kitchen to the next level with this bright idea by Tara Seawright Interior Design based in New York City. The design team warmed things up with a cheerful lemon yellow ceiling.

Continue to 4 of 21 below.
04 of 21

Faux Stone Ceiling

RLH Studio

Lend a little architectural interest to your ceiling with a faux stone paint treatment. A, for instance, is the fifth wall in this contemporary dining room by interior design firm RLH Studio located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Continue to 5 of 21 below.
05 of 21

Scandinavian-Inspired Living Room With a Bold Teal Ceiling

New England Design Elements

New England Design Elements located in Londonderry, New Hampshire created this Scandinavian inspired living room filled with neutral décor and natural elements. Counterbalancing the white walls is the bead board ceiling painted a shade called Vardo by Farrow and Ball.

Continue to 6 of 21 below.
06 of 21

Circus-Inspired Ceiling in a Child's Room

Lizette Marie Interior Design

Top off a child's room with a circus tent inspired ceiling. The main attraction in this space is by Lizette Marie Interior Design located in San Francisco, California.

Continue to 7 of 21 below.
07 of 21

Create a Colorful Book Nook With Magical Colors

Smith and Vansant Architects

A window in a home's hallway landing was turned into a cheerful book nook for kids thanks to a colorful paint job. Smith and Vansant Architects designed the space. The purple walls lend a magical feel. The yellow ceiling keeping things upbeat.

Continue to 8 of 21 below.
08 of 21

Paint Your Ceiling an Airy Shade of Gray

Martha O'Hara Interiors

Combined with the stunning, white wall trim, a fresh and airy shade of gray enlivens the ceiling in this bedroom by Martha O'Hara Interiors located in Austin, Texas. We love this particular paint color called Horizon by Benjamin Moore because it's not too dark or light.

10 Best Gray Paint Colors That Go From Dreamy to Dramatic

Continue to 9 of 21 below.
09 of 21

Paint Ceiling Beams a Contrasting Shade

Homepolish

Dress up ceiling beams with paint. In this boho style bedroom spotted on Homepolish, a matte white and hunter green ceiling adds visual depth.

Continue to 10 of 21 below.
10 of 21

Navy Ceiling Brings the Cozy

Jordan Shields Design

Jordan Shields Design, a boutique firm based in Los Angeles, California created this kids' bedroom. The bold navy ceiling is an unexpected touch that makes the modestly sized space feel extra cozy.

Continue to 11 of 21 below.
11 of 21

Fake Expensive Wallpaper

Honey and Fitz

Cannot afford that expensive wallpaper you have been eyeing for your ceiling? Here is a tip from Dina Holland, the designer behind the blog Honey and Fitz. Instead of paying $242 per roll for a pricey wallpaper pattern called Little's Coronata Star by Osborne & Little, she duplicated the design using paint and inexpensive decals.

Continue to 12 of 21 below.
12 of 21

Scandinavian Folk Art Ceiling Mural

Virge Temme Architecture

Virge Temme Architecture based in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin painstakingly restored this decorative Scandinavian inspired ceiling mural in a client's weekend retreat. The painting hovers over the dining room.

Continue to 13 of 21 below.
13 of 21

Vaulted Ceiling With Purple Beams

Black Lacquer Design

An Arts and Crafts home was transformed into a saucy slice of glam paradise by Black Lacquer Design based in Los Angeles, California. The vaulted ceiling in the living room features purple painted beams that create an unforgettable first impression. The unusual interior paint color matches the pretty floral wallpaper on the right.

Continue to 14 of 21 below.
14 of 21

Paint a Coffered Ceiling Sky Blue and White

Erika Bonnell Interiors

Bring the blue sky indoors with this simple and extremely elegant idea by Erika Bonnell Interiors based in Washington, D.C. The designer painted the coffered ceiling blue and white recreating the feeling of a bright clear day inside the living room.

Continue to 15 of 21 below.
15 of 21

Turn a Hallway into an Eye-Catching Feature

Dayka Robinson Designs

Free-spirited decorators may want to copy this unique paint job by Dayka Robinson Designs. The Atlanta, Georgia based interior designer turned a narrow hallway into an eye-catching feature by painting a tricolor wavy pattern onto the walls. The dark gray paint on the ceiling creates the illusion of height.

Continue to 16 of 21 below.
16 of 21

A White Ceiling Can Make a Dramatic Impact

Charmean Neithart Interiors

Sometimes a plain white ceiling can make a significant impact in a small space as shown in this teensy, modern cabin by Charmean Neithart Interiors situated in South Pasadena, California. The fifth wall offsets the dark walls, which makes the tiny room feel twice its actual size.

Continue to 17 of 21 below.
17 of 21

Moody Purple Ceiling is Downright Chic

Lizette Marie Interior Design

When designing this space, the San Francisco based company Lizette Marie Interior Design wanted to throw focus to the vaulted ceiling. The moody purple paint color makes this stylish room downright chic.

Continue to 18 of 21 below.
18 of 21

Starburst-Inspired Ceiling in a Travel-Themed Nursery

Red Egg Design Group

We adore this starburst inspired ceiling in this travel-themed nursery by Red Egg Design Group based in Scottsdale, Arizona. The neutral gray walls allow the fifth wall to shine. At the center of the design is a brushed chrome ceiling fan with a retro feel.

Continue to 19 of 21 below.
19 of 21

Caribbean Blue Ceiling in a Kitchen

CG Allan Interior Architecture and Design

A slick ceiling paint color called Caribbean Blue Water by Benjamin Moore enlivens this 1970s inspired kitchen by CG Allan Interior Architecture and Design.

Continue to 20 of 21 below.
20 of 21

White and Gray Coffered Ceiling

Andrew Howard Interior Design

Architectural details pop in this tasteful, contemporary living room by Andrew Howard Interior Design based in Jacksonville, Florida. The beams carving out the pattern in the coffered ceiling are a soft shade of gray while the recesses were painted a hue called Designer White by Benjamin Moore.

Continue to 21 of 21 below.
21 of 21

Dramatic Ceiling That Throws to Stunning Light Fixtures

Mitchell Channon Design

A bright blue ceiling puts a couple of stunning light fixtures center stage in this open concept home by Mitchell Channon Design located in Chicago. Notice the stunning halo crystal chandelier on the left? Above it is a painted faux reflection that draws the eye to the fixture.