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Should ceiling and crown molding paint color match?

10 years ago

I painted the ceilings in the master bedroom and hall yesterday. The color is white, but it is a different white than the ceilings were before, with a gray tone.

The wall paint I am going to use is grayish teal. The crown molding is more of a true white.

I'd post a picture but doubt it would show the slight difference in color.

Right now, I'm noticing it, but that could be because it's different. Would a slight difference in whites bother you long term?

Featured Answer

ineffablespace

10 years ago

I think it depends on the overall scheme:

In the 18th and early 19th century it was often painted the same color as the walls if it was wood millwork and it was often painted the same color as the ceiling if it was ornamental plaster work.

Through the middle of the 19th century into the 20th century when stained woodwork was in vogue, it was often stained, which made it different than both the walls and the ceiling.

Then when everyone started painting all this stained woodwork white, it got painted white.

I think it depends on the room and what you want it to look like. There isn't really any final answer except it usually isn't it's own exclusive color.

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Comments (8)

PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
10 years ago
The crown moulding is often painted with the same paint used on trim in the room. So if the trim around your doors and the doors are painted a satin or semi gloss white, the crown moulding might be painted the same.

Crown moulding is not wall or ceiling...........it's trim.
Vertise
10 years ago
If it's just a slight difference, it might be bothersome by simply looking off and changing the way you see each color. But having them be different colors or even just a bit different can look good to set off the moldings.
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I would never attempt to "contrast" the whites. I think it would be very hard to do so without one of the whites looking dingy or at least "yellowed." If you're concerned with whether the moulding will stand out enough, trust me, just the difference between flat and semi-gloss will make it stand out. JMHO
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We always put some sort of color on the ceilings but it's always light. In 3 rooms we used the same wall shade on the ceiling.. light gray, vanilla latte & a grayish green. I've found the vanilla latte (Glidden) is a good ceiling color and have used it in other rooms. In our dining room we used a Behr color called French Bread on the ceiling, then a custom color on the walls with a green crown molding. Our bedroom is the only room with a lighter color crown & molding but the paint is darker. I think it's a matter of preference. You have to find what works for you.
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TxMarti
Original Author
10 years ago
I think that's it snookums2. It looked fine when the crown and ceiling were the same color, and it looked fine when they were very different colors. I think it's that white, almost white difference and the fact that my walls are going to be a different shade of almost white.
LuAnn_in_PA
10 years ago
Mine are same as the trim in most rooms; the living room has the crown in a totally different color. The dark green really sets it off nicely!
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
10 years ago
I do the crown and trim in semi-gloss (same color) and the ceiling in the same color as the crown, but in a flat paint...unless I am painting the ceiling in a 'real' color (such as blue, pink, etc.). I have one room with the ceiling in the same color as the walls and love it.
Vertise
10 years ago
You probably already know this but when you change the sheen on the trim, it changes the color slightly also so it stands out a little more. Of course, the tones would be the same in that case, so no conflict there.

I have seen crown painted differently than the other trim. It didn't look odd because of the setting, and it was still following the room colors; ymmv there. But if the tone shift bothers you, you might be able to adjust just the crown that small amount, or to the ceiling color, without it being noticeably different than the other trim. So you don't have to paint all your woodwork again.
Annie Deighnaugh
10 years ago
The crown will stand out better if its a different color from both the wall and the ceiling.

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