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Building a Home

Ceiling/Wall/Trim Paint Question, Please

15 years ago

My painter has suggested doing the trim, baseboards, and ceilings the same color (SW 6141 Softer Tan) and the walls a different color (SW 1127 Khaki Shade). My question, how do you think it looks to do the trim/baseboards/ceilings the same, and then the walls different. Would it look better if the walls, trim, and ceilings were 3 different colors? What do you think looks best?

I cross-posted this in the paint forum.

Thank you!

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Comments (4)

dixiedoodle
15 years ago
We are doing the same color (SW Extra White) on all trim (including baseboards)and ceilings with a different color on the walls (SW Softer Tan- majority of house). The only difference for the trim work and ceilings is that the finish for all the trim will be gloss and the finish for the ceilings will be flat. I don't think there is any perfect answer here as it would also look completely appropriate to do 3 different colors among the trim, walls, and ceilings.

Go with whatever you feel works best in your home! :)
kidshear
15 years ago
Our door/window trim, baseboards, and doors will all be SW Pella Prefinished White in semiglass to match our Pella, Pre-Finished windows; our ceilings are a standard ceiling white (not sure what the painter used, other than it's a SW color) in flat, and the walls through out the house will be a variety of colors (10 different colors) in eg-shel for most walls but in a washable flat for those that are 2-story.

I don't think I've ever seen an entire house with ceilings that weren't white. I've seen a room or two within a house with a colored ceiling, but not all the ceilings. I like white on the ceilings (at least on most of them within a given house - maybe one or two special rooms with a different colored ceiling), but maybe that's just my traditional side coming out. If you like the idea of colored ceilings - go for it!

Good luck with your decision!
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Thanks all! Ttodd and awm, those pics really help. I think you are right - trim color it is. If I don't like it, I can always do it wall color later. In fact, I'll just have the painter skip it completely -- it will stay white like it is now and when he's done, I'll get the idea of whether it looks right in white or not. If not, I'll paint it wall color. Thanks all! Now, if I can only get over my "issues" about hiring a painter in the first place. This is my first time hiring a painter. I've always done my own painting and really enjoy it -- I'm just hard up for time these days with a job and 2 kids. I tend to be persnickety about the final paint job and often do 3 or 4 coats because I'm not happy with the coverage of 2. But I don't like ladders (or falling!) so I knew we were going to hire a painter to do the tall walls over the stairs and in a big open two-story area over the breakfast room. The painter we picked came recommended by a friend and his price seemed good ($300 for the tall stuff) so I asked him what it would cost to do the rest of the walls and ceilings that aren't done - he quoted another $800. Still seems like a good deal for all this space, but I'm having pangs about paying $800 for painting walls I can very well reach myself. Then again, I'm going to have my hands full wtih all the trim, plus we have two small kids who would probably rather be going places with mom and dad on the weekends instead of hanging out in the house while mom and dad paint. And I'm worried that I won't be happy with the final job because of how picky I've been in the past. He says he'll do as many coats as I want (for an extra fee, of course) but the prices he quoted only include 2. So anyway, I'm very nervous about how this whole experience is going to go...hoping I end up happy and feeling like the money we're spending is worth it. Thanks for all the advice!
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We closed on our house today wahoooo! I only got to spend about an hour there but looked quickly at the samples for trim/doors/ceilings. I think I've narrowed it down to three possibilities: BM Simply White, SW Extra White and BM Super White. I thought about BM Chantilly Lace too. Basically, looking at the finishings, my first gut is that BM Simply White looks the best. I just worry it may look too yellow once up on everything. At least that's what I read (and you know how reliable the internet is). First question: has anyone had experience with BM Simply White? Does it just read warm or do you see the yellow in it when it's one trim/doors/ceilings? So I may go that direction, or wonder if I should go with a cleaner white but something close. Something still a little warm... As for the runners up, from what I can see SW Extra White and BM Super White are very similar but Extra White maybe looks a little warmer? Maybe because it has more chroma? Is this understanding accurate, Lori A. Sawaya?? And it seems to me that the order of warmth would go SW Extra White, BM Super White, BM Chantilly Lace... is that a correct reading? Again for context - East/West exposures with a lot of shade. Wall colors aren't chosen but would likely be something along the lines of BM Edgecomb Gray, BM Ballet White, BM Chelsea Gray, BM Natural Cream. Daughter's room will be BM Opal. I'll try to take some pics of the finishings tomorrow but would love any thoughts on this. Thanks!
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lyfia
15 years ago
I think two colors is fine, but consider different finishes for the ceiling and trim. Semi-gloss for the trim and flat for the ceiling.
brutuses
15 years ago
We did white ceilings in majority of rooms. All have wite trim, baseboards and moldings.

Only in the foyer and office did we paint the ceilings a color. In the guest bath the ceiling is the same color as the wall because the room is so tall and narrow. This will help bring the ceiling down. In the foyer the ceiling is one shade lighter than the walls.

Here are some photos.

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Guest bath
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Foyer
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