Decorating Guides
Design Debate: Should You Ever Paint a Wood Ceiling White?
In week 2 of our debate series, designers go head to head over how classic wood ceilings should be handled in modern times
The Case for Painting Wood Ceilings White
Arguing for: Stephen Shoup of Building Lab
Expertise: “I am Stephen Shoup, owner of Building Lab, a design-build firm based in Oakland, California. I also happen be the proud owner of an Eichler with a painted tongue-and-groove ceiling. Our experience renovating and remodeling midcentury homes, including Eichlers here in the Bay Area, extends back to 2002 and has led us through the gantlet of the painting-the-ceiling question many times over.”
Why he’s for it: “While there are times when a new natural wood ceiling is appropriate, I will speak primarily to the question of painting as it relates to inherited wood ceilings we find in our remodeling efforts,” Shoup says. “Most of what we encounter is 2-by-6-inch or 2-by-8-inch tongue-and-groove Douglas fir or redwood. It is essentially a rough framing material and tends to exhibit a fair amount of wear from years of service as both ceiling and roofing substrate.”
Arguing for: Stephen Shoup of Building Lab
Expertise: “I am Stephen Shoup, owner of Building Lab, a design-build firm based in Oakland, California. I also happen be the proud owner of an Eichler with a painted tongue-and-groove ceiling. Our experience renovating and remodeling midcentury homes, including Eichlers here in the Bay Area, extends back to 2002 and has led us through the gantlet of the painting-the-ceiling question many times over.”
Why he’s for it: “While there are times when a new natural wood ceiling is appropriate, I will speak primarily to the question of painting as it relates to inherited wood ceilings we find in our remodeling efforts,” Shoup says. “Most of what we encounter is 2-by-6-inch or 2-by-8-inch tongue-and-groove Douglas fir or redwood. It is essentially a rough framing material and tends to exhibit a fair amount of wear from years of service as both ceiling and roofing substrate.”
“Basic practical reasons for painting include bringing light into a space, ease of repairs and covering scars or gaps where walls have been removed. Budget can also be a compelling concern, but I think there are some more subtle reasons for doing so.
“Part of creating a sense of place and home entails gaining control over the space. Leaving an unruly, disorganized set of cracks, grains, knots and irregularities to their own devices permits distraction and weight. Paint applies a membrane of continuity without obscuring essential material qualities beneath,” Shoup says.
“Part of creating a sense of place and home entails gaining control over the space. Leaving an unruly, disorganized set of cracks, grains, knots and irregularities to their own devices permits distraction and weight. Paint applies a membrane of continuity without obscuring essential material qualities beneath,” Shoup says.
Trust intuition: “Continuity and regularity allow the eye to first read the ceiling as surface,” he continues. “Then, whether in a V-groove or square-edged application, the eye reads the directional order of the seam where the long edges of boards meet. These simple, regular lines clarify the module and scale of the building assembly. Most people may not realize they understand this about the building, but on an intuitive, if unarticulated, level, I am convinced that they do. White paint helps clarify order, and order is calming.”
Keep calm: “Calm is good,” Shoup says. “Life is busy. Stuff is busy. There tends to be plenty of visual engagement and color in our furniture, art, clothes, knickknacks and natural surroundings. The ceiling does not need to contribute to or compete with this. When you sit down at the end of a hard day and rest your head back on the pillow or back of the couch, the ceiling should be quiet.
“Some of our clients express a concern that in painting a wood ceiling, it may lose some essential qualities. We argue quite the opposite: that paint actually clarifies the essential.”
“Some of our clients express a concern that in painting a wood ceiling, it may lose some essential qualities. We argue quite the opposite: that paint actually clarifies the essential.”
The Case Against Painting Wood Ceilings White
Arguing against: Ken Best of Synthesis Design
Expertise: “Designer, perpetual renovator, man in possession of random orbital sander — and, yes, I know how to use it,” says Ken Best. “I’m also a director with Synthesis Design, based in North Vancouver, Canada, where we design new houses for clients, encouraging those clients to “listen” to the site, and renovate existing homes, for which we “listen” to what the existing house has to say prior to making changes. Over the years, I have had the privilege of responding to numerous heritage and midcentury modern houses, all of which have asked me to advocate to keep their unpainted ceilings honest and exposed. If we won’t speak for them, who will?”
