Ceiling Paint Color
Ideas & Inspiration

Rounded bedroom walls painted a soft blue-gray, a pale yellow ceiling, white trim, and three windows surround a comfy black four-poster bed. Rounded bedroom walls painted a soft blue-gray, a pale yellow ceiling, white trim, and three windows surround a comfy black four-poster bed.

While there is no single reply to “What color should I paint my ceiling?” your quest for the just-right ceiling paint color is about to get easier.

Considered by many homeowners and designers to be the “fifth wall,” ceilings offer an expansive canvas to get creative with color. Whether you go with a tried-and-true white paint color or add personality and architectural interest with a vibrant hue, ensure you’re choosing the best ceiling color for your space with our helpful tips.

How to Choose Your Best Ceiling Paint Colors

We love a classic white ceiling, but there’s something about an unexpected ceiling paint color that can enhance the character of your room in a refreshing, charismatic way.

Keep in mind that lighting and the direction your room faces will have a large effect on how ceiling paint colors appear, so we highly suggest sampling your choices before you make a final decision.

A white painted shiplap ceiling with beams and a white wall leading to a modern kitchen with blue painted walls and a green ceiling. A white painted shiplap ceiling with beams and a white wall leading to a modern kitchen with blue painted walls and a green ceiling.

1. Time-Tested & True: White Ceiling Paint Colors

Ceiling paint color trends come and go, but white ceilings are beloved for a reason: Not only do white ceilings make smaller spaces feel larger, but they provide a blank canvas for any decor and set off vibrant wall colors beautifully.

For seamless color flow, select a white paint color for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the walls. Some of our tried-and-true favorite white paint colors for ceilings:

A neutral palette living room with a high, gray painted shiplap ceiling with wood beams. A neutral palette living room with a high, gray painted shiplap ceiling with wood beams.

2. The Best Gray Ceiling Paint Colors

We love a gray paint color for its innate ability to balance any space. From bedrooms to living rooms to mudrooms, gray is versatile and sensible while fitting the design of many homes.

Given the range of gray paint colors that Benjamin Moore offers, choosing a hue for your ceiling may feel daunting. Think about what mood you’re trying to set: Lighter grays like Classic Gray 1548, Gray Mist 962, and Wish AF-680 soothe and relax, while darker hues like Dash of Pepper 1554, Chelsea Gray HC-168, and Ashwood Moss 1484 add sumptuous luxury.

A neutral two-tone painted living room with a greige wall, an off-white ceiling, and a dog sitting on a white settee in front of a marble fireplace. A neutral two-tone painted living room with a greige wall, an off-white ceiling, and a dog sitting on a white settee in front of a marble fireplace.

3. Look at Lighter Ceiling Colors

A lighter painted ceiling can help to visually “raise the roof” in any size room. Painting the ceiling with a lighter shade—often a variant of the wall color—is a clever design choice.

Benjamin Moore’s Color Preview® Collection offers a balanced catalog that provides gradations of color, making it an excellent choice for finding hues that provide subtle contrast and depth while maintaining the unity of existing colors.

A rich ochre painted ceiling with hints of green and yellow makes a fun statement in this bedroom with white walls, natural wood trim, and twin beds with green and white bedding. A rich ochre painted ceiling with hints of green and yellow makes a fun statement in this bedroom with white walls, natural wood trim, and twin beds with green and white bedding.

4. Contrasting Ceiling Paint Colors

Nothing says “look up” more than a contrasting ceiling color scheme. Whether you opt for bright walls and a neutral ceiling or a vibrant ceiling with lighter-hued walls, you’ll be creating a lively space for friends and family to gather. Need a place to start? Consult the color wheel for complementary hues that work best together.

We love these contrasting color combinations for ceilings:

This cozy bedroom features a teal painted ceiling and crown molding; dark gray walls, trim, and door; and a spindle bed. This cozy bedroom features a teal painted ceiling and crown molding; dark gray walls, trim, and door; and a spindle bed.

5. Celebrate the Celestial: Blue Ceiling Paint Colors

Reminiscent of open skies and serene, tranquil environments, a blue ceiling is a long-standing design tradition and a homeowner favorite. Rich navy and deep blue or blue-green tones, like Naples Blue 2057-30, shown here, blur the boundaries of a room, making it look endless yet intimate, while lighter blues are fresh and airy, helping to bring the outdoors in and encourage reflection at the end of the day.

Some of our favorite blue paint colors for ceilings:

A spacious hallway with light blue painted upper walls, neutral lower walls, and a blue ceiling features a white table and chairs, and a white painted arch and trim throughout. A spacious hallway with light blue painted upper walls, neutral lower walls, and a blue ceiling features a white table and chairs, and a white painted arch and trim throughout.

6. Embrace Pastel Paint Colors for Ceilings

Pale and pastel paint colors are known to flatter walls, so why wouldn’t they do the same for ceilings? With a refreshing, positive vibe and endless versatility, pastel ceilings can bring Zen to bathrooms, bedrooms, and anywhere that needs a little extra light. Try one in a nursery or kids’ room for a supremely soothing space.

Pastel hues for ceilings we love:

A cozy, sunlit living room with white-painted walls, a dark green ceiling and trim, leather chairs and printed rug, a wood mantel, window trim and door. A cozy, sunlit living room with white-painted walls, a dark green ceiling and trim, leather chairs and printed rug, a wood mantel, window trim and door.

7. The Case for the Dark Ceiling Paint Color

A darker ceiling can be a great design feature and push the “wow factor” of any room. If you want to go with a darker color on your ceiling, consider using a paint color that is two to three shades darker than your walls. Rooms with dark ceilings feel cozy and comfortable, making them a welcoming respite.

Some of our go-to dark ceiling colors:

A sunlit living room with two-story white painted walls; a deep green vaulted ceiling, trim, and doors; large oval pendant lights; and neutral modern decor. A sunlit living room with two-story white painted walls; a deep green vaulted ceiling, trim, and doors; large oval pendant lights; and neutral modern decor.

8. Highlight Architectural Details

A beautifully painted ceiling attracts attention to architectural features like crown molding and tray or vaulted ceilings. Elegant color choices like dark green or black help to highlight both the height and angles of distinct ceilings. Here, Regent Green 2136-20 on the ceiling and trim comes to life against White Dove OC-17 on the walls, lending breathtaking openness to this living room.

Try one of these eye-catching ceiling paint colors to elevate your space:

A home entryway wall, ceiling, trim, open door, all painted a green hue with a hint of gray. A home entryway wall, ceiling, trim, open door, all painted a green hue with a hint of gray.

9. Cozy Ceiling Paint Colors

Like a warm blanket of color, cozy ceiling paint colors will bring a blissful atmosphere to any room, no matter how large or small. Blue, white, or gray is an excellent place to start—and add versatility for decorating—but for extra comfort, try a hue in our hygge color palette or use a monochromatic color scheme, like we did here with Antique Pewter 1560.

Our coziest paint colors for ceilings include these soothing hues:

A rich ochre painted wall and ceiling with hints of green and yellow, a white fireplace mantel and trim, and colorful patterned curtains. A rich ochre painted wall and ceiling with hints of green and yellow, a white fireplace mantel and trim, and colorful patterned curtains.

10. Painting Ceilings and Walls the Same Color

A monochromatic wall and ceiling combination—especially in a vibrant hue like Savannah Green 2150-30—evokes a warm vibe. Other hues we love building monochromatic color schemes around include Hale Navy HC-154, Almond Beige 2101-40, and Pashmina AF-100.

If you move forward with an all-one-color look, consider using an ultra-flat finish on the ceiling to create subtle design interest against higher-sheen walls, or experiment with a semi-gloss ceiling in a nod to chic design.

A bright, cheerful kid’s bedroom with yellow painted walls, a pastel pink ceiling, colorful framed artwork, modern furniture, a multicolor bedspread, and geometric print rug. A bright, cheerful kid’s bedroom with yellow painted walls, a pastel pink ceiling, colorful framed artwork, modern furniture, a multicolor bedspread, and geometric print rug.

What Is the Best Paint for Ceilings?

For virtually flawless ceilings in any color, we recommend ultra-flat Waterborne Ceiling Paint. Waterborne Ceiling Paint hides common imperfections and reduces glare, is formulated to minimize spatter, and dries quickly so you can get back to enjoying your space faster.

Sticking with a classic color scheme and painting the ceiling yourself? Insl-X® Color-Changing Ceiling Paint offers added accuracy, going on as a light pink color that shows missed spots and drying to white in a gorgeous flat sheen. Talk to the experts at your locally owned Benjamin Moore store to see which product is right for your project.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. What is the best color to paint a ceiling?

A. The best color to paint your ceiling is a color you love, but a general thought to keep in mind is the mood you want to set in the room. Lighter paint colors, like white or neutrals, add airiness, making rooms feel larger and more open, while darker paint colors can make things feel cozier or add a touch of drama and mystery.

No matter what you choose, remember that colors appear differently depending on lighting and the direction your room faces, so we encourage you to sample your choices before making a final decision.



Q. Is there a standard ceiling paint color?

A. White is a classic choice for ceiling paint, but opting for a bolder color can help to highlight architectural details and bring vibrancy to your space. Browse our most popular ceiling paint colors to find the perfect shade for your project.



Q. What is the best paint color for a low ceiling?

A. For low ceilings or small spaces, you can’t go wrong with a white paint color like Chantilly Lace OC-65, Simply White OC-117, or Steam AF-15. These hues will help to visually open the room, giving the illusion of higher ceilings and ample space.



Q. Should you paint the ceiling the same color as the walls?

A. A monochromatic wall and ceiling combination—especially in jewel tones—makes even large rooms feel intimate and cozy. For luxurious ambience, try a purple like Sanctuary AF-620 or Black Raspberry 2072-20, or layer in a white paint color in different sheens for dimension and texture.



Q. Should ceilings be painted in a flat or eggshell finish?

A. Most designers and homeowners opt to use an ultra-flat paint—like Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint—to complement walls with a higher sheen, but if you’re looking to try something different, a semi-gloss ceiling can add plenty of visual interest.

A note: Using higher sheens on ceilings can have a major payoff, but it can be difficult to perfect, so we suggest hiring a painting contractor to make sure your project is a success.



A home foyer with light gray painted walls; a white ceiling, floor, and trim; and an open white staircase with alternating light- and dark-gray painted risers.

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