Eggshell on the Ceiling

10 years ago

I am anticipating some responses that say I'm totally insane, but I have to imagine there might be one or two out there who have put paint with a little sheen on their ceilings?

We moved to a new house last summer and though the ceilings are the same as in the condo we left, they feel low. The ceilings had decorative plaster swirls on them (not popcorn, plaster) and decided to have the swirls removed. The house was dirty and all the little crevices on the ceilings contributed to that. Plus I just don't like the look.

So we paid a team to come in and sand the ceilings down and then add a smooth finish on top. I decided to put satin finish paint on the ceiling in two bedrooms and I love it! There's a very, very slight glow and the rooms definitely feel taller.

I found ONE blogger (For the Love of a House) who did the same. Has anyone else?

For the Love of a House's ceilings have a bit more shine than mine, but I think the paint looks lovely in her house!

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twinbucklake

8 years ago

I know this is an old thread, but I just decided to go Eggshell sheen on my ceilings - bucking the Flat trend! Every house I have owned, the builder has used Flat paint on ceilings and walls and I slowly repainted everything in Satin - including ceilings and loved it. I am not a fan of flat paint - it looks chalky and white ceilings in flat, look like unpainted drywall to me. My current builder uses flat on the ceilings - I chose Eggshell for the ceilings and Satin for the walls. I have always loved Satin too - I know to each his own. My mother hates any sheen and paints all her walls Flat - So in response to your original post, no, you are not insane!

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Comments (10)

PRO
Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
10 years ago
If you have a a very smooth ( I will not use the word perfect) ceiling, then yes it will work. Probably 95 % of the ceilings I have painted were nowhere close to perfect, so flat is the way to go to help hide imperfections
Michael
10 years ago
The worst thing to appear may be the joints. That won't be pretty!

If you decide to paint a smooth ceiling with sheen, be sure to paint it in two directions, perpendicular to each other.
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I completely agree with paintguy. You shouldn't have to slam the competition to get business. This time of year (especially) a good painter will be busy. These guys are steering you in the right direction. Get everything in writing, for your sake, and the painter's sake. Make sure all your communication, and agreements are clear. Sometimes I ask for a deposit if the customer is not someone I am used to dealing with...Sometimes a contractor or painter doesn't know if they will get paid on time. (But my bills always come in on time!) If you are set on Sherwin Williams, but are doubting the quality, do yourself a BIG favor and go down to that store. Talk to the manager, tell them you are wondering about the difference in paints, and ask them for a sample or a demo. Odds are, the painter is giving you the standard (which he is) but if you are picky and demand a high quality finish...GO with Cashmere. I'm not a fan of SW (I just don't like the feel of it) but their Cashmere product is something else. It is more expensive then ProMar 200...But it is definitely worth it. And on your sheen options...From a pro painter and a Mom...Using flat on walls, especially high traffic areas such as hallways, stairways, kids' rooms...Not a good idea. You will be touching up constantly, and your walls will not take any washing at all. At the very least, use an eggshell. Please. It will save you anguish. (I used Satin just about everywhere in my house except bathrooms and kitchen, where I used Semi-Gloss.) Good Luck!
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Thanks for the input Snookums. I am used to seeing SW semi-gloss and I also do a lot of glazed textured surfaces. So ...I am really walking on the wild side by experimenting with Eggshell and Satin. LOL. Yes, Satin it is very expensive ($61.99 but I can get a 30% Contractors Discount at SW). I'll buy one Gallon and try it on the Wainscoting -- that is what I want to look clean and rich without taking over the room with "shine". Thanks for the help!
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There's no "must" about anything, if you wanted to do your ceiling in blaze orange high gloss that's your option. ;-) We chose flat paint for the ceilings in our previous house, which had mostly eggshell walls. I do admit that I bought plain old "ceiling paint" for most rooms because HD had a good sale on big buckets of the Glidden stuff that goes on pink but dries white. *blush* Painter said he'd worked with better but he'd also worked with far worse, and it was very good for the price. We were painting to sell though. When painting for ourselves I think the usual "ceiling white" is pretty cold and harsh - I prefer to choose the white that goes on the ceiling for its compatibility with the wall color (including the color that may be reflected onto it), the light level in the room, etc. For a kitchen, unless your ceilings are pretty high, I'd opt for a washable flat instead of ceiling paint or a dead flat - it's downright shocking how high a marinara sauce can splatter!
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Arapaho-Rd
10 years ago
Jeanne, I've admired her ceilings (I follow her blog). Would love to try it as well but in a 60 yr old house I know there are imperfections. Worse case, I guess we could go back to flat.
jellytoast
10 years ago
" ... be sure to paint it in two directions, perpendicular to each other."

I've never heard of this. What does it do/prevent?
Jeannine
Original Author
9 years ago
Just an update...I've been putting eggshell on the ceilings in each room as I've painted rooms in our house.

I LOVE it. Just as the blogger I linked to above said, it makes the rooms feel just a touch taller. It also bounces light around a little bit.

As for imperfections, there is one room where the plaster work isn't totally smooth and the benefits far, far outweigh the fact that the few little bumps aren't "hidden" by flat paint.

Oh, and I posted about this to my Facebook page and the designer I know said she does semi-gloss on her ceilings, even when she lived in an ancient farm house.
probookie
9 years ago
The finished basement in our house has a low (7.5 ft) ceiling of 1 ft square tiles. I usually detest this type of ceiling, but the previous owners painted the tiles with glossy paint, something that I would not have thought to try. The tiles no longer look cheap, the overall effect is extremely attractive, and it looks more "finished" than unpainted ceiling tiles do.
morz8 - Washington Coast
9 years ago
The ceilings in living room, adjoining dining room my former house were 1926 coved, very textured plaster. I don't have a photo to show you, but my best description is almost in little peaks, like frosting on a cake or knife lifted design on merengue.
Pratt/Lambert eggshell, soft white. I loved it, loved the glow. I have a gallon left and am considering using it on the kitchen of the home we're in now. Or using it somewhere, possibly foyer ceiling. This house was built 1955, beautiful construction and little to hide but not without a few flaws.
sylviatexas1
8 years ago
When I saw the title of this thread, I thought, "Uh-oh! Eggshell on the ceiling: who made the cook angry???" LOL!

twinbucklake, I know what you mean about chalkiness;

I call flat white paint "rent house white";

it's just not pretty, & pretty doesn't cost any more.
Shar Souers
4 years ago
I have painted my whole house ceilings with eggshell, and love it. if, by chance I ever get anything on them, you can clean them unlike flat paint. It might give off a bit of a sheen but I have never noticed and I hate a shiney house. Flat paint on the other hand, gives me the creeps as it feels like chalk. I would rather have a tiny bit of sheen than that!

Eggshell on the Ceiling

twinbucklake

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Eggshell on the Ceiling

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