Why he’s against it: “When I purchased my own Fred Hollingsworth midcentury modern post-and-beam rancher, the feedback from friends (and many fellow designers) regarding the heavily shellacked ceiling boards and wall paneling was, ‘You should paint it all white!’ Seeing it through their eyes, I can see why this seemed like the solution to the problem of yellowing wood stain, subtle signs of water damage, and the open knots and cracks that had begun to appear over time,” he says.
Arguing against: Ken Best of Synthesis Design
Expertise: “Designer, perpetual renovator, man in possession of random orbital sander — and, yes, I know how to use it,” says Ken Best. “I’m also a director with Synthesis Design, based in North Vancouver, Canada, where we design new houses for clients, encouraging those clients to “listen” to the site, and renovate existing homes, for which we “listen” to what the existing house has to say prior to making changes. Over the years, I have had the privilege of responding to numerous heritage and midcentury modern houses, all of which have asked me to advocate to keep their unpainted ceilings honest and exposed. If we won’t speak for them, who will?”
Why he’s against it: “When I purchased my own Fred Hollingsworth midcentury modern post-and-beam rancher, the feedback from friends (and many fellow designers) regarding the heavily shellacked ceiling boards and wall paneling was, ‘You should paint it all white!’ Seeing it through their eyes, I can see why this seemed like the solution to the problem of yellowing wood stain, subtle signs of water damage, and the open knots and cracks that had begun to appear over time,” he says.
“They wanted perfection, and thought I would too. Classic case of ‘conceal don’t feel.’ Instead of adding a layer, I chose to remove them by having the whole interior sandblasted. The resulting finish has the smoothness of driftwood, but you can see every mark of time. It’s a look I love, but a controversial one in today’s design world of flawless finishes.”
Original intent: “Though I am not one to slavishly restore anything, I do think the designer’s original intent matters,” Best says. “If he or she envisioned a home or space with a wooden ceiling, why take that vision in another direction? Once we paint, we may find we’ve ‘blanked out’ the very thing that drew us to the home initially — its soul.
“A classic, thoughtfully designed and installed wood ceiling is different from a more recent, less thoughtfully installed one. I have seen a lot of handyman’s and handywoman’s specials from the 1970s and 1980s that I would fight less hard to save.”
Original intent: “Though I am not one to slavishly restore anything, I do think the designer’s original intent matters,” Best says. “If he or she envisioned a home or space with a wooden ceiling, why take that vision in another direction? Once we paint, we may find we’ve ‘blanked out’ the very thing that drew us to the home initially — its soul.
“A classic, thoughtfully designed and installed wood ceiling is different from a more recent, less thoughtfully installed one. I have seen a lot of handyman’s and handywoman’s specials from the 1970s and 1980s that I would fight less hard to save.”
“Preservation has its place, but beyond style, I am talking about intent. It’s not that all wood ceilings are sacred. It’s that most wood ceilings are installed for a design-inspired reason.
“We are putting gorgeous stained wood ceilings into new homes even now, as they add a dimension of depth and texture that’s needed in today’s open-concept spaces. They are not solely for preservationists or heritage enthusiasts or for those looking to the past. They are part of what’s to come and for all homeowners to enjoy. Let’s make unpainted wood ceilings great again.”
Why he thinks natural wood is good: “I guess the paint-it-white camp would say it protects the wood. Like a fly in amber,” Best says. “Painting wood is a turning point — there’s no going back. I like options. Frank Lloyd Wright said, ‘I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.’ Natural wood ceilings draw nature into a space, and provide a relief from the manufactured objects and surfaces with which we surround ourselves. Space where organic elements are incorporated can inspire us to something greater.”
“We are putting gorgeous stained wood ceilings into new homes even now, as they add a dimension of depth and texture that’s needed in today’s open-concept spaces. They are not solely for preservationists or heritage enthusiasts or for those looking to the past. They are part of what’s to come and for all homeowners to enjoy. Let’s make unpainted wood ceilings great again.”
