Ceiling painting is a great way to open up a room and tie all of its design elements together. However, if done incorrectly it can clash with the rest of the room and throw off the room's entire appeal. Choosing the right paint is the first step to getting the results you're looking for from painting your ceiling. This guide will tell you everything you need to know about choosing the right ceiling paint.
Choosing a Color
You have many options available to you when choosing a paint color for your ceilings. White is considered the default choice for many reasons: it makes your ceiling appear higher, blends nicely with lightly-colored walls, and adds more light to darker rooms. However, you may want to consider other colors depending on the design of the rest of the room.
For lighter ceilings, one strategy is to dilute your wall paint color with more white paint. This creates a subtle, interesting variation in tone that keeps the room from looking sterile. Alternatively, you may choose a color that is two or three shades darker than your walls. This is a great idea for creating a cozy living space or accenting features like crown molding.
Choosing a Finish
Paint finish or sheen describes the reflective properties of paint after it has been applied. The least reflective finishes are flat and matte paints, while the most reflective are typically called semi-gloss or full-gloss. Eggshell and satin paints fall in the middle of this spectrum.
Flat and matte paints are usually the preferred type for ceilings. This is because they are excellent at completing the appearance of space without drawing too much attention to the ceiling itself. Flat and matte paints are also better at hiding small imperfections in your ceiling, while glossier paints may actually accent them.
Painting Different Materials
The material that your ceiling is made from will have an impact on the final appearance of any paint that you apply. A drywall ceiling is easiest to paint, as paints will typically appear to be approximately the same color and texture as they would if applied to your walls. Flat and matte paints work great here.
Tile ceilings can vary the appearance of your paint as well as the work required to paint them depending on the material they're made from. If you have tin or faux-tin tiles, applying primer first and then spray-painting the tiles is recommended. Plastic tiles should be sanded first, followed by an oil-based primer. Tin responds well to glossy paints, while plastic benefits from flat paints.
Wood ceilings are one of the more labor-intensive types of ceilings to paint, as they require sanding as well as multiple coats of primer and paint. This process takes multiple days, as you must let each coat of primer and paint dry before applying the next one. A water-based matte paint applied with a roller will usually provide the best result.
Covering Blemishes and Stains
In addition to improving the aesthetic of any room, painting your ceiling is a great way to hide water spots and other blemishes. However, this will require choosing the right paint and paying careful attention to the damaged area.
If you are cleaning a water spot, it's a good idea to identify the source of the leak before you begin painting, as well as to scrub the area with water and bleach to hinder mold growth. From here, you can apply a stain-blocking primer and follow up with paint after the primer has dried. As mentioned previously, flat or matte paint will hide stains and blemishes more effectively than a glossy one.
Choosing the right ceiling paint involves more factors than many homeowners realize, but it's easy to narrow down your choices with a little planning and research. Contact us at
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