6 Ceiling Paint Color Ideas & Inspiration

A bedroom with white painted walls and a bright pink ceiling, matching pink bedding, and two side tables with lamps.

We love the classic white ceiling, however an unexpected ceiling paint color can enhance the character of your room in a refreshing, charismatic way.

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. Start with knowing that ceiling imperfections are common, and that you can easily secure a virtually flawless ceiling–in any color–with ultra-flat Waterborne Ceiling Paint.

A modern white living room with black brick fireplace and hardwood floors.

Time-Tested & True: White Ceiling Paint

For any room, all-white or off-white paint color is always a fresh and clean choice. Conversely, vibrant wall colors are beautifully set off by white ceilings.

A white ceiling makes smaller spaces feel larger. For seamless color flow, select a white for your ceiling that shares a similar undertone as the wall color. Favorite whites for ceilings include White Dove OC-17, Cloud White OC-130 and Decorator’s White OC-149. Check out our most popular whites on the White Color Family page, then head to your local Benjamin Moore retailer to buy a paint sample: We always recommend you “live” with any color before you buy it-even white!

Painting yourself? Get tips and tricks on how to paint a ceiling. INSL-X^® Color-Changing Ceiling Paint can help, with a light pink color application that indicates missed spots and dries to a white finish in a gorgeous flat sheen.

A classic gray living room with powder pink ceiling and floor to ceiling windows.

A Look at Lighter Colors

A lighter paint color above eye level can help to visually raise the ceiling.

In any size room, painting the ceiling with a lighter shade–often a lighter variant of the wall color–is a clever design choice. This approach provides subtle contrast and adds depth to the space, while maintaining the unity of existing colors.

You may also want to consider a light contrasting color, which also draws the eye upwards while maintaining an overall open, airy look, as seen here. Not only does Powder Pink 2009-70 heighten this space, it adds a playful touch to an otherwise formal room.

Bathroom with a soft blue ceiling and white modern bathtub.

Celebrate Celestial Ceilings

Reminiscent of open skies and serene, tranquil environments, a blue ceiling is a long-standing design tradition and a homeowner favorite.

“A blue ceiling brings the outside in,” says Benjamin Moore Design & Color expert Hannah Yeo. Check out our most popular blue paint colors, like Iceberg 2122-50, Bird’s Egg 2051-60 or November Skies 2128-50, to find a blue that works for you!

Here, a bathroom ceiling in Buxton Blue HC-149 exudes a spa-like vibe. In general, powder rooms and bathrooms are fun rooms to experiment with when it comes to more adventurous ceiling paint colors.

Large dining room with dramatic black walls, ceiling, and white trim.

The Case for the Dark Ceiling

A darker ceiling can be a great design feature and push the “wow factor” of any room.

Rich navy blue or a deep black blur the boundaries of a room, making it look endless yet intimate; this elegant dining room puts this theory to the test. Its richly painted ceiling in Black Ink 2127-20 helps to create an elegant enclave.

If you want to go with a darker color on your ceiling, consider a paint color that is two to three shades darker on your ceiling than your walls. Rooms with dark ceilings feel cozy and comfortable, making any room a welcoming respite.

Gray and white bedroom with high ceiling accents and hardwood floors.

Highlight Architectural Detail

A beautifully painted ceiling attracts attention to architectural features like crown moldings and tray or vaulted ceilings.

Here, a shiplap ceiling painted in Bruton White CW-710, a soft gray, draws the eye upward. The elegant color choice highlights both the height and angles of this distinct ceiling. The use of Bruton White on trim pulls the deeper neutral throughout the bedroom, adding a stylish design element to the space.

Other neutral grays we love for ceilings include Silver Chain 1472, Chelsea Gray HC-168, and Coachman's Cape® CSP-90.

Rich craftsmen bedroom with an angled gray and white ceiling.

Painting Ceilings and Walls the Same Color

A monochromatic wall and ceiling combination—especially in a deeper hue—evokes a warm, cozy vibe.

If you move forward with an all-one-color look, consider Waterborne Ceiling Paint. Benjamin Moore’s most flat paint, this ceiling-specific paint creates subtle design interest against a higher sheen wall, as seen here in Copley Gray HC-104.