Why he thinks natural wood is good: “I guess the paint-it-white camp would say it protects the wood. Like a fly in amber,” Best says. “Painting wood is a turning point — there’s no going back. I like options. Frank Lloyd Wright said, ‘I believe in God, only I spell it Nature.’ Natural wood ceilings draw nature into a space, and provide a relief from the manufactured objects and surfaces with which we surround ourselves. Space where organic elements are incorporated can inspire us to something greater.”
“I love white. I really do. However, can’t we put some constraints on this? White provides much-needed relief in design, offering space so feature elements can take center stage or stand out against it. But too much white in a space can make it appear unimaginative. I do sometimes wonder what future generations will think looking at our ultrawhite and soft gray interiors: ‘What were they afraid of?’”
Is painted wood bad for resale value? “Sadly, no,” Best says. “The masses say, ‘Paint it!’”
Alternatives: “I’d suggest wall color as the place to start, and then look to flooring selections,” he says. “Also, non-natural lighting makes a massive difference. There are so many LED options now that provide elegant ways to add additional light to a space.”
Is painted wood bad for resale value? “Sadly, no,” Best says. “The masses say, ‘Paint it!’”
Alternatives: “I’d suggest wall color as the place to start, and then look to flooring selections,” he says. “Also, non-natural lighting makes a massive difference. There are so many LED options now that provide elegant ways to add additional light to a space.”
Shoup’s Rebuttal
“In some sense, the difference in my and Mr. Best’s arguments may lie in the subjectivity of differing opinion,” Shoup says. “That beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He suggests that painting over the imperfections of wood is classic ‘conceal don’t feel.’ And yet, I associate and experience the same gesture — painting the wood ceiling — with a sense of visceral expansiveness and lightness. Today I probably happen to be on the side of the majority opinion. There is probably a coloring of opinion against white to come.”
“In some sense, the difference in my and Mr. Best’s arguments may lie in the subjectivity of differing opinion,” Shoup says. “That beauty is in the eye of the beholder. He suggests that painting over the imperfections of wood is classic ‘conceal don’t feel.’ And yet, I associate and experience the same gesture — painting the wood ceiling — with a sense of visceral expansiveness and lightness. Today I probably happen to be on the side of the majority opinion. There is probably a coloring of opinion against white to come.”
“This is to say that Mr. Best’s point regarding how people will view our penchant for white and gray interiors in the future is an important one. Sensibilities will inevitably change, evolve and vacillate. A time is indeed coming when people will ask, ‘What were we afraid of?’ or even wonder why we denizens of white were not more imaginative. We must allow for this vacillation of opinion. But it is not white that illustrates a lack of imagination, but rather the inability to punctuate and complement it.”
“Now, invoking Frank Lloyd Wright is a powerful move. Can I really argue against such an icon, particularly when pumped in the vein of God and Nature? Do I love going to Robie House? Absolutely. Would I want to live there? Would it appropriately serve our lives today? For most of us, absolutely not. In part because the deployment of God, er, Nature, in the form of wood is for many people too heavy. This is not to advocate for painting FLW’s woodwork white, but surely there is plenty of room for God and Nature in our homes, just not necessarily blanketing overhead.
“As an agnostic, I don’t expect to find Nature in my house, though I would be happy to find Her there. I may not know whether God exists, but I do know that a white ceiling contributes to a nice clean space — and we all know what cleanliness is next to.”
“As an agnostic, I don’t expect to find Nature in my house, though I would be happy to find Her there. I may not know whether God exists, but I do know that a white ceiling contributes to a nice clean space — and we all know what cleanliness is next to.”
Best’s Rebuttal
“What was considered modest building material in the ’50s and ’60s is often wood of higher quality than we are used to working with today,” Best says. “Leaving the ceiling unpainted allows homeowners to experience how the way we see materials — and the quality of materials we have access to (specifically wood sourced within our own borders) — has changed as time has passed. What once was ‘builder’s grade’ would now be sought after, even though it’s seen some wear and tear, and may bear a scar or two. A refinished but unpainted ceiling can shine again.
“Granted, everyone wants a light-filled home, but what’s more budget-friendly than a little ‘benign neglect’ when it comes to the state of the ceiling? Nothing is easier than giving something a thorough cleaning but otherwise leaving it as existing. What you lose in the reflection of natural light you gain in character, not to mention recovering resources due to a reduced filling, sanding and painting budget.”
“What was considered modest building material in the ’50s and ’60s is often wood of higher quality than we are used to working with today,” Best says. “Leaving the ceiling unpainted allows homeowners to experience how the way we see materials — and the quality of materials we have access to (specifically wood sourced within our own borders) — has changed as time has passed. What once was ‘builder’s grade’ would now be sought after, even though it’s seen some wear and tear, and may bear a scar or two. A refinished but unpainted ceiling can shine again.
“Granted, everyone wants a light-filled home, but what’s more budget-friendly than a little ‘benign neglect’ when it comes to the state of the ceiling? Nothing is easier than giving something a thorough cleaning but otherwise leaving it as existing. What you lose in the reflection of natural light you gain in character, not to mention recovering resources due to a reduced filling, sanding and painting budget.”
“Making and leaving a mark on a home is human instinct, as we all want to build a nest that is uniquely our own. However, another way to see ourselves (specifically as the owners of older homes) is as part of the ongoing story of the house, and not necessarily its final chapter. There were those that came before, and there will be those that come after. Like moving into a space and finding another family’s growth chart penciled in a door frame, and then adding to it as your own children grow, why not leave history visible on your ceiling instead of covering it up and starting over?
“I agree, the order of the structures around us directly influences our sense of inner order and well-being. However, I believe there is a difference between order and sameness. Ceilings need not be uniformly white to be orderly. My home has an orderly rhythm of posts and beams on a system of 8-foot bays, which support the unpainted cedar ceiling. The wood continues from the interior to the exterior, where it becomes the soffit. Beyond the lines the grooves between boards create, there is a continuity that comes from the material itself as it transitions from indoors to outdoors, nature within and without. That’s calming,” Best says.
“I agree, the order of the structures around us directly influences our sense of inner order and well-being. However, I believe there is a difference between order and sameness. Ceilings need not be uniformly white to be orderly. My home has an orderly rhythm of posts and beams on a system of 8-foot bays, which support the unpainted cedar ceiling. The wood continues from the interior to the exterior, where it becomes the soffit. Beyond the lines the grooves between boards create, there is a continuity that comes from the material itself as it transitions from indoors to outdoors, nature within and without. That’s calming,” Best says.
“There is so much visual clutter in our environment, and I do love a good purge back to visual simplicity. However, the difference would be that I don’t get noise from an unpainted ceiling. There is a gentle rhythm to the movement of grain, punctuated by knots and underscored by a crack or two. There is an integrity to natural materials that’s the antithesis of what we see on the screens we stare at every day. For a thing to actually be what it appears is refreshing.
“Make a less common choice, especially if you are fortunate enough to have acquired an uncommon space. Don’t paint your wood ceiling. Instead, embrace its depth and story (slivers and all), and celebrate it for the feature it is.”
Poll: Are you for or against painting wood ceilings white?
Next debate: Are you for or against decorating with books?
Previous debate: Is It OK to Hang the TV Over the Fireplace?
“Make a less common choice, especially if you are fortunate enough to have acquired an uncommon space. Don’t paint your wood ceiling. Instead, embrace its depth and story (slivers and all), and celebrate it for the feature it is.”
Poll: Are you for or against painting wood ceilings white?
Next debate: Are you for or against decorating with books?
Previous debate: Is It OK to Hang the TV Over the Fireplace?
In this debate, which ushers in the vice presidential debate between Mike Pence and Tim Kaine at 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Oct. 4, designer Stephen Shoup of Building Lab argues for the benefits of painting wood ceilings white, while designer Ken Best of Synthesis Design argues against in hopes of making “unpainted wood ceilings great again,” he says.
See our first debate on hanging a TV over a fireplace