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7 1/2' ceiling looks lower painted same as walls

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I've read a few threads on paint suggestions for a low ceiling. Most seem to suggest paining the walls and ceiling one color. That seems to make sense but I'm not finding that to be true in my situation. The walls were previously a peachy flesh color with a white ceiling. I primed the walls since I decided to go with a pale gray, borderline off-white wall color. Now that everything is white I feel that has brought the ceiling down significantly. I love how much brighter and airy the room feels. But it's like the ceiling is right on top of you now.
Is this because of the light color overall? I want to stick with the pale gray walls (SW Ice Cube) but now I'm not sure if I should go with a white ceiling or gray or what. I like the room brighter but don't want to draw attention to the 7 1/2' highly textured ceiling.

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Comments (4)

graywings123
8 years ago
You might want to post this on the Home Decorating forum.
aprilneverends
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Actually, white/light objects seems closer, dark objects recede. Contrast brings attention to the ceiling height-sometimes it is desirable, sometimes not so much. Hence the advice on diminishing the contrast. But it depends on the room so much-and your ceilings are quite low, so tread carefully. What I would do-first of all I would't go with plain ceiling white. You need to tint the ceiling paint so it has wall color in it. Now how much-will depend on your space. Light is capricious..it does what it wants when it wants, and so is color:)

My experience (my ceilings in the new place we painted recently are higher than yours but nothing amazing): I went with half a formula of the wall color on the ceilings in smaller rooms, and with 66% (I wanted 75% but the store couldn't mix it without changing the formula) in the larger room with slanted ceiling. I truly love my results, but in order to get them I had to play with the samples a bit, and dedicate a day or two to checking them out in different lights, angles, etc. I highly recommend you to do the same-mix different proportions, take different colors, and try first. You'll see what works best in your space, and what combination makes you feel best. You can make paint samples on the paper(just do two layers of paint, because that is how it's gonna be on the walls later)..this way it is also easier to move them around, checking different angles etc.

Any chances you can remove heavy texture from your ceilings? That would also make a difference I think..
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fb02
Original Author
8 years ago
I don't think I can move this thread so 'll copy this over to the Home Decorating Forum as well, thank you.

I personally like some paint contrast in a room. I like accent walls. I light bright trim and ceilings with painted walls. But I also know that doesn't always work out the best.
I like the idea of tinting the ceiling color with some of the wall color but when the wall colors are already light that may lead to white ceilings anyway.
Now this ceiling does run into another room which was going to have a different wall color. I'll have to make sure whatever goes on the ceiling works for both.

I do have tons of paint samples and can get more to play around with it.

As much as I want the ceiling texture gone removing or hiding it isn't in the budget.
fb02
Original Author
8 years ago
I have posted this on the Home Decorating Forum.
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3808136/m=23/7-1-2-ceilings-look-lower-when-painted-same-as-wall